In $dayjob I work for a telco that deploys fiber to the home. If we are providing voice services over fiber a battery backup is installed (we maintain) that powers the customer's phone in the event of a power outage. It does not power their router, etc. 99% of the customers do not install a UPS for their router, etc. We try to explain that to customers, but we still get calls that they can't get on the Internet when their power is out.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Scott T Anderson via NANOG" <nanog@nanog.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 12:35pm
To: "nanog@nanog.org" <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: home router battery backup

Hi NANOG mailing list,

I am a graduate student, currently conducting research on how power outages affect home Internet users. I know that the FCC has a regulation since 2015 (47 CFR Section 9.20) requiring ISPs to provide an option to voice customers to purchase a battery backup for emergency voice services during power outages. As this is only an option and only applies to customers who subscribe to voice services, I was wondering if anyone had any insights on the prevalence of battery backup for home modem/routers? I.e., what percentage of home users actually install a battery backup in their home modem/router or use an external UPS?

Thanks.

Scott

Reference for 47 CFR Section 9.20: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-9/subpart-H/section-9.20