Your MetaCOM home phone service requires electricity to work.  If the power goes out, you will be unable to use your home phone service (including making 911 calls) unless you have a Battery Backup Unit.

As discussed when ordering your service, Battery Backup Units are available for purchase from MetaCOM priced at $89.99 for an 8 hour battery backup unit and $239.99 for a 24 hour battery backup unit.  If you have not already ordered a Battery Backup Unit and would like to, call 1-888-999-8002, option 1, to speak with our Sales Department.

When fully charged, a Battery Backup Unit powers phone service for up to 24 hours during a power outage depending on usage, letting you make and receive calls from a corded phone.

Important Things to Know:

  • The Battery Backup Unit will only power your MetaCOM phone service, which will only work with a corded phone.
  • The Battery Backup Unit will not power a cordless phone, your Internet, or your TV service.
  • A Battery Backup Unit will not power a home-monitoring or medical-alert system.  It will support the calling service needed to transmit data to those systems.
  • To preserve phone service during a power outage, limit the use of your phone to emergency calls only.
  • Do not turn off the Battery Backup to save the battery as this could prevent the receipt of emergency calls.
  • Alternative sources of backup power may be available, including generators.  Additionally, a charged cell phone may provide the backup phone service you need, if your home phone service goes out.
  • If a Battery Backup Unit is purchased, MetaCOM supplies the initial battery for it.  Subsequent batteries, the disposal of old batteries, as well as maintenance, testing and monitoring of the unit are the customer's responsibility.

Backup Power for Home Phone Service during Power Outages:

A backup power supply (battery) is required for your digital voice service to work in the event of a power outage. A backup battery, such as what MetaCOM has provided and installed, will allow regular corded land line phones to work during a power outage and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services. When a power outage occurs, you should ensure that you have one corded single-line touchtone phone connected directly to your in-home wiring (wall jack). If you connect a cordless phone, it will not function without a separate battery backup, and not all cordless phones are so equipped.

What Your Battery Can-and Can’t-Do for You:

Our backup battery allows you to continue to use your home voice service during a power outage. Without a backup battery, you will not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to 911. Our backup battery does not provide power to any service other than voice. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices and other equipment will not run on a home phone backup battery.

Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Battery:

Please follow the instructions included with your battery for proper use, storage, and care. Batteries should be stored in locations under normal room temperatures.

You should periodically test your battery to verify both operation of the backup battery and its condition. The battery backup unit can be tested by unplugging it from the wall power outlet. If it is working correctly, regular corded land line phones will still work in the house. Make sure to plug the unit back in at the end of testing.

Battery backup units will display a battery light when the battery needs replaced. Please refer to the battery backup unit’s instruction manual for details on the warning indicator lights and the battery replacement procedure.