CenturyLink still working to fix phone outages for Minnesota customers

CenturyLink headquarters
A photo of the CenturyLink headquarters in Monroe, La. CenturyLink said Thursday customers are experiencing disruptions in phone and internet service in several states, including Minnesota.
Courtesy CenturyLink

Updated: 11:32 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28 | Posted: 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27

CenturyLink is still working to fix problems with its telecommunications network.

CenturyLink says it is making good progress restoring customers' phone and Internet service.

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But in a tweet posted this morning, the company said its restoration work is not complete.

The company has not said how widespread the outage was or how many customers were affected.

CenturyLink says customers have not been able to file trouble reports online. But consumers are reporting widespread outages on several sites dedicated to telecommunication troubles.

Company spokesperson Linda Johnson said CenturyLink is trying to find solutions to the outages, which apparently began Thursday morning. "We know how important these services are to our customers and we are working to restore services as quickly as possible," she said.

Minnesota officials said they learned of their CenturyLink issues at around 9 a.m. Thursday, and described the situation as an "intermittent" problem. "Anyone attempting to dial a State of Minnesota phone number may receive a fast busy signal, but internal calling between agencies and state employees is not impacted. Minnesota IT Services is monitoring the situation with CenturyLink," Emily Shimkus, the interim Minnesota IT Services spokesperson, said in an email.

A Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesperson said 911 emergency calls were not affected, as far as the department knows.

"It's not a problem with the 911 system, and we have not received any reports of people who were unable to connect with emergency services," DPS' Bruce Gordon said.

Other organizations that have been affected intermittently or steadily include Sun Country Airlines and the City of Edina.