WOW Completes Rebuild of Panama City Network

Overbuilder WideOpenWest said it has finally restored 430 miles of network infrastructure in Panama City, Florida badly damaged in October when Category 4 story Hurricane Michael made landfall.

“While we’re thrilled to announce the total restoration of our network, we know there is still much work to be done. We are thankful for the community’s patience and we look forward to continuing to provide best-in-class products and services in 2019 and beyond,” said WOW CEO Teresa Elder, in a statement.

Related: WOW Rebuilds in Wake of Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10 in Mexico Beach, Fla., as a Category 4 storm with winds up to 155 mph. The storm cut a path of destruction through seven states from Florida through to Virginia, causing more than $14 billion in damage.

WOW's networks in Augusta, Columbus, Georgia, and Charleston sustained less severe impacts from the storm and are open and operating normally.

As of mid-December, Comcast was in the final stages of building a new network in Panama City, building out more than 650 miles of new infrastructure.

Charter Communications, meanwhile, is rebuilding its entire plant in Chattahoochee, Florida, and it’s also working to restore service by mid-January in Blountstown, Florida.

And Mediacom has been working to lay 330 miles of new fiber in the Panhandle region since the storm hit.

"It's probably the worst storm our construction crews have ever dealt with," company spokesman Tom Larsen told local newscasters last month.

Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!