Emergency Phone Ties With Mexico Maintained; AT&T; Offers Assistance

American Telephone & Telegraph Co. has maintained emergency contact with Mexico in the aftermath of the two recent earthquakes and will help rebuild damaged communications lines to Mexico City if asked, an AT&T; official said Saturday.

“The 905 area code, the international gateway into Mexico City and other smaller cities nearby, has been badly damaged. All communications have ceased at this point between Mexico and the U.S.,” spokesman Steve Cross said.

AT&T; has been able to maintain contact with Mexico through an emergency line that is not part of the regular public switch network, he said.

The company has offered to send portable emergency equipment to help in the restoration efforts, including a portable Earth station, microwave tower, power generators and any technical assistance necessary. AT&T; workers from across the country have been placed on emergency standby for immediate transport to Mexico City to help restore phone lines and other communications networks.

Mexican officials have not requested assistance since the initial Thursday offer of help and are still “in the damage-assessment mode,” Cross said.