What to Do During an Internet Outage in Texas (2026)

**Restart your modem and router.** Unplug both devices, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, wait for all lights to stabilize (about 2 minutes), then plug in the router. This fixes roughly 70% of home internet issues.

**Check all devices.** If only one device has lost connection, the problem is that device — not your internet. Try connecting a different device to WiFi or plug a laptop directly into the router via Ethernet cable. If the wired connection works but WiFi does not, the issue is your router's wireless radio, not the internet service.

**Check your provider's outage map.** Every major Texas ISP has an outage tracker: AT&T (att.com/outages), Xfinity (xfinity.com/support/status), Spectrum (spectrum.net/support/outage), Frontier (frontier.com/outages), T-Mobile (t-mobile.com/support/network-coverage/network-outages). If your area shows an active outage, the problem is confirmed on their end.

**Check DownDetector.** Visit downdetector.com and search for your provider. Real-time user reports and heat maps show whether others in your area are experiencing the same issue. A spike in reports within the last 30 minutes strongly indicates a provider-side outage.

**Look at your modem lights.** A blinking or off "Online" or "DS/US" light on your modem means the connection to your provider is down. A solid green or blue "Online" light means the internet connection itself is working and the issue is likely on your local network.

**Mobile hotspot** — Your smartphone is your fastest backup. On iPhone, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot. On Android, go to Settings > Network > Hotspot. Most Texas cell plans from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon include 15-50 GB of hotspot data. Connect your laptop to the hotspot and you can work at typical speeds of 30-100 Mbps depending on your cell signal.

**Dedicated hotspot device** — If outages are common in your area (rural Texas, storm-prone Gulf Coast), consider a dedicated mobile hotspot like the T-Mobile 5G Hotspot ($50 one-time, $20/month add-on) or the Netgear Nighthawk M6 with a prepaid data plan. Keep it charged and ready for emergencies.

**Public WiFi** — Texas has strong public WiFi options. Most H-E-B stores, Starbucks, McDonald's, and public libraries offer free WiFi. Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all have free city WiFi in select downtown areas. Use a VPN when on public networks to protect your data.

**Neighbor's WiFi** — If you have a trusted neighbor with a different provider, ask to use their WiFi temporarily. Since Cypress might be on AT&T Fiber while your neighbor is on Xfinity, the odds of both being down simultaneously are low.

**Starlink as permanent backup** — For Texas households that experience frequent outages (especially during hurricane season or in rural areas), Starlink's residential service (from $50/month for 100 Mbps; higher tiers up to $120/mo) can serve as a permanent backup. The upfront equipment cost is $175 (plus roughly $50–$100 shipping), but it provides connectivity independent of ground-based infrastructure.

**Report through the app first.** AT&T, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Frontier all have mobile apps with outage reporting. App reports are logged with timestamps, which strengthens your case for a bill credit. Download your provider's app before an outage happens.

**Call if the outage lasts more than 4 hours.** For extended outages, calling customer service creates a support ticket with a case number. Write down the case number and the representative's name. Ask specifically: "When is the estimated restoration time?" and "Will I receive a bill credit for this outage?"

**Request a bill credit proactively.** Texas ISPs are not legally required to credit you for outages, but most will if you ask. Here is what works:

**Document everything.** Screenshot the outage map, note the times service went down and came back up, and save any texts or emails from your provider about the outage. This documentation makes credit requests straightforward.

**File an FCC complaint for repeated outages.** If your provider has recurring outages (three or more in a month), file a complaint at fcc.gov/consumers/guides/filing-informal-complaint. The FCC forwards your complaint to the provider, who must respond within 30 days. This often triggers a more generous resolution than calling customer service.

**Invest in a UPS (battery backup) for your modem and router.** A basic UPS like the APC BE600M1 ($70-$80) keeps your modem and router powered for 30-60 minutes during a power outage. Many Texas internet outages are caused by power loss, not ISP failures. A UPS bridges the gap until power returns or your generator starts.

**Consider a secondary ISP.** If you work from home and cannot afford downtime, a second ISP on a different technology is the most reliable backup. For example, pair AT&T Fiber (wired) with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet (wireless). When one goes down, switch to the other. The $50/month cost of T-Mobile 5G is insurance against lost productivity.

**Set up automatic failover.** Dual-WAN routers like the TP-Link ER605 ($60) or Peplink Balance 20X ($400) can connect to two ISPs and automatically switch when one fails. For remote workers billing $50+/hour, this setup pays for itself during the first outage.

**Prepare for hurricane season.** Texas Gulf Coast residents (Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Galveston) should have a cellular backup plan in place before June 1. Charge all devices, download offline copies of critical documents, and ensure your mobile hotspot plan has sufficient data. After Hurricane Beryl in 2024, some Houston-area residents lost internet for 5-10 days.

**Keep provider contact info offline.** Save your ISP's phone number and your account number in your phone's contacts (not just in email). When the internet is down, you cannot look up your provider's support number online. Also bookmark your provider's outage page in your phone's browser for quick mobile access.