My cable company's batteries die in less than an hour and that's not worthy of the news, but we have people running around like chickens without heads because Fios' batteries only last 4-8 hours.
They probably figure almost everyone in America cannot live without a cell phone so they will have that in an emergency situation. Heck, most families have a cell phone in the pockets of every member of their family.
Also, if you are that concerned about it, either stay with your Comcast/Cable provider and keep your copper or go out and buy a generator. Stop complaining about stuff like this. I mean give me a break, people complain when these companies don't upgrade you or give you the latest technology but as soon as you get it people complain that it isn't perfect. There are just people out there that aren't happy unless they have everything perfect!
Then there was a problem with thet node. Batteries at the node should last 8 hrs also. Thats why they dont give 2 batteries with the telephony modems. After 8 hours the node is dying anyway.