YNP to add cell phone access at Canyon Village

[agesilaus]

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly has promised better wireless internet access in the park without towers blocking the view to the park’s famous landscape. The park is seeking public comment on a proposal from a private company, AccessParks, to install up to 484 small (10 by 10 inch, or 7-inch diameter) antennas on employee housing and visitor lodging facilities at Canyon Village, Grant Village, Lake Village, Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful. Several dozen other antennas of various sizes would also be required to link to internet providers outside the park without building additional towers. The deadline to comment on the proposal is Friday, Nov. 29. For more information and to comment click here. From powelltribune.com.

Campground Chatter

[katleman]

A good rule of thumb should be that new towers/antennas should be fine in the village locations like Old Faithful, Grant, Canyon, Fishing Bridge where there are existing buildings/parking lots

But not in the campgrounds or anywhere else pristine.

[dedmiston]

Please keep it friendly, whether you agree or disagree.

[drsteve]

Thom02099 wrote:
Improved cell phone service would certainly make it easier to report "bad behaviour" to the NPS Rangers. I'm sure many of the vids that have made it here and on YouTube were in locations that may have had poor/spotty service and/or minimal Ranger presence. Personally, don't care about internet service in any of the National Parks.

Then you won't care about this either. It's broadband wifi, not cell phone service.

[Thom02099]

Improved cell phone service would certainly make it easier to report "bad behaviour" to the NPS Rangers. I'm sure many of the vids that have made it here and on YouTube were in locations that may have had poor/spotty service and/or minimal Ranger presence. Personally, don't care about internet service in any of the National Parks.

[drsteve]

A quick search shows this company got started providing broadband wifi to US military bases. They operate as a concessionaire, and tout 25mbps down AND up, per user.

https://www.accessparks.com/story/

[Dutch_12078]

agesilaus wrote:
Here is the original story:article

It is still ambiguous but the reference to microwaves seems to indicate cell phones to me.

Microwave links have been used for telephone and data services for decades. They're also used to provide Internet service to cell towers, but that's far from their only use.

[agesilaus]

I think in that same issue of the newsletter they mention that PA state parks are planning to add food truck service to some of their cg. As well as some FHU installations.

I don't object to cell phone service but food trucks?? That is too far.

[gbopp]

spoon059 wrote:
This seems like the least intrusive way to add cell service... but I have to wonder why this is necessary. If you prefer your cell phone, go somewhere else. If you prefer nature and the amazing beauty of YNP, continue to have relatively unfettered access.

I agree, why do they need to improve cell service and internet access?
Maybe all the trees should be cut down to improve the views?

[agesilaus]

Here is the original story:article

It is still ambiguous but the reference to microwaves seems to indicate cell phones to me.

[westernrvparkow]

the quote says nothing about Cell phone coverage. It is talking about wireless internet (wifi) coverage. Then there is that little note about needing dozens of other antennas throughout the park to link up to the external internet providers. It will be a very contested proposal.
As with most plans for technology within the park system there will be a bunch of "No Wifi because a laptop will somehow ruin the 2.2 million acre park" " people combined with the "if I get what I want, I don't care about aesthetics" group who will meet up with the "a much better technology is just around the next corner" bunch. My wager would be on the plan going nowhere.

[Old_Days]

If they only put small device's on the building's that are already there I don't see a problem. I do agree do not put up tower's.

[spoon059]

This seems like the least intrusive way to add cell service... but I have to wonder why this is necessary. If you prefer your cell phone, go somewhere else. If you prefer nature and the amazing beauty of YNP, continue to have relatively unfettered access.