Yellowstone Proposes Limited Mobile Phone Coverage

The USA's Yellowstone National Park says that it has completed work on a plan to allow the use of mobile phones within the nature reserve. The preferred option is that cellular towers would be excluded from recommended wilderness, from along park road corridors, and from minor developed areas such as Norris and Madison.

The preferred plan would also restrict towers, antennas, and wireless service to a few developed areas, in order to protect park resources and limit the impact on park visitors. This would limit cell service to major park developments and would limit Wi-Fi service to hotels and stores.

Cell phone reception outside developed areas is not intended, and therefore would be variable and should not be expected.

In addition, the plan calls for moving the current cell tower at Old Faithful to reduce its visibility from the historic district and geyser basin, improving and consolidating communications facilities on Mt. Washburn, and adding cellular service to the Lake and Fishing Bridge area.

The environmental assessment also calls for Yellowstone to actively promote the courteous and respectful use of cell phones and Wi-Fi devices.

The park authorities are holding a public consultation on the plans prior to implementation.

Posted to the site on 17th September 2008