Guest Viewpoint: Cell service is no longer a matter of convenience

The Independence Day floods that devastated Texas Hill Country, leaving more than 130 people dead, will go down in history as a series of systemwide failures. But one of those failures in particular should ring loud and clear in the Adirondacks: inadequate cell phone coverage. The North Country has so far escaped large-scale tragedy caused by lack of modern communications. Instead, we have witnessed a series of flashing red lights — structure fires that cannot be reported by passers-by; businesses that can't reliably accept credit cards; visitors with car trouble who cannot call for help; kids who can't connect with their parents when they need to be picked up; individuals who need to get in their cars and drive to a high point in town when they want to make a call. These are not isolated episodes, as Verizon and our representatives in Albany suggest. Nor are they only to be found on lonely byways or in the shadows of large mountains; populous hamlets such as Au Sable Forks and Keeseville have little if any service, and other communities find their service severely curtailed by summer crowds that soak up both sun and cell capacity. As members of the Ausable River Valley Business Association, we have waited patiently and sometimes not-so-patiently for Verizon, our primary carrier, to do something about a critical problem that it tacitly acknowledged when it had to bring portable towers to the region so Lake Placid would not be embarrassed in the eyes of the world by the 2023 University Games. The Town of Jay is in the process of developing a new comprehensive plan, and citizen surveys are rife with comments such as these: -"Without improved Wi-Fi and cellular service growth will not happen." -"The town definitely needs better cell service from Verizon. When the power goes out, we have to walk a couple miles to get service." -"Number 1 priority is to have adequate cell and internet service, especially downtown Au Sable Forks." -The town should urge Verizon to return the towers that gave us cell service." It shouldn't need repeating, but cell service is no longer just a matter of convenience. The safety, economic vitality and social structure of our communities depends on it. How likely will a restaurant be, for instance, to locate in Au Sable Forks if there is no cell service to tell those passing through the area that it exists? We recognize the difficulties. The Adirondacks is sparsely populated, its topography is challenging. Yet other parts of the park — where the political and corporate will exist — have found a way, We appreciate the work that entities such as the Lake Champlain/Lake George Regional Planning Commission, the Town of Jay and the Development Authority of the North Country have done on the people's behalf. What we seem to be lacking is representation weighty enough to bring Verizon and any other willing carrier to the table to solve a problem that should have been figured out long ago. ARVBA has contacted Verizon on this issue with no response, as has the Town of Jay. Petitions at the Au Sable Library and a petition on change.org have together attracted hundreds of signatures. More are needed. We urge residents frustrated by poor communications to contact Verizon and state lawmakers and voice their displeasure before a disaster forces their hand. — Knut Sauer, President, Au Sable River Valley Business Association

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Guest Viewpoint: Cell service is no longer a matter of convenience

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