wiredInUSA November 2020

National Park plans improvements to service and scenery M A K I N G T H E NEWS

Yellowstone National Park has asked for public comment on its proposal to improve telecommunication services in the park’s developed areas. The proposal is to lay 187 miles of fiber optic cable along the park’s roads. Rubber-tracked vehicles would be used to install the cable underground “within the existing road corridor, immediately adjacent to and/or directly into the roadbed.” The proposal also calls for the removal of five microwave radio reflectors installed in the park’s backcountry in 1980. “Currently, these reflectors are an essential component of the park’s microwave radio telecommunication system,” Yellowstone explained. “The existing microwave radio system is the only means of telecommunication (telephone, 911 and computer networks) to the park. Each reflector is

about 28 feet high and 24 feet wide. Broadband over fiber optic cable could replace this antiquated system. Due to extremely remote duty stations, recruitment [and] retention for both the NPS and its business partners is severely affected by a lack of consistent and reliable connectivity.” Yellowstone estimates that 8% of the park currently has cellular coverage. “The proposal would not expand authorized cellular phone coverage areas in the park but would substantially improve coverage quality in existing developed areas,” Yellowstone added. ”This proposal is consistent with Yellowstone National Park’s wireless communications services plan.”

No new cellular towers would be installed under the proposal.

Front cover: NPS/Jacob W.Frank

9

wiredInUSA November 2020