'We're Like a Third World Country'
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
During Appropriations Committee hearings today with the Office of the Administration, Senator Mary Jo White questioned why getting cell phone service in rural areas of the state seems to very low on the state's priority list.
"We're like a Third World country up there," White said, referring particularly to the western and northwestern part of the state.
She said when driving from her Warren office to her Oil City office she has coverage only about one-fifth of the time. She added that there are some places along Interstate 80 where you can't get coverage.
"I think in a state, in this time and place, that is just unimaginable," White said.
She said when the Office of Public Safety first started working on its project to provide emergency radio service to the entire state – in 1996 – she talked to the state police and technicians about making space available on their towers for cell phone providers.
"I think that is a matter of public safety every bit as much as the police and DCNR being able to talk to each other," she said. "If you happen to break a leg up in the Allegheny National Forest, don't rely on your cell phone to be able to call for help."
White said that's absolutely something the state should be addressing.
Secretary of the Administration Naomi Wyatt said the state has been contacting providers for about the last six months and they have been getting "luke warm responses."
"For a cell phone provider, it's a matter of dollars," Wyatt said. "There aren't enough people, unfortunately, in the Allegheny National Forest for them to think it's worth investing the infrastructure on our cell towers."
Wyatt did say that, because the state has the infrastructure (towers) that's available, they should think about how it can be used.
She and White agreed to discussion the issue further.
White/Wyatt Audio
WESB/WBRR News Director
During Appropriations Committee hearings today with the Office of the Administration, Senator Mary Jo White questioned why getting cell phone service in rural areas of the state seems to very low on the state's priority list.
"We're like a Third World country up there," White said, referring particularly to the western and northwestern part of the state.
She said when driving from her Warren office to her Oil City office she has coverage only about one-fifth of the time. She added that there are some places along Interstate 80 where you can't get coverage.
"I think in a state, in this time and place, that is just unimaginable," White said.
She said when the Office of Public Safety first started working on its project to provide emergency radio service to the entire state – in 1996 – she talked to the state police and technicians about making space available on their towers for cell phone providers.
"I think that is a matter of public safety every bit as much as the police and DCNR being able to talk to each other," she said. "If you happen to break a leg up in the Allegheny National Forest, don't rely on your cell phone to be able to call for help."
White said that's absolutely something the state should be addressing.
Secretary of the Administration Naomi Wyatt said the state has been contacting providers for about the last six months and they have been getting "luke warm responses."
"For a cell phone provider, it's a matter of dollars," Wyatt said. "There aren't enough people, unfortunately, in the Allegheny National Forest for them to think it's worth investing the infrastructure on our cell towers."
Wyatt did say that, because the state has the infrastructure (towers) that's available, they should think about how it can be used.
She and White agreed to discussion the issue further.
White/Wyatt Audio
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