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In Yellowstone, 'Can you hear me now?' Or, do you even want to?

Cell towers already dot the landscape around Old Faithful. Now they're thinking about adding wireless Internet service. Some strongly object.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 3, 2006

Yellowstone National Park officials, criticized for marring the landscape near Old Faithful geyser with a cellular phone tower, are quietly preparing a plan to cover any expansion of wireless towers, antennas and TV and radio services in the park.

The officials met last year with telecommunications companies that operate in Yellowstone or want to, asking their suggestions, according to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Wireless companies that attended the meeting told the Associated Press that park officials asked them to identify potential sites for wireless towers or antennas that would have the least impact on parkgoers.

The park has been pressured by companies seeking an edge to serve its 2.8-million annual visitors.

Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said Monday the park is developing "an environmental assessment for wireless communications."

He said that there has been no decision yet to expand existing wireless services and that current planning is designed to set the stage for such decisions in the future.

The environmental group blames cell phones for a "death of solitude," with tourists talking on the phone in some of the nation's most revered nature spots.

"Yellowstone belongs to the American people who ought to have some say before it is transformed into a giant cybercafe," PEER executive director Jeff Ruch said.

Nash, the Yellowstone spokesman, said the public will get a chance to weigh in next month during a comment period before officials draft the plan and again when the draft circulates in late summer. A final decision is expected by year's end.

The Yellowstone plan will look at two-way radio, cellular communications, wireless Internet and research devices, Nash said.

There is one basic condition: If Yellowstone adds any new cell towers, they will be in "existing, disturbed, developed areas," where most people congregate and roads and power already exist, he said.

[Last modified May 3, 2006, 07:07:06]