To All in CO: Mesa Verde National Park weighs cell phone tower

[ShoresGuy]

Mesa Verde National Park weighs cell phone tower

Originally published Thursday, April 29, 2004

DURANGO, Colo. (AP) -- The government is considering an application to erect a cellular telephone tower at Mesa Verde National Park, one of the nation's premier archaeological preserves.

The application is the first for the park in southwestern Colorado, said Patty Trap, Mesa Verde's chief of planning.

"This is a learning process for us because we want to be sure that we handle the application (properly) to meet the laws and policies, and to make sure the applicant has been treated fairly," said Trap, who refused to identify the applicant.

The 52,000-acre park is home to ruins and cliff dwellings used by the Anasazi people 700 years ago. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the Four Corners region.

At least 15 National Park Service sites have already allowed communications companies to put up cell towers. Yellowstone National Park alone has five, including one near Old Faithful that has been criticized as an eyesore.

Mark Pearson, director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, panned the idea of cell phones at Mesa Verde.

"I would be dubious about the real compelling need for cell phone use at a national park," Pearson said Tuesday. "It seems people could check their cell phone at the park. They should be on vacation. They shouldn't need to use their phone."

Trap said the park service will have to make sure any tower complies with federal environmental policy the National Historic Preservation Act.

"Can a cell tower be placed in Mesa Verde National Park that ensures the protection of the cultural resources and the natural resources for the preservation of those for future generations?" Trap said. "That is the bottom line.

(Source: http://www.magicvalley.com/news/worl...p?StoryID=8678)

[xikle]

Interesting article. It will be interesting to see if it really happens, and if it does what company(ies) will be on the tower.

Mesa Verde is a nice place to visit and there is some good camping there, and lots of interesting ruins.

[ShoresGuy]

xikle, are there virtually no other cell towers in the park itself or in the immediate area? This article seems to make a real major deal about this tower getting beyond the planning phase.

[xikle]

The last time I was there would have been probably about 8 years ago. As I remember it, there isn't much of anything really close to the park. Cortez is about 10 miles from the part entrance, which is where the closest cell tower would be I think. I think the only towers that were in the part were repeaters for the radios the rangers were using. Cell reception isn't really that good down there unless you are in one of the towns or cities, as I remember it.

[ShoresGuy]

How's the terrain around there? Hilly/mountainous?

[xikle]

Yep. Continetial Divide runs through that part of the state. Great mountain views, but spotty coverage if you go off of main roads, or out of cities.

[ShoresGuy]

Gotcha, so GSM doesn't really do well in the portions of CO where the Rockies are? CDMA has better results since it has AMPS fallback?

[xikle]

I don't know about GSM, it might work about the same down there. I've never had access to a GSM phone while I was there. I think it would depend on how the carrier had the towers placed. The first cell phone I used was a analog only, there are some places down here where you can be only 1 mile out of town and have no service. I may end up being down there sometime in the next month or so, if I get the chance to go down there I'll take my T-Mo phone and see how hte service is.

[NokiaKrazy]

Im all for the idea of pushing cell service into the park. I don't care for seeing everyone jabbering on their phones on the trail but it is good far as a public safety tool.

[Gamer03]

Originally Posted by NokiaKrazy

Im all for the idea of pushing cell service into the park. I don't care for seeing everyone jabbering on their phones on the trail but it is good far as a public safety tool.

Yeah, in case anyone ever needs assistance fast, and the only means that you have at your disposal (sp?) is a cell phone.

Article:

At least 15 National Park Service sites have already allowed communications companies to put up cell towers. Yellowstone National Park alone has five, including one near Old Faithful that has been criticized as an eyesore.

I don't think people who criticize this tower would be too critical of it, if your cell phone got a signal from it when there was an emergency...

[DarkKnight]

I agree with gamer this is going to be good for emergency situations, but it would be annoying to here someone just gabbing on there cell during a park tour

[Climb14er]

<How's the terrain around there? Hilly/mountainous?>

Mesa Verde is down from the mountains, almost in a somewhat flat area.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by Climb14er

<How's the terrain around there? Hilly/mountainous?>

Mesa Verde is down from the mountains, almost in a somewhat flat area.

So how does a signal hold up there? Stable or in/out?

[Climb14er]

The signal strength in Durango and down to Mancos always seemed fairly strong on ATT TDMA. I haven't been to Cortez or Mesa Verde in the past five years to give you a fair opinion of how the signal strength is currently in Mesa Verde or in the extreme SW part of Colorado..

[BillRadio]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

So how does a signal hold up there? Stable or in/out?

When entering Mesa Verde, you climb up from the lowlands and cross over a ridge on to a mesa. The ridge effectively blocks any cellular signals from the north. As you approach the southern rim of the park you can access some sites to the south with Alltel and Verizon.

-Bill

[DarkKnight]

Hi Bill guess I can cancel the APB

[Gamer03]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

So how does a signal hold up there? Stable or in/out?

I can tell you how the signal is on Sprint PCS with a Samsung VGA 1000, becuase my family and I might be going to that general area this summer, so I will keep you posted if we go.....