A recent proposal at the Federal Communications Commission may make it a little harder for rural residents to get good cell phone reception. The Universal Service Fund allows for the construction of cellular towers throughout rural areas where many carriers do not see construction as economically viable, but the FCC has suggested drastic cuts.
Maurice Ouellette, a member of the York County, Maine, sheriff's office, argues in the York County Coast Star that these cuts will jeopardize public safety, saying "Public safety officers like me depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. We rely on cell phones to assist in search and rescue operations, address domestic violence situations, prevent criminal activity and communicate in areas where police radio is unsecure or unavailable."
Ouellette adds "Unfortunately, the FCC placed a cap on the wireless portion of the service fund earlier this year, and now proposes drastic cuts that could eliminate nearly half the support we now receive in Maine. Statewide, we could lose more than $6 million in annual Universal Service Fund support, and dozens of new cell sites would be canceled or delayed every year." (Read more) Ouelette refers readers to ConnectingRuralAmerica.org, which is opposing the proposal.
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