Residents of rural Bayview, Idaho are yearning for a new Verizon, reports the Bonner County Daily Bee. In fact, they have been courting Verizon for over 10 years in hopes of convincing the telecom provider to build a new tower in their Kootenai County town bordering on the Coeur D’Alene National Forest. Although public safety was cited as the main reason for wanting better service, being able to place a simple phone call was also a highly prized commodity. People are so committed to petitioning Verizon that over 80 residents at last month’s community Oktoberfest party came together to record a YouTube video for the cell carrier.
Bayview is located in the mountains of Idaho and on the shores of the state’s largest lake, Lake Pend Oreille. Much of the town actually floats out over the water. Reaching emergency help, or even a neighbor, can be difficult if not impossible. “I can’t get one bar on my phone at my house,” committee member James May said. “If I do get a bar, I could lose it by moving in my chair. I pay my bill every month and I don’t get coverage. My cell phone at my house is nothing more than a paper weight.” Although Kootenai County approved a cell tower site, Verizon has not begun construction.
In a local publication referred to as The Press, Verizon spokesperson Heidi Flato responded, “Delivering a great customer experience is our priority. While we don’t have a set timeline regarding this particular cell site, I will be happy to let you know when that changes.”
Bayview remains hopeful. “If I’m on the mountain and in the line of sight with other cell towers I may be able to get coverage, but Bayview is below the line of sight,” May said. “That’s why we need our own tower. All that needs to be done at this point is put it up. We’re not talking about a luxury item. This is a basic necessity.” Comments? Email us.
November 16, 2018
