Rural Thurston County in western Washington state is an increasingly popular place to live, according to the 2020 census. However, as MyNorthwest.com reports, current residents have long clamored for a cell tower of their own. There is a growing concern that the lack of adequate connectivity represents a danger to the community.
Describing the region as “a cell phone desert,” Melissa Godoy, Yelm SE Cell Tower Facebook group founder noted, “When there’s no power and your internet goes out, that’s it. You’re just in a dead zone. You’re a sitting duck and anything could happen.”
Godoy pointed to a recent accident where a driver lost control and hit a tractor trailer. Witnesses to the accident reportedly drove to the nearest fire station to summon help. Their cell phones were unable to connect to the nearest cell tower eight miles away. She is spearheading an effort to build a cell tower in Thurston County so that residents are able to call for help in the event of an emergency.
“This is a public safety issue,” Godoy implored. “This is a livelihood issue. We want a tower. We want a tower, please.”
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