Dammeron Valley, UT officials approved construction of a cell tower years ago, but the community is still waiting for cell service. Residents are currently petitioning Verizon Wireless and AT&T to install equipment on the tower, which was built sometime prior to 2009.
Three hundred people have signed the document so far, most of them living among the 400 homes in the town, says the St. George News. The cell tower was originally built by a company building towers ‘on spec’ in areas believed to be a good fit for carriers to broaden wireless networks. County code dictates the tower should be torn down because it was never used, and is now abandoned. However, no one is taking issue with the violation, and locals hope one or two carriers will install equipment on the tower soon.
Amanda Ballif, who is organizing the petition, says public safety is at the heart of the issue. Most residents cannot call if they have an emergency. “It just seems ridiculous that we don’t have receivers on a tower that is in place, has all of the equipment – the ground equipment is all there … it’s ready to go,” she said. Dammeron Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin Dye supports Ballif’s efforts. He explained in a letter that the town’s emergency services depend on cellular coverage. “When the text messages aren’t received, we are not able to make it to emergency situations in a timely matter. Once on scene, if we cannot place a phone call to our medical director for patient needs and orders, then we cannot do what is best for the patients,” he stated.
A Verizon representative said the company is considering the matter. Surrounding mountain ranges make it difficult for carriers to install fiber optic cable to connect a tower to an operating facility, but residents hope the existence of a tower will solve any difficulties on that front.
March 21, 2017
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