AUGUSTA – Tired of losing calls on his cell phone, Gov. John Baldacci said Wednesday the many “dead zones” throughout Maine are no longer acceptable and bad for business.
In response, the governor is asking cell users to tell him where on the road they too lose service.
He’s hoping the public will help him apply the pressure needed to have service improved, so that by 2008 all of Maine will have quality wireless service.
The day after he announced his “Connect Maine” initiative in his State of the State speech, Baldacci gave reporters more details. The effort includes a new “I Can’t Hear You Now” Web site and phone number that consumers may use to tell their dead-zone stories.
“I want to know where the dead zones are. I have my own list,” Baldacci said Wednesday.
During his speech Tuesday, Baldacci said he often loses his phone calls while he is on the road. “Recently I was driving to Portland and my call was repeatedly lost. This made me think, When will wireless service actually serve all of Maine?”
Communities from Cape Elizabeth to Sebec have inconsistent service. “Maine’s busiest road, the turnpike, is plagued by service problems,” Baldacci complained, noting that it’s bad for Maine business.
“Literally this is a We can do it together,'” said Public Advocate Steve Ward, who will be helping to coordinate the effort. “If we do a good enough job mapping where the problem is, that puts the state in a position to put pressure on cell providers to make the necessary investments and improve service.”
Federal money is available to help ensure universal service in Maine, Ward said. The Public Utilities Commission has placed conditions on that money. Before companies can receive it, they must make the necessary investments – such as new towers – to improve service, Ward said.
Using the examples from consumers, a new task force will work with the PUC, the Maine Turnpike Authority, municipalities and consumers to map out how Maine will achieve universal cellular telephone service, Baldacci said.
“People right now can begin to call in,” he said. “They can begin to recognize that we’re going to deal with this issue. … I often thought about the old saying, You can’t get there from here.’ Now you can’t hear from there. In this day and age, where it becomes such a critical point for us to be in the marketplace, we have to have these connections. I’ll be driving this pretty hard.”
Maine Turnpike Authority spokesman Dan Paradee said the turnpike is behind the governor’s cell plan, noting the turnpike has a lot of right-of-way land that could be used for new towers.
“Dead zones are a real problem on the Maine Turnpike, in Gray-New Gloucester and the Gardiner-Richmond area. There are too many holes,” Paradee said Wednesday, adding that cell phones increase safety by alerting police to accidents or vehicles off the road.
An alternative to new towers: The MTA hopes to rent space to service providers on its existing towers, which are located at maintenance facilities. The MTA is about to charge U.S. Cellular $1,700 a month to rent one tower in York, Paradee said. “We’re hopeful to get more interest.”
The governor advised cell phone users to “stay tuned,” saying more information will be announced in coming weeks.
“I often thought about the old saying, You can’t get there from here.’ Now you can’t hear from there.”
Gov. John Baldacci
Warm reception
Frustrated by a cell phone “dead zone”?
People may tell the governor their stories at the “I Can’t Hear You Now” Web site at www.state.me.us/meopa/indexpages/cellular.html, or by calling 287-2445, or by sending e-mail to [email protected].
The governor wants to know the name of the cellular service provider, the type of plan, the cell phone’s manufacturer and the location of the dead zone. (Mile markers on the turnpike, or where the user was on Route 27, for instance, are helpful.)
Sources: Gov. John Baldacci, Public Advocate Steve Ward
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