Increased cellular and broadband service clashes with the values and policies of the National Park Service, according to the nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

The group cites “policies to protect natural soundscapes, pristine vistas and serenity” among reasons to curb expansion of such technology in parks.

“National parks are under no legal obligation to provide visitors with commercial cell or broadband service – in fact, just the opposite when to do so requires sacrificing park values and resources,” PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch said in a release. “In this the National Park Service’s centennial year, a conversation about the role technology should play inside nature’s cathedrals is long overdue.”

Last month, five U.S. representatives asked President Obama for a “significant” increase in federal funding for wireless telecommunications and broadband services in national parks, citing “goals of improving public safety, providing greater interpretive services and meeting the needs of the visiting public.”

More recently, on Feb. 11, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota held an open house to gather comments on replacing a radio tower in the park's North Unit. As part of the proposal, Verizon Wireless would co-locate a telecommunications tower with the radio tower for “improved reception and data capabilities” in the service area. Project costs would be the responsibility of Verizon.

“The latest cell tower proposal in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park illustrates how virtually every NPS precept on design, spillover and even public notice is violated,” PEER said in a release.

The park said in its notice that “having a functional and modern telecommunication tower on this site is essential for the park to maintain safe and efficient operations.” It noted that the new radio tower would be shorter (190 feet instead of 220 feet) than the previous one and thus would not require a flashing red light, improving night sky viewing. The park also said that this plan eliminates the need for a second telecommunications tower to be built in the area.

“Given the rate of development in the Bakken (oilfield), this is a rare opportunity to share resources and reduce cell tower proliferation in the region,” Bill Whitworth, the park’s chief of resource management, said in a release.

PEER submitted an eight-page response to park Superintendent Wendy Ross.

According to the PEER, such commercial platforms built inside national parks:

* Runs afoul of NPS policies and directives to preserve natural soundscapes and vistas and to promote qualities such as solitude that enable visitors to commune with nature;

* Would extend cell coverage into designated wilderness and backcountry. NPS officials are supposed to prevent this spillover but no park has asked a provider to limit coverage; and

* Cedes management decisions about virtually every aspect (placement, design and visual impact) of facilities inside of a park to a private company.

“National park superintendents have shown little ability or inclination to protect park resources and values from the demands of telecom companies,” Mr/ Ruch said. “The 4G arrays now being installed are designed to enable music downloads, streaming videos and online games – activities that prevent rather than promote communing with nature.”

PEER previously opposed a WiFi and cellphone plan at Yellowstone National Park.