Editor's note: This updates that the public comment period was listed erroneously by Yellowstone National Park and that it will officially open Thursday.
A broadband company that claims people don't visit national parks for longer periods because of a lack of high-speed Internet service wants to blanket parts of Yellowstone National Park with such service.
In a proposal that was erroneously listed as open for public comment through November 12, AccessParks wants to install high-speed Internet service through more than 400 buildings in the park's developed areas that are managed by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The request involves installation of "wireless radios, microwave point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and indoor Wi-Fi installations."
Yellowstone spokesperson Morgan Warthin said Tuesday that the public comment on the right-of-way request was listed in error as running from October 28 through November 12. She said it will officially open this Thursday for a two-week period. If approved, the National Park Service anticipates "that the installation will be expanded in the future to offer the same service to the NPS and other concessioners."
A broadband company wants to install high-speed Internet service in developed areas of Yellowstone National Park, including the historic Lake Hotel/NPS
Neither the proposal nor AccessParks' website lists the cost of using the service.
AccessParks has installed similar service at "hundreds of military bases worldwide, including the US Marine Corps, US Army and US Air Force, with no up-front cost to the facility. We were the first to offer HD-quality video streaming over Wi-Fi in hotels and lodges, even in the peak evening hours," according to its website.
Now taking aim at national parks, the company's team maintains that lack of quality Internet service turns people off from visiting parks.
"We couldn’t stay in national parks or most RV parks for more than a few days due to lack of quality Internet," the company states. "The solution we built for the most remote regions on earth for the military were a perfect fit for remote lodging and housing. Now, with AccessParks, we see a future where exploring the outdoors doesn’t have a time limit, and we can connect from anywhere, reliably."
Furthermore, says AccessParks, "(W)e believe that by addressing the need for predictable, quality internet in remote lodging, RV parks and campgrounds, we are helping more people experience the outdoors we love, for longer periods of time, and with the untethered freedom of exploring confidently. The outdoors should be a part of everyone’s life, especially younger generations. When parents can keep up with work for an hour in the evening, the kids benefit from longer stays."
The current proposal at Yellowstone calls for installation of "a large-scale wireless communication system covering Canyon Village, Grant Village, Lake, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful. Equipment needs for this project include five microwave antenna locations, twelve wireless backhaul antennas ranging between three and six feet in diameter, three AccessParks remote solar repeater stations, and up to four hundred and eighty (480) transceivers of 11-inch diameter or less installed on receiving structures."
AccessParks maintains its service connections would be unobtrusive/NPS
Historic properties in the park that would be affected include Canyon Lodge, Lake Hotel, the Lake Hamilton Store, 78 Lake Hotel guest cabins, 64 Lake Lodge guest cabins, Seagull Dormitory, Mammoth Hotel, 97 Mammoth guest cabins, the Mammoth Dining Hall, Lodgepole dormitory, Juniper dormitory, Spruce dormitory, Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge, 161 Old Faithful guest cabins, Laurel dormitory, and Columbine dormitory.
Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly told Traveler in an email Monday that the proposal arrived at the park early in 2018, and that AccessParks has installed similar networks at Glacier National Park and Lake Mead National Recration Area and is seeking approval at Grand Canyon National Park.
"Personally, providing the connectivity to visitors is secondary to providing connectivity to the 3,000-4,000 NPS and concession employees, many of whom live/work in some of the most remote parts of the park," said Sholly. "Lack of connectivity is regularly cited as a major concern by employees and their families, and is unquestionably a major recruitment/retention issue. That said, we hear regularly from visitors that they wish we had better WiFi in visitor centers and hotels. Keep in mind that we already have WiFi (and associated infrastructure) in many areas; it's just very very slow. The upgrades and technology proposed here would make a major difference to employees and visitors.
"In regards to people who opine that connectivity upgrades within developed areas shouldn't occur, I invite them to come live at Grant Village or South Entrance, or Old Faithful for a season," the superintendent added. "They can see first-hand the enormous frustration much of our workforce has not being able to connect - whether that's kids doing homework, or other things we all use the internet for."
The superintendent also said there are no plans to provide similar service for backcountry areas of Yellowstone.
"Less than 1 percent of the visitation to this park stays overnight in the backcountry. There is no expectation by that visitor segment of increased connectivity that I have heard," said Sholly.
The superintendent also doubted that any visitors are cutting their vacations to Yellowstone short due to poor Internet service.
"The average length of stay has remained between 2-3 days and visitation is up dramatically over the past decade as you know," he said. "I have not heard anyone say they don't stay longer because of no WiFi. Obviously, I can't speak for everyone, so I'm sure you could find some who would say it, but it hasn't been something that I have heard."
Comments
It's not needed, end of discussion.
It's generally taken on a case by case basis. There are currently a few golf courses and swimming pools at full-fledged "National Park" units. Yet over the years some of these amenities have been removed/modified after being considered unnecessary to the mission of national parks. Even many horse riding providers have been reduced or eliminated in several national parks.
Certainly there are levels of amenities that I just can't see as suitable. The talk about campground amenities reminds me of the KOA style with hot tubs, go-karts, pool tables, and video games at/around the campground office.
For the most part it can be helpful in many ways. I remember being at Yellowstone seeing geyser watchers log eruption events. Sitting there with a laptop communicating with other enthusiasts would seem to be a reasonble use of computing resources and internet access.
Eventually we're going to be be seeking that happy medium between providing services that visitors might find useful and creating an environment where it detracts from the experience.
I have to admit that I actually agree with ec buck's first comment which paallells many others. If the expansion of signal can be done in an inobtrusive way and doesn't impact park resources then fine - and the employees and families will likely rejoice. For those of us that do not wish to have wired services in parks - and for the most part that is me - then just don't connect.
I really like that you can't get cell or Internet coverage everywhere in Yellowstone, and you don't see visitors that are constantly connected to their Iphones. There should be some places where Nature reigns, and it isn't that far to West Yellowstone, Gardiner or Cody! It is very sad if people can't live without their electronics for a few days (or a few hours, if they are staying in gateway communities) while they are in Nature's wonderland. And, I agree, if it keeps people away, more better, the Park is too crowded for longer and longer periods every year!
I'm enjoying reading all the comments and can see both sides of this issue....My husband and I have camped in many National Parks for years and have loved them all. 2 summers ago, we drove into Mt. Rainier N.P without a reservation hoping to find a site for 2 nights. We drove through the loops of Cougar Rock campground and found most of the sites were reserved. The yellow sign that was attached to the every campsite post says to call a certain number to reserve that site OR get on line to reserve - recreation.gov .....BUT there was NO cell service or internet service in this campground. We were fortunate to find a site for 2 nights but the irony was not lost on us. Whether we like it or not, this is our future.
Yellowstone is already too crowded. If people can not live without constantly being surrounded by cell service they are in the wrong place. Just another way for big business to come into our National Parks and make more money.
Is the NPS actually interested in making the visitor experience better?
Then why don't they start with banning Cigarettes?? Why am I subjected to breathing toxic fumes from selfish smokers every time I visit Yellowstone?
Have you ever tried camping next to a chain smoker in Yellowstone?
I can appreciate the needs of park staff and employees but would urge the NPS to put strict parameters on its own system that restricts additional WIFI to already developed areas and that forbids additional towers and dishes - take advantage of what infrastructure has already been installed. What is good for the contractor and what is good for the NPS and park visitors are likely two different things, and how it gets done, assuming that it does, matters. Yellowstone is a very special place for the natural elements that it preserves, and we should be sophisticated enough to ensure the preservation of nature while facilitating communication for NPS staff and millions of visitors.