A small group of congressmen is lobbying President Obama to put a little extra in his budget request for the National Park Service so more parks can be "wired" for cellphone and WiFi.
"Since its founding, our National Park Service has set an example for the world to follow, and we believe that investing in 21st century telecommunications infrastructure is critical to maintaining that leadership," reads the letter. "In honor of the Park Service's centennial, Director Jon Jarvis has commited to providing free public WiFi at all park visitor centers by the end of 2016. This is an important step to improving connectivity in park units. However, additional resources will be necessary to continue this momentum into future years."
The letter (attached below), sent on Wednesday, was signed by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., Niki Tsongas, D-Mass., Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and Jared Polis, D-Colo.
The five voiced their belief that expanding WiFi signals in the National Park System would help attract a more diverse audience of visitors.
"... improved connectivity will help to make our parks accessible and engaging to changing park visitor demographics," they wrote. "It will also support the Park Service's long-term goals of improving public safety, providing greaer interpretive services, and meeting the needs of the visiting public."
Comments
I have mixed emotions on the issue, but agree with Tahoma, for many reasons, not the least of which are operation, it is going to happen.
No, Hell No! There's enough distracted people walking around outside the National Parks. The Natiional Park Experience is not about being distracted and disconnected from what the best gift these parks give to folks, peace and something bigger than their gadgets.
I have no problem with wifi in the Parks. You dont like it, don't turn it on. At the same time, I think NPS monies could be better spent. Let the wireless companies fund it. Its a service to their paying customers.
"The National Park Service is accountable to no one, hardly even the President of the United States. They can do anything, short of murder, and get away with it." Congressman John Duncan TN
Yes, Rick Smith, and other NPS folks, have watched the hearings where Jarvis gets softballs from politicians and slithers back to his cave and changes nothing. Because he is not required to do anything. The hardest part of Jarvis job is to pretend that he is under any type of oversight, since we all know he is not. I am enclosing a quote from Congressman John Duncan with regard to the NPS and his many years of dealing with their arrogance that sums it up. It is from the book, "Sins of the National Park Service in the Smokies"
backpacker--I guess you watch diifferent hearings than I do. Must be a special channel you get down there.
Yes, Rick. It's called the Truth channel, not the NPS kool aid club channel.
Please - NO! Cut the electronic umbilical cord! Be absorbed by the wilds. Shed the digital security blanket. National parks should be more than just scenery. They should be places of solitude and personal adventure where visitors can at least briefly experience some surviving semblence of what the natural world has to offer.
Why is it people feel it is their right/obligation to dictate how others enjoy a Park? You enjoy it your way, let others enjoy it theirs. Someone looking at their texts or browsing the web has no impact on your ability to enjoy.