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Congressmen Want President To Seek Funds To "Wire" National Parks

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By Kurt Repanshek - January 30th, 2016

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."

PDF icon congress-broadband_park_coverage.pdf

Comments

Submitted by Edward Souza on February 2, 2016 - 5:59pm.

Almost every time Congress wants to do something for the National Park Service, it's not for the right reasons. Ie- trying to kill the antiquities act. Need I say anything else. It's a place for us to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A way to disconnect from the demands we go through, and connect with Mother Nature. 


Submitted by Edward Souza on February 2, 2016 - 6:01pm.

I totally agree. The visitors center and that's all. I want to hear birds chirping and waterfalls flowing. They're call natural wonders because they're not man-made. We get away for the peace and quiet. 


Submitted by ecbuck on February 2, 2016 - 6:39pm.

. I want to hear birds chirping and waterfalls flowing

What makes your "wants" any more relevant than someone elses?  You can "hear birds chirping and waterfalls flowing" whether there is wifi in the park or not. 


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