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
Glad to see NPS doing this and support it 100%. This stuff matters to employees and visitors and this is another positive step being taken by current NPS leadership at the parks that demonstrates they do care about the front line employees. Housing is now a priority and that is a refreshing change.
You really like that I can't get internet coverage in the park? Seriously? Do you have any idea how amazingly self centered that is? It's off the charts. If you don't want to access the internet there... then.... wait for it.... don't! YOU turn off YOUR phone. And if you don't want to see other people using THEIR phones, which they have every right to do, without interference from some self appointed phone policer, then YOU... turn YOUR head... and look the other way. At the wonderland. That YOU are supposed to be looking at. According to YOU. And YOU stop looking at other people on their phones. It just amazes me that anybody has the gall to tell other people whether or not they can use their phones.
"If your complaint is that you can not stand not being connected while visiting, perhaps you should consider booking accomodations outside of the park where you can get internet and whatever other modern convinced you are no longer able to live without."
If your complaint is how other people live their lives, then perhaps you should consider staying outside the park yourself, where you can work on your list of living requirements. With a pencil.
No. Yellowstone is an amazing place to get away from it all and connect with the natural world. Please keep it wild.
Internet service in any National Park is a terrible idea. The point of going to the parks is to interact with nature, the rangers and whomever you traveled with. It is the perfect way to disconnect from electronics and reconnect with nature and people. There are already too many people mindlessly looking at their screens and getting in the way of others, or getting hurt. That is a hard no on internet in the Parks.
It looks like you could use some time disconnecting with electronics. You seem extremely angry about this.
Proponents assure us that the equipment will not damage historic buildings. That's important, but even more important is how internet use changes people's behavior. Why do you go to Yellowstone or Glacier? Hopefully, it is to experience wild areas with unusual geothermal features, see wildlife and memorable scenery. Unplug. Personally, I would like to see YP advertised as Internet Free.
One commenter reminded us that we have the option of unplugging. Good idea, but tell that to the people on their phones as they wander by the Turn Off Your Phone signs at Old Faithful.
Many of the comments here seem to be from the perspective of visitors. In short, I don't particularly care if this service is available to that crowd. I am staying in Yellowstone for months as a work camping experience and would strongly urge for wifi for workers and family. I have an exam that I would quite like to be studying for, however the lack of readily available wifi puts a hamper on that. I'm glad some people seem very enthusiastic on seeing the park in it's most natural form or whatever the argument is there, however I urge them to think of people who are spending more than 2 or 3 days here as a little vacation. We live in a modern connected world and trying to force others to ignore that without knowing their circumstances is a bit rude and presumptuous.