cell phone towers in rural mountain area

We have been actively involved both:

1. To stop an ill chosen spot for coverage by ATT, or more accurately a firm seeking to place a lease for ATT; and

2. To be a force in improving communications in a rural area which has very spotty coverage due to the "shadows" caused by tall western foothills of the Cascades.

The addition of cell phone coverage in our "dead zones" is seen a need by residents and visitors and an additional level of communications for emergency communications (also for lost hikers on the slopes of Mt. Hood). The location originally proposed would have only enhanced the coverage levels to those who already receive coverage and not increase coverage to areas not already served. Clackamas County failed to recommend the proposed location because of the requirement to first consider co-location sites specifically a site a 1000+ ft higher and along a power transmission line.

A recent (Jan 11) flood event and loss of power and communications have focused the area again on the need to improve cell phone coverage. Several cell phone providers received approval to install temporary locations along the Sandy River in the E. Lolo Pass area. Even these locations are unable to provide sufficient coverage to the significant "dead zone" area - probably due to the hills and tall trees. Meanwhile, ATT is seeking to install a cell tower on the alternative location along the power lines (after wasting a year trying to locate a temporary site near the Zigzag ranger station). ATT should be able to improve the level of cell phone coverage to a significantly wider area once the new location becomes activated.