WARWICK — While it’s working to upgrade Warwick’s town-owned wireless network, the Warwick Broadband Committee is taking on another task: improving cell phone service.
Town Coordinator David Young said the committee plans to map the availability of cell service throughout town, and is working to gauge how much loyalty customers have to their existing providers. Young and Broadband Committee Chairman Tom Wyatt believe that if enough residents would be open to change, the committee could promise a smaller provider a certain number of customers, making Warwick a more attractive area in which to improve service.
“We’re looking to get a sense of how important having cell service is to people in town,” Wyatt said. “We’ve heard a number of people say they really want it, but in order for it to happen, we really need to be able to show a company that there’s enough demand to make it worthwhile.”
“The major characters are very clear in their maps they don’t cover Warwick,” Young said. “Our business case is not very compelling. There is more money to be made increasing service in places that already have it than coming into low density, low population, rural areas.”
Young noted the committee considers improving cell service to be “second tier” to improving and expanding internet service. However, it recognizes poor cell reception as a significant problem.
“One of the concerns is safety,” Young said.
“It’s a recognized need,” he continued. “The selectboard is highly supportive of us obtaining a solution.”
Wyatt said he hopes a provider might be interested in installing equipment on town utility poles to improve service, rather than adding towers.
Alternatively, Young said some carriers allow their customers to make calls anywhere they have internet.
“If we can’t get a cell-carrier in town, maybe we want to bring WiFi to more places,” he considered.
At home, Young said, residents can improve their service by purchasing micro cells, also known as network extenders, from their providers.
The Broadband Committee is seeking feedback from residents. Residents are invited to attend the next meeting on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall, or to contact Wyatt by email at tom@tomwyattphoto.com.