RSS FeedComplete Cell Phone Coverage Coming To Gallery Place & Metro Center In 12 Months
While one can achieve some reception on AT&T while on the upper platform of the L’Enfant Plaza metro station, if you’re in an underground Metro station you will only be able to use a Verizon or Sprint cell phone.
Until 12 months from now. The bill hasn’t been signed off by the President yet, but it is pretty likely to happen soon. What it means is that you will be able to use your iPhone in the Gallery Place and Metro Center stations within 12 months and in the Archives station in 4 years or less.
Rob Goodspeed posted a nice graphic showing the top 20 busiest metro stations, all of which will receive coverage within 12 months.
Here’s the raw text of the bill:
(1) REQUIRING TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SERVICE- No amounts may be provided to the Transit Authority pursuant to the authorization under this section unless the Transit Authority ensures that customers of the rail service of the Transit Authority have access within the rail system to services provided by any licensed wireless provider that notifies the Transit Authority (in accordance with such procedures as the Transit Authority may adopt) of its intent to offer service to the public, in accordance with the following timetable:
(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, in the 20 underground rail station platforms with the highest volume of passenger traffic.
(B) Not later than 4 years after such date, throughout the rail system.
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Comments
Weren’t the bombs also carried in backpacks? By that logic we should ban all bags capable of carrying explosives on public transportation. If they really want to attack us, they will whether they can do it with cell phones or not. We live in a free society and we must accept the risks that come along with that.
The metro stations have had cell coverage on Verizon and Sprint since the mid 90’s. And it’s not like terrorists only use AT&T cell phones. So, the argument against supporting more carriers isn’t there.
As far as jamming cell phone frequencies, there are many more radio devices on other frequencies than cell phones.
We could effectively jam the whole spectrum, but then we’d probably be complaining about increased risk of brain tumors. Also, terrorists would probably use something else, like a timer or a brainwashed child.
I think it’s a bad idea too. I already have to listen to too much cell phone chatter and ring tones. Love it, if Sprint and Verizon lost signal too.
I’m not fan of people talking on phones all the time either, but Mrs. Columbo & I had the opposite thinking of sharonc. We really wanted iPhones, but didn’t want to lose our Verizon service that worked in the metro. For emergency situations it is such a useful feature.
We walk to work mostly, so the iPhone won us over. But I’m certainly happy to see that it might one day work in the depths of metro. Probably about the time I’m ready to switch to an Android phone…
I’ve been monitoring this issue for quite some time, and Metro has an extremely elaborate RFP out covering the installation. (It’s actually been in the work for years. For more than you’d ever want to know, click here: http://www.wmata.com/bus2bus/sol/view.cfm?solicitation_id=1731) As it is, even with the statute now law, I think it’s questionable how the USDOT will interpret the deadline. Be a shame if the system lost $1.5 BILLION in funding just because a contractor — who has not yet been named — can’t get wireless up and running in less than 12 months. By the way, WMATA is not fronting any money for this service — the contractor is expected to charge mobile carriers that want to work in the underground, but they do expect the contractor to pay off Verizon’s $7.7 million buy-out fee.
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I actually think this is a bad, bad idea. Weren’t the subway bombings in London and/or the train bombs in Spain set off by cell phones?? I’m all for jamming cell phone frequencies on/near public transportation. Thoughts?