Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Cell tower comment today


Galena is a mountaintop location with an existing access road and power source; it can provide the best wireless coverage with the least environmental impact.

The Bureau of Homeland Security has expressed tremendous interest in Idaho Cell Tower's proposal for a 90-foot camouflaged tower at Galena. If Idaho Tower Co.'s application is not approved, the bureau stated it will build a 120-foot conventional tower on the existing telephone site.

Mike Elle says he needs better communication service for his fire department and his ambulance service for this region. Gene Ramsey states the proposed tower will fill in large holes of coverage between Bald Mountain and Galena; where the 700 mHz technology is activated in Blaine County, the quality of service is superior.

The Galena tower and cell service are also important for the E-911 program. People calling 911 on cell phones can be map-located. Lives, man-hours and tax dollars can be saved with cell technology. Cell phones are undeniably positive tools for providing quick response to accidents, both on the highway and in the backcountry, fires and other natural disasters.

The Idaho Tower Co. proposal is a 90-foot stealth monopine tower. The alternatives to the proposed monopine are much larger towers that can be built on state land, along the highway in the Sawtooth Valley. The Bureau of Homeland Security will still need to build its own tall site at Galena. The Forest Service is risking the introduction of more and taller, highly visible towers in the Sawtooth region.

Help protect the scenic values of the SNRA and support responsible introduction of vital communication services at Galena. The deadline for public comments is March 11. You need to set forth both your support of the Galena tower and your opposition to the Forest Service's proposed amendment to its forest plan. The Forest Service wants to increase the visual rating of the proposed tower location, making it impossible to permit the tree tower. Send your letter via e-mail to comments-intermtnsawtooth@fs.fed.us

Pat Higgins

Blaine County




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