In the last several years, there has been a massive
increase in the amount of cell phone usage within the Adirondacks. In order to accommodate
this use, and provide necessary service to customers, carriers like AT&T
and Verizon have begun to add towers and make extensions to existing towers to
boost service. While it obviously serves to benefit many, several environmental
groups within the Adirondacks have recognized this as a threat to the scenic
views inherent in this region. As a result of this push-back, the state passed a rule that mandates that new towers and extensions of old towers past a certain
height, must blend in. That means that yes, towers within the Adirondacks will
now look like trees! If you haven't seen those towers in other places...they
actually look pretty good... comparatively.
This movement began in January with
letters to the FCC from these environmental groups, urging that the scenic
vistas must be protected. The Adirondack Park agency's policies thus far have
allowed for very rapid expansion of the cell tower base within the region, and
now, the APA is looking to fulfill its non-commercial duties to support the
parks environmental advocacy groups; so far the Mountain Club says this plan is
in effect and working well!
Certain companies actually specialize in disguising cell phone towers such as this one.
https://www.google.com/search?q=disguised+cell+tower&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=1CxYVPuqHouwyATllICoDg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=677#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=3yPUFfIOFartkM%253A%3BbsmnvXfbF7aoGM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Futilitycamo.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F11%252Fpine.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Futilitycamo.com%252F%3B480%3B640
This is great. I know that there is a CT highway that disguises a telephone pole as a tree, and it is clearly just not natural at all. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of cell towers in the Adirondacks at all is kind of weird and counter-intuitive to the idea of wilderness. How can wilderness be wilderness if everyone has cell service?
ReplyDelete