Yellowstone is at loggerheads with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility over WIFI.
PEER published a press release in response to Yellowstone’s proposal to install more WIFI antennas in the more developed parts of the park, such as Old Faithful and Canyon Village. PEER raises a number of perceived issues. Mainly, that it violates the park’s own existing Wireless Plan by providing WIFI in 400 buildings on the Register of National Historic Landmarks and extending access to areas where coverage is banned.
They also argue that 2/3rd of the park, including much of the backcountry, has adequate coverages already.
Yellowstone refutes all of these points – there are no violations of the current Wireless Plan as WIFI is currently allowed anywhere where cellular service is allowed and several historic structures already have WIFI, the coverage will not expand into the backcountry, and there are significant portions of the park’s road corridors without any cellular coverage. The roads make up 1% of Yellowstone’s area – that’s significantly less than the 2/3rds of the park PEER alleged has coverage.
Park Superintentdant Cam Sholly states that nothing has been finalized or approved, and he appreciates PEER’s passion in their defense of the park and the issues they have raised.
