Cell phone service in Lancaster soon!

[KBCraig]

Let's go back to Roger's. 

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Faster%2c+better+in+Lancaster+should+be+boon+for+economy&articleId=a64e0f82-afa2-48e3-b7b4-061999b99535

Faster, better in Lancaster should be boon for economy

By LORNA COLQUHOUN
Union Leader Correspondent

Lancaster ? With a flick of switch, cellular telephones could begin ringing in this North Country town as early as next week, further opening a swath of the region to technology that has been unavailable.

Late last week, crews were on the 1,820-foot summit of Mount Orne raising a cell tower. Installation is wrapping up and once testing is complete, US Cellular service could be activated sometime next week, according to Peter Riviere, executive director of the Coos Economic Development Corp.

"It's a long time coming," he said, "but a necessary piece of infrastructure in diversifying and preparing the economy for growth in the North Country and Northeast Kingdom."

The Lancaster Planning Board unanimously approved the construction of the cell tower on property owned by Dr. Brian Beattie last April, capping a five-year effort to bring service to the North Country. Currently, travelers heading north on Route 3 along the Connecticut River lose service out of Whitefield, not to be regained until a few bars of service can be raised just outside of Colebrook on Route 26, on into Dixville Notch.

Construction of the tower began in October and lasted about 10 weeks, Riviere said, with crews battling rain and snow to put up the 170-foot structure, striving to meet a year-end deadline.

"Oddsmakers were skeptical the project would meet its deadline given the time of year, the normal weather patterns and the amount of work to be completed," Riviere said. "All the contractors marveled at our luck with the weather."

Through the varying weather, the construction crew were able to establish a service road, install electrical power and erect the tower, which took place last Friday.

"The day Carroll Concrete rolled 16 truckloads of concrete to the top to pour a 130-yard foundation for the tower on Dec. 12, it was clear and 40 degrees," Riviere said. "When they stacked the tower Friday, it was perfect for the job; windless and 40 degrees again."

More than cell telephone service, the tower also paves the way for bringing broadband Internet service to the region, which does not have those capabilities in most areas, Riviere said.

Once the Mount Orne tower is activated, cell phone users will likely get service in Groveton and on the other side of the Connecticut River, in Gilman and Lunenburg, Vt., as well as areas in Whitefield, Riviere said, although it may not dip down into the center of town.

In addition, a broadband distribution system will link Mount Orne to the six-county project being organized by Northern Community Investment Corp. and Littleton Industrial Development Corp.

"This site is ideally located to connect with Burke Mountain (in Vermont); Groveton; Mann's Hill in Littleton and Pine Mountain in Gorham," he said.

The broadband distribution system will wholesale bandwidth to wireless Internet service providers for retailing to customers not now able to subscribe to DSL or high-speed cable connections.

Already, planners are eyeing sites in Groveton for the next tower to "build out a necklace," Riviere said.

"Once the towers are in place, it will form a network," he said, "and provide a link across (Coos) county."

While US Cellular will provide initial service to the Lancaster area, Riviere said both Verizon and Unicel are planning to have a presence later this spring.

[David]

Lancaster is where you are planning to go, isn't it? 
At a couple of places, on hills I was able to get a very weak signal.  I can't remember if I was roaming or not.  If I wasn't roaming, than it was Verizon signals I was picking up.   

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Why do you need your cell phones when you're in beautiful northern NH   

[burnthebeautiful]

The Lancaster Planning Board unanimously approved the construction of the cell tower on property owned by Dr. Brian Beattie

Hmm... Do I smell eminent domain?

[error]

The Lancaster Planning Board unanimously approved the construction of the cell tower on property owned by Dr. Brian Beattie

Hmm... Do I smell eminent domain?

I doubt it. It's pretty rare for cell towers to be built with eminent domain. Normally the wireless carriers lease a small bit of land and a right of way and frequently sweeten the pot by throwing in free unlimited cell phones for the owner.

[KBCraig]

Lancaster is where you are planning to go, isn't it? 
At a couple of places, on hills I was able to get a very weak signal.  I can't remember if I was roaming or not.  If I wasn't roaming, than it was Verizon signals I was picking up.   

Yes, that's where we're planning to move.

We got intermittent signals between Randolph and Jefferson, but couldn't keep a signal while driving. Zero to five bars instantly, then back to zero. Berlin and Gorham had good service. We also got a strong signal at a little country store in West Milan.

Kevin

[cathleeninnh]

The Lancaster Planning Board unanimously approved the construction of the cell tower on property owned by Dr. Brian Beattie

Hmm... Do I smell eminent domain?

I doubt it. It's pretty rare for cell towers to be built with eminent domain. Normally the wireless carriers lease a small bit of land and a right of way and frequently sweeten the pot by throwing in free unlimited cell phones for the owner.

I think I heard on WMUR that a church in Manchester was getting a new steeple courtesy of a communications company wanting a tower.

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Cathleen

[error]

Or free church steeples.

That's your free market in action.

[KBCraig]

Zoning/planning has been the big obstacle to increased wireless coverage. Everybody wants coverage, but too many busybodies don't want to see a tower.

Same with wind farms: everyone loves cheap electricity, as long as the towers are out of sight.

[David]

Churches and cell towers, not a bad idea.  In some areas churches and businesses share the same parking lots. 
You're right KBCraig.  It took five years to get it there.  I wonder what politician got a boost in his/her reelection campaign.   

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

Lancaster is where you are planning to go, isn't it? 
At a couple of places, on hills I was able to get a very weak signal.  I can't remember if I was roaming or not.  If I wasn't roaming, than it was Verizon signals I was picking up.   

Yes, that's where we're planning to move.

We got intermittent signals between Randolph and Jefferson, but couldn't keep a signal while driving. Zero to five bars instantly, then back to zero. Berlin and Gorham had good service. We also got a strong signal at a little country store in West Milan.

Kevin

You're moving to Lancaster?!  I grew up in Lancaster...parents still live there.  Has a nice sense of community and very pedestrian-oriented. 

[KBCraig]

You're moving to Lancaster?!  I grew up in Lancaster...parents still live there.  Has a nice sense of community and very pedestrian-oriented. 

Yes, that's pretty much what made us fall in love with the town: Mayberry, NH. 

Unlike Berlin and Gorham, the house lots are nicely sized, but it's still compact enough to walk everywhere. And people do, usually with their dogs!

We were sitting on the deck at New England Cattle Co., when a golden retriever came wandering up out of the river. We couldn't leave him loose there by that busy intersection, so I fetched a leash from the van, and we tied him to the table. He was happy to sit there eating our excess fries, while the waitress called his owner. They lived a couple of blocks away, so two teen boys walked over and took him home.

That kind of "community" feeling pretty much sealed it for us. It's the kind of town in which we want our youngest to grow up. I'm not saying we wouldn't go for a great house deal in Randolph, Jefferson, Groveton, Stark, or Milan, but we really have our hearts set on Lancaster.

Kevin

[AlanM]

Lancaster is nice. My folks grew up in Whitefield.

[Vote Tyler Stearns]

You're moving to Lancaster?!  I grew up in Lancaster...parents still live there.  Has a nice sense of community and very pedestrian-oriented. 

Yes, that's pretty much what made us fall in love with the town: Mayberry, NH. 

Unlike Berlin and Gorham, the house lots are nicely sized, but it's still compact enough to walk everywhere. And people do, usually with their dogs!

We were sitting on the deck at New England Cattle Co., when a golden retriever came wandering up out of the river. We couldn't leave him loose there by that busy intersection, so I fetched a leash from the van, and we tied him to the table. He was happy to sit there eating our excess fries, while the waitress called his owner. They lived a couple of blocks away, so two teen boys walked over and took him home.

That kind of "community" feeling pretty much sealed it for us. It's the kind of town in which we want our youngest to grow up. I'm not saying we wouldn't go for a great house deal in Randolph, Jefferson, Groveton, Stark, or Milan, but we really have our hearts set on Lancaster.

Kevin

You're making me miss Lancaster.  I don't live that far away now, but when I was younger I couldn't wait to get out of Lancaster and move below the notches to civilization.  When I had kids of my own, I missed the neighborhoodliness of Lancaster...and the pace...and the sense that you can get everything you need right in town without having to drive to a mall or something...there's even a skateboard shop now!  One of the things I loved (and miss) is that we always walked to school with my father.  He would say good morning or hello to everyone we passed and I often would say, "Daddy, who was that?" He would sometimes tell me the name of the person, or he'd say "I don't know, but we always greet everyone."  I liked that.  Now, when I say "hello" to someone I walk by, they look at me like I have three heads.  Ah well...those were the good ole days.

[mraaron]

   I go camping in a part of Missouri that doesnt have cellphone service.
Most of this state has coverage, so when someone calls they leave messages
demanding to know why I "turned off my phone".  Its a good place to
kick back....people need to learn to take a break every now and then.
Being wired 100% of the time with everywhere is not always the best
arrangement.