TOUGH CELL
MLA says cellphone service lacks in Victoria County.
A local MLA is concerned with the lack of cellphone coverage in the Victoria County area.
Victoria-The Lakes MLA Keith Bain says there are a lot of places in his riding where there is little to no cellphone coverage, which is a cause for concern among county residents.
Bain said residents in the North River area were without landline service last summer because of road construction and couldn’t use a cellphone.
“In order for them to use a cellphone, they had to travel about 15-20 kilometres just to get cell service, which isn’t good when you’re in an emergency situation,” he said.
“I know one couple that’s on a lifeline that if something happens the call goes through, but with no landline the call cannot go through. It’s a combination down there of improving the landline service, but more important having a good cell service, too.”
Bain recently raised the question of cell phone service in Victoria County in the legislature during a question period session, asking the Minister of Business Geoff MacLellan if his department would provide funding to establish reliable cell service in the county.
“There’s money in the broadband program, so we’re asking them (the government) to use some of that money towards cell phone service, too,” said Bain. “It’s good to have great internet, but it would be good to have good cell service too.”
Without good cellphone service and internet, Bain believes businesses will have second thoughts on opening in Victoria County.
“(The government) should work in conjunction with the Municipality of the County of Victoria because in Victoria County’s case they have a broadband committee, so they would know the requirements that are there,” said Bain.
“I think a lot of the groundwork is already done by the broadband committee and they (the province) can just go from there.”
Bain would like to see more cellphone towers in the area, but understands the reason some cell providers may not be willing to install them with no return on their investment.
“In the business case you can see the point, but they still provide the service,” said Bain. “If the government is giving money to them, the government should be able to say they want them to put a cellphone tower in point A or whatever the case.”
Moving forward, Bain said the next step is to make sure that Victoria-The Lakes gets its fair share of money for the broadband program and that some of it will be designated for cell service as well.