Success and safety are often based upon mobility.
Mobility over the years has changed. The advantages of new technology has contributed to the change. Today “being mobile” can mean simply having wireless access or a cell phone.
The challenge has become cost service access.
First, the need. Cell phones have become a necessary service to voice and data. To a great extent a life line for 911 service emergencies. The challenge has become service reception. In many areas of the country there is no service. This can be due to the restrictions on large communication towers or “cells”, or simply the geographic nature of the terrain (tunnels, mountains, valleys, rural areas, subways, etc). Now there is technology that can bring service that is reliable to challenged regions through loss of small senders or repeaters. This allows for hikers, those in rural communities, mountains and subways to be able to communicate at all times…emergency, personal or professional. As an example, in Washington DC the subway was involved in an accident. Due to the lack of cell services, first responders went to a wrong location at first. With the new technology in place this could have been prevented.
Second, the cost. The costs are mostly in construction and not in service, so the consumer bill does not reflect any significant cost for services.
The key is public safety and the need has become greater since the events of 9-11. If for no other reason then our own security and ability to be in touch at all times, it is vital that we support the technology both as consumers and as government.
The National Alliance for Healthy Communities, with the support of think tank City Solutions, has compiled significant information on the issues and how to address them. The information is available for transit agencies, local, state and federal governments.