Improving cell service in Bow is making headway as the company tasked with mapping out dead spots in town and devising a plan for better coverage has released its report.
Isotrope LLC, a Massachusetts-based wireless communications company identified several areas with poor cell service, including the vicinity around the high school, Page Road and surrounding roads to the west, south along White Rock Hill road, parts of Dunbarton Center Road and Woodhill Road and the Dunbarton line.
After presenting the findings from the report at the town’s select board meeting on Tuesday, Dee Treybig, chair of the Bow telecommunications committee, said that the identified locations are no surprise.
“We all know where calls drop and we can’t use cell service,” said Treybig. “The whole point of doing this report was to not only for our knowledge but to have it done with solid data and with professionals to be able to decide what to do about some of these problem areas.”
The identified areas were mapped assuming that the cell tower being built on Branch Londonderry Turnpike East is functional.
The company presented maps highlighting signal strengths around town for data and voice and text services. But the telecommunication committee will not be focusing on data, said Treybig.
Identifying the best locations for new cell towers is still in the early stages, but one potential site is near the high school or in the tennis court area. Other possible locations include behind Big Bear Excavation at 7 Branch Londonderry Turnpike West, off Page Road, and in the forested area between Dunbarton Center Road and Woodhill Road.
“So with some of the spots, you need to find the best one that will reach the most people to get the carriers to want to come,” said Ian Flanagan, select board member and alternate committee member. “Someone will build the tower, but if it’s far, far away, and doesn’t have enough people they won’t attach to it.”
Flanagan also noted that the high school area is a particularly good spot since most students have cell phones.
With Bow’s hilly terrain and natural barriers that impede cellular signals, the town could need three to four additional towers to ensure adequate coverage.
Bow will also reach out to Dunbarton to explore mutual solutions for their cell service issues.
Meanwhile, the telecommunication committee plans to survey community members to determine the best ways to address the longstanding issue of poor cell service in Bow.
