FARMINGTON — Emergency responders using radios or cellphones to communicate with dispatchers or others in the field are hitting dead zones in Franklin County, officials at Wednesday’s communications meeting said.
Other problems cited included visitors leaving the area early because they cannot work with the slow Internet, limited broadband and associated services, and the owner of a Kingfield business going to the front porch to get a signal for the cellphone.
The county’s informational meeting at the University of Maine at Farmington included professionals, such as representatives of U.S. Cellular, ConnectME Authority and other organizations. They spoke about what has been done, what is being done and what could be done to improve infrastructure. They also gave rough cost estimates and discussed grant sources.
Franklin County is looking to amend its tax increment financing district that is tied to TransCanada’s Kibby Wind Power Project in northern Franklin County. Those working on the TIF want to find the best language to include in the amendment and the best use of funds for communications purposes.
The plan is to add more categories and expand the geographical and development area in the TIF district for different purposes designed to increase economic development.
One of the communications problems the county faces is its terrain, which varies from mountains, hills and valleys, Stan Wheeler, director of the Franklin County Regional Communications Center, said. At times, law enforcement officers and other emergency responders cannot communicate with dispatchers when they are in certain areas, he said.
The county has communication towers on Mosher Hill and Sugarloaf that are used by law enforcement.
Even with the county sheriff’s cruisers having boosters to increase communication range, dispatchers sometimes cannot hear deputies north of Eustis, in the corridor from Phillips to Rangeley, in the Weld, Carthage and Industry areas and other places, Franklin County Lt. David Rackliffe said.
The county has contracted with Rick Davol, president and owner of Communication Consulting Service Inc. of Gray, to do a countywide comprehensive communications study to determine how to improve communications.
Zach Wozich, an optimization engineer with U.S. Cellular, said there is a plan to put a communication site in Starks that may help. He went over what has been done since 2010, including developing communications sites in Chesterville and Kingfield.
“U.S. Cellular is always looking to improve our coverage area,” Wozich said.
Broadband (high-speed Internet) access is limited in Franklin County. Having it would attract people to come to the county and stay longer, David Maxwell, program director for ConnectMe Authority, said.
The ConnectME Authority is a component of state government whose mission is to facilitate the universal availability of broadband to all Mainers and help them understand the valuable role it can play in enriching their lives and helping their communities and businesses thrive, according to its website.
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