New Canaan Cell Phone Improvements & Take the Town Cell Phone Survey

[Editor's Note: This blog post was originally published on Oct. 3.]

The Town of New Canaan and the Town Utilities Commission (utilities.commission@newcanaanct.gov) continue to actively work with the major wireless cell phone companies ( AT&T; Verizon; T-Mobile, etc.) to improve our wireless phone service.

While the Town is not responsible for providing any kind of telephone service, it is keenly aware that our wireless cell service is not as good as it should/could be.

This is especially true when it comes to making a 911 Emergency call on your cell phone. When parts of the town loose power, as it has during major storms, your regular home phone may not work.

It's during times like this, or during other emergency situations that people expect to be able to reach fire, police or emergency medical personnel on their cell phones. A missed 911 call could result in a disaster! 

Why is our cell phone coverage weak? Basically we don't have enough cell towers strategically located around our 22 square mile town.

Our topography is such that cell signals simply don't reach certain parts of town because of the many ridges and valleys within our borders.To this end we are making progress.

A new cell tower was built a year ago along Route 123 at the New Canaan Country Club. Another tower has been approved for construction by the CT Siting Council on the grounds of the Silver Hill Hospital in the Valley Road area.

Still another site is under review by the CT Siting Council on the Norwalk side of the line between New Canaan and Norwalk at the site of the old Amory off Exit 38 of the Merritt Parkway. And just recently a private land owner has agreed to sign a lease to build a cell tower on his property in the northern part of town. Progress albeit slow, is being made and will continue.Please take the on-line Town cell phone survey at: http://surveymonkey.com/s/m2rl8f2.

Results will be shared with the on-line and in print newspapers serving the town.

Tom Stadler, Town Administrative Officer, reminds everyone that the town supports the CT law to not use a cell phone or PDA device to make or receive a call or to text while you are driving.

If you need to use your cell phone or any PDA device while you are driving, please pull over to a safe area first. Tom's email address is: tom.stadler@newcanaanct.gov and his direct phone number is 203-594-3002.

Thanks for taking the Town cell phone survey and I would like to get your direct feedback about any and all aspects involving efforts to improve our wireless coverage. Thank you.