Inadequate cell service is ‘jeopardizing people’s lives’ in emergencies, says N.L. woman

Even a decade removed from the event, Amanda Howse remembers Jan. 20, 2016 clearly.

After hitting a snow drift and veering off the road, she managed to pull herself out of her wrecked car — alone, hurt and stuck down the side of the highway near Charles Brook in central Newfoundland. She reached for her phone, ready to dial 911 but couldn’t. There was no cell service.

“It’s jeopardizing people’s lives by not having adequate cell service across this province,” Howse told CBC News.

The issue of connectivity and access to emergency services was raised last week, after a fisherman died off Westport on the Baie Verte Peninsula. A firefighter in the community told CBC News connectivity issues are a problem in emergencies.

Howse received help when another driver saw tire marks lead off the embankment, and with the help of another resident’s two-way radio, they were eventually able to contact emergency services.

She’s since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the experience. However, Howse considers herself to be one of the “lucky ones.”

Cellular coverage, or lack thereof, raises concerns about ability to reach emergency services in N.L.

On the other end of the line, first responders say connectivity is a problem that needs to be solved.

“It seems like we’re repeating ourselves, déjà vu, every couple of years,” said Deer Lake Fire Rescue fire chief Stephen Rowsell.

“I’ve talked to other chiefs around the province. They seem to have the same concerns,” he said.

More than a 600-kilometre drive from Deer Lake, in Marystown, Marystown Volunteer Fire Department fire chief Justin Bolt said there are some parts of his area where service is “inadequate” or not available at all.

Though Bolt’s department has purchased additional resources to try to stay connected —including three cell phone boosters — sometimes it’s not enough and his crew has to go to a nearby home to connect.

“It could be in another community where they [firefighters] have to actually go in and use a resident’s phone in order to make that call,” said Bolt.

The fire chief hopes to see improvements in his community’s connectivity in the future.

“We’re in an age of technology, but technology is not advancing to keep us connected. But all the tools are there,” Bolt said.

In a statement to CBC News, Buckley Belanger, federal Secretary of State for Rural Development, said the federal government is “working to close gaps in mobile coverage in several ways.”

These include the Universal Broadband Fund, where up to $50 million is available to improve cell service in rural areas and along roads. The federal government has also asked provinces and territories to identify “shovel-ready” projects that could expand cell coverage.

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The province’s Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development said it’s looking to “identify potential partners and solutions to improve mobile connectivity throughout the province.”

The province also said it is continuing to advocate to both the federal government and telecommunications companies to increase coverage. 

During last year’s election, the PCs promised it would spend an extra $3 million a year to increase cellular coverage in the province.

In a statement, telecommunications giant Bell spokesperson David Marcille said improving connectivity in rural and remote areas remains a “shared challenge,” that often requires collaboration between industry and governments, and that it “remains committed to working with partners to help address remaining coverage gaps.”

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