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IMPORTANT AGREEMENT REACHED ON NORTHWAY CELL PHONE COVERAGE AREA VERIZON WIRELESS AND ADIRONDACK GROUPS REACH CONSENSUS ON “STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES”

Governor Eliot Spitzer announced that his office has reached an agreement today with Verizon Wireless and the five major environmental groups dedicated to the protection of the Adirondack Park on a “Statement of Principles” to help guide the future development of cellular phone service along the Northway (I-87) corridor.

The lack of cellular coverage on the Northway corridor has been a subject of great concern for public safety reasons. Nearly 47 miles of this heavily traveled interstate – the main thoroughfare between New York and Montreal – is without cell phone service. Recent tragic accidents have highlighted the need to address this important public safety matter.

The wireless solution offered by Verizon Wireless is a private sector solution, privately financed and located primarily on private land. The company has committed to erect as few towers as possible to secure full Northway coverage and is committed to building a system that is compliant with the laws, policies and regulations that govern towers in the Adirondacks. The company has indicated that it will not construct towers within the forest preserve.

Since taking office, Governor Spitzer has made Northway wireless coverage a priority. Beginning in January, he directed his staff to explore solutions and technologies and meet with cell phone carriers, communications experts and environmental groups to develop a solution that took into account environmental concerns related to protecting New York’s Adirondack Park. After a number of meetings, Verizon Wireless emerged as the company interested in both implementing a technology solution for full wireless coverage and in working closely with environmental organizations to secure understanding and support for their proposal. These meetings resulted in the development of the “Statement of Principles” that was drafted by Verizon Wireless and the five Adirondack groups announced today.

Governor Spitzer said, “The safety of travelers along the Adirondack Northway corridor has been a paramount concern and I commend Verizon Wireless for taking the approach of a good corporate citizen and working with the Adirondack groups toward a comprehensive solution that resolves safety concerns in a manner that protects the scenic resources of the Adirondack Park. I want to personally thank the Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, The Adirondack Council, The Sierra Club, the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Association for the Protection of the Adirondack for their great and diligent work in reaching this agreement. I also want to thank Verizon Wireless for stepping up and developing a wireless solution, engaging in dialog with my staff and the environmental community, and in reaching this agreement.”

"Enhancing wireless coverage along the Northway has been a priority for Verizon Wireless for many years," said Marquett Smith, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "We look forward to bringing improved wireless coverage to our customers and the communities along the Northway as quickly as possible with this unity of support from the Governor, state officials, local municipalities and environmental groups."

Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Michael Balboni said: “This important agreement between Verizon Wireless and the five primary Adirondack groups will undoubtedly help to speed up development of a wireless system. This system will better protect Northway travelers, and, when coupled with our other efforts to increase State Police road patrols, help to make this section of isolated roadway safer for all, including our first responders.”

Senator Betty Little said: "I am pleased we have an agreement that recognizes the critical need for cell phone coverage in the Adirondacks. For too long, this remote stretch of highway has lacked a vital form of communication that other communities and regions in New York State have been able to take for granted. The important thing now is, with this agreement, all parties will work vigorously in good faith, and with resolve, to site the towers and improve safety on this highway as quickly as possible. I thank Governor Eliot Spitzer for making this a priority and Verizon Wireless for their commitment to addressing this issue."

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said: "Since arriving in Albany, I have been working with my colleagues to help solve the issue of the lack of cell phone coverage on the Northway. The only way we can expedite a solution is by working together. I certainly want to thank Governor Spitzer for bringing all of the entities together on this very important first step and the development of this agreement."

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward said: "I am very pleased that the Governor was able to bring Verizon Wireless and the various environmental groups concerned with protecting the integrity of the Adirondack Region to an agreement that will bring enhanced safety services to the North Country residents. Now it is important that we move forward quickly so that cell phone coverage will be provided along the Northway before another winter sets in."

Scott Lorey, the Legislative Director for The Adirondack Council said: “The Adirondack Council is pleased to be a part of a permanent solution to fill the gap in wireless communications coverage that exists on sections of the Northway along sparsely populated communities. This general agreement we have reached with the Governor’s office and with the cell phone industry will speed the construction of a system that protects public safety without compromising the Adirondack Park’s wild character or ecological integrity.”

Neil F. Woodworth, Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club said: “The Adirondack Mountain Club is pleased to partner with Governor Eliot Spitzer and Verizon Wireless to facilitate the timely installation of a truly effective communication system to protect travelers on the Adirondack Northway while protecting the scenic beauty of the Adirondacks and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws that guarantee the “forever wild” character of the Adirondack Park.”

John Stouffer, Legislative Director for the Sierra Club’s Atlantic Chapter said: “Governor Spitzer has arrived at a solution to the cell phone service problem on the Adirondack Northway that addresses emergency and public safety needs while preserving the highway’s irreplaceable wilderness vistas. The Sierra Club congratulates Governor Spitzer for his creativity and integrity in working to resolve this problem in a way that meets public safety needs and protects the Adirondack Park”

Peter Bauer, the Executive Director of the Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks said: "The RCPA expresses our gratitude to Governor Spitzer for providing strong leadership in bringing together the environmental community and Verizon Wireless. The agreement reached will provide long-term cell phone service for the Adirondack Northway. The agreement protects both the people and the environment of the Adirondack Park, the two priceless resources that makes the Adirondack Park such a wonderful place."

The agreement announced today will help guide the development of a wireless system in the Adirondack Park and the Adirondack organizations will “use their best efforts to facilitate the timely review, approval and deployment of “wireless communication systems” that are in accord with the following principles:

The system must be designed to provide wireless communications services for motorist traveling the Adirondack Northway with public safety and emergency use as a primary goal;

The system must not result in any construction of communications towers, maintenance roads or electrical power lines on the New York State Forest Preserve Land;

That the entity developing the system will comply with the Adirondack Park Agency’s regulations, including the “Towers Policy” to ensure that towers meet the standard of “substantial invisibility,” and with the State Environmental Quality Review Act;

That the communications network be designed to blend into the landscape; That the system honors all scenic easements that New York State has acquired along the Northway corridor;

That the system allows for co-location by the Statewide Wireless Network (SWN) project, other carriers and public-safety groups to the extent permitted by the Adirondack Park Agency; and

That the system recognizes the unique situation of the Northway passing through the Adirondack Park.