AU students will get better cell phone service when they travel on Metrorail because of legislation that will fund plans to expand cell phone service to include all carriers in the 20 busiest Metrorail stations, according to The Washington Post.
The Senate passed the bill that included this funding Oct. 1, after the House of Representatives also approved it. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will make these updates within the next year, The Post reported.
President Bush still needs to sign the bill into law, according to a WMATA press release.
Only Verizon and Sprint customers can currently get cell phone signals while on the Metro.
The 20 stations that will get expanded cell phone service first include Dupont Circle, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Metro Center, Farragut North and Pentagon City. Other stops that will be getting expanded cell phone service in the near future include Union Station, Farragut West, L'Enfant Plaza, Foggy Bottom and McPherson Square, according to WMATA's Web site.
Candace Smith, public affairs officer for WMATA, said the cell phone expansion project has been in development since June but was not confirmed until late August after WMATA found companies willing to install the cell phone system. The legislation gave WMATA funding to put the cell phone project into motion.
Kendall Lawrence, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said she feels the expansion of cell phone service will cut out a lot of frustration caused by limited cell phone signals on the Metro.
"Not being able to use my cell phone on the Metro makes it hard for me to let my friends know when crowded stations like [Gallery Place] Chinatown are busy or are having delays," she said.
The poor cell phone reception on the Metro is not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous said Zach Browning, a sophomore in SIS.
"I have T-Mobile, so I get no cell phone signal on the Metro," he said. "If there was ever an emergency, I would not be able to receive or make calls to anyone."
WMATA should find a company to install the new cell phone system by next year. Once the project is underway, it will take 12 months to expand cell phone service to the 20 busiest stations. The remaining 27 stations will get extended cell phone service within 48 months. AU students can expect to have cell phone service in the Tenleytown station by the fall 2012 semester, Smith said.
Stephen Taubenkibel, WMATA's public information officer, said he is enthusiastic about the project and its benefits for D.C. area commuters.
"This is something we have been eagerly working towards for a while," he said. "Our overall goal is to get cell phone service for all commuters."
Wael Davis, a senior in the School of Communication, said he looks forward to having more options for passing the time when he is on the Metro.
"I have AT&T, so when cell phone service is expanded, I will be able to not only receive calls but also check my e-mails and go on the Internet from my phone," he said.
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