Telecommunication upgrades approved at Grand Teton
A National Park Service decision will clear the path for a right-of-way permit for telecommunications infrastructure, including cellular and broadband services in strategic, developed areas of Grand Teton National Park.
The areas include parts of the park that currently have significant staff presence or see a high volume of visitors. It also includes upgrades with the NPS radio system.
The permit is expected to be issued this fall.
Grand Teton National Park Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said, “This plan will allow us to meet mission-critical park operations, as well as those of our partners in the park. These services are vital for recruiting and retaining employees and will provide connectivity for park visitors at strategic developed locations.”
The project allows for 62.5 miles of fiber optic main line and 21.4 miles of lateral line. It will be installed underground in conduit within road corridors, previously disturbed areas or other utility rights-of-way. It should allow for reliable high-speed internet access in developed areas, as well as connection to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
Nine developed areas with a high volume of park visitors will see installation of wireless telecommunications facilities.
The wireless infrastructure locations are Flagg Ranch, Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain, North Jenny Lake, South Jenny Lake, Beaver Creek, Moose, and Kelly.
The facilities are designed to be compatible with the character of surrounding structures and use technologies, vegetation, or topography to make them as unobtrusive as possible.
