Newfoundland residents and firefighters call for better mobile coverage after emergency failures
Residents and first responders in Newfoundland and Labrador say poor cell service endangers lives, citing a 2016 crash and recent fatality.
A 2016 highway crash near Charles Brook left driver Amanda Howse injured and unable to call 911 due to absent cell service, forcing her to depend on a passerby’s two-way radio. She later developed post-traumatic stress disorder but considers herself fortunate compared with others. Fire chiefs Stephen Rowsell of Deer Lake Fire Rescue and Justin Bolt of Marystown Volunteer Fire Department described recurring connectivity problems across the province, sometimes having to borrow residents’ phones or use boosters that still fall short.
The federal government, represented by Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, is deploying up to $50 million from the Universal Broadband Fund to address coverage gaps and is urging provinces to identify ready-to-build projects. Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development is also pursuing partnerships to enhance mobile service. Bell’s David Marcille affirmed the company’s commitment to work with partners to close remaining gaps in rural and remote areas.
Why it matters
Lack of reliable mobile service can prevent timely emergency calls, putting lives at risk in remote communities.
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