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Verizon Service Update

Posted on: August 12, 2019 - 4:20pm

As part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of wireless service in Solebury, members of the Township administration held a follow-up call with Verizon technicians to see if any progress has been made since their last face-to-face meeting on July 1.

The utility representatives said that three projects begun this summer should help improve service in some areas of Solebury:

  • Snake Hill tower, just over the township line in Buckingham, was brought online in July, improving coverage in and around the Route 202 and Old York Road area.
  • Three small cells are planned in the Peddlers View development and Peddlers Village, due to come online before the end of winter. These cells should help with the volume of calls in this area.
  • Verizon techs are working with a subcontractor to realign cells to improve service along River Road in Lumberville and below New Hope Borough. The hills and valleys along the river make coverage in these two areas a challenge for the engineers.

However, the Verizon representatives reiterated their position that Solebury's rural character and diffuse population would not yield a sufficient return on investment to justify additional spending on new cells or tower locations.

Much of the conversation focused on the limited service in Carversville, along Fleecydale, Carversville and Old Carversville roads. Verizon technicians explained that these are low lying areas that cannot be reached by existing antennae. While the utility has made minor tweaks to existing structures, none have been able to provide a solid, reliable signal in the area.

Verizon maintains that the only solution to the problem would be to build a new tower along Aquetong Road. The Board of Supervisors believes that there is no community support for an additional cell tower.

The Township will maintain a communications channel with Verizon for status updates. Should other communication vendors become available, the Township is prepared to meet with them and determine if they can provide competitive services, both in quality and cost, to Solebury residents.