Audrey Reed
Assistant News Editor
HEAR YE: Notices inform about a
public hearing April 9 for new
campus cell-phone towers.
The days of “can you hear me now?” may soon be over for Verizon cell-phone users on campus.
A public hearing will be held April 9 to hear any complaints about putting an “unmanned wireless telecommunication facility” on a water tank guardrail at Drescher Campus, according to signs posted at Pepperdine’s main entrance.
Maria Masis of the L.A. County Department of Regional Planning said no one has submitted any complaints yet about the construction of the antennae and that these types of requests are usually “non-controversial.” This hearing is standard for anytime construction of a cell-phone antennae is proposed
If everything goes according to plan, the cell antennae will be put up by December 2005, as well as a secondary cell site in the penthouse room of the Appleby Center, which will not be visible from the outside, This secondary antennae will boost the coverage and fill in any spots the School of Law and Drescher towers miss, Pepperdine’s chief information officer Hilary Baker said.
However, another Verizon tower will be placed atop the School of Law building in the summer, Baker said.
Pepperdine currently has two cell sites — one on the Law School building and the other at Drescher. Both provide Cingular and T-Mobile coverage.
In an effort to offer more choices to students, the university has been in negotiations with Verizon since 2002, Baker said.
“The project encountered delays including cellular-technology advancements and the slow regulatory process,” Baker said.
The Verizon cell coverage is good news for those who, like junior Athena Asklipiadis, couldn’t change their change their cell-phone plan or didn’t want to cell-phone number. Asklipiadis said Verizon works great outside of Malibu.
“I am thrilled that there is going to be better reception, but it’s sad I had to wait so long because there had been rumors since I was a freshman that there would be a Verizon tower,” she said. “And next year I will be a senior so I can only enjoy it for a year, but it’s a great thing for other Verizon users on campus that will be able to have clear reception for their years to come.”
Baker said they are interested in providing the widest range of cell-phone coverage for as many different cell-phone companies so that students can choose.
In addition to the two Verizon towers, Pepperdine is in early talks with Cingular to put another antennae on the water tank.
Pepperdine is also looking for additional cell-phone companies.
“IT is in the early discussion phase with Sprint about the possibility of adding Sprint cell sites on campus,” Baker said.
03-17-2005