Cell phone coverage is abysmal in parts of rural Colorado. Here are 4 ideas lawmakers are considering to fix it
Eli Pace/Summit Daily News file photo
A committee of lawmakers studying cell service gaps in Colorado is searching for ways that the state can improve connectivity. On Tuesday, the lawmakers made their first requests for possible policies to address the issue.
The Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee, which is made up of six legislators and six nonvoting members, was formed this year by a legislative request from two members of the committee: Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta; and Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver.
“I am working hard to create a future where no one in our state has to question if their cell phone will be able to dial in an emergency,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat and chair of the committee.
The committee has met four times so far and heard presentations from the experts in the telecom, broadband, wireless industries along with representatives of various governmental agencies in Colorado.
Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco; Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo; and Sen. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, are also members of the committee. The six nonvoting members appointed by the governor are representatives of the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation, and the cell phone industry.
On Tuesday, lawmakers gave bill drafters general concepts for policies they’re interested in considering.
Here are the four bill ideas from the committee members:
1. The first bill idea, brought by Roberts, would prompt the state to generally explore how its agencies could be more formally involved in aiding cellular connectivity in Colorado. Soper said he would like to also be involved in developing the bill.
2. The second idea, proposed by him, would require the state to provide incentives for cell phone companies, including grants and property tax exemptions and reductions for underserved areas of the state. Bacon seconded the proposal and Henrichson said he would like to collaborate on the idea.
3. Lukens proposed a third bill that would seek to improve the cell phone tower permitting process and other regulations. Soper and Bacon will work with Lukens on the bill.
4. Soper requested the final bill, which would consider ways to deter theft or damage of cellular and critical communications infrastructure in the state.
The bill concepts don’t yet have much detail and will be worked out between the lawmakers and the bill drafters.
The committee, which can only recommend three bills for the 2025 legislative session, will have one more meeting this year to discuss the bill drafts on Oct. 1.
The lawmaking session, when the bills would be considered by the 100-person legislature, will begin in January.
