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News

Cell antennas on UC agenda

Underground and Satellite installations 
would provide desired phone reception

by KIM THAI
The Daily Cougar

Cell phone service might be available soon at the University Center Underground and UC Satellite now that the installation of eight cell phone antennas is on the UC Policy Board and UC and Associated Facilities' agendas. 

Planning will continue, but because of other renovation priorities and the projected cost, the installation date is still unknown, UC and Associated Facilities Director Keith Kowalka said. 

"We don't have any proposal yet," Kowalka said. "We're trying to get some quotes on how much (installing) four towers at each location would be. If we know we can do it and we have the money for it, then it'll go through the administrative process. We try to balance the things that have impact and the things that don't. We sit down and look at how much money we can spend in a year."

No cost estimate was available, but one cell phone antenna, built for the underground floor of the library, cost between $12,000 and $15,000, Kowalka said. The plan for each location is to build antennas servicing the four major cell phone companies -- Sprint Nextel Corp., AT&T/Cingular, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, Kowalka said. 

If the projected cost reaches $120,000, the projects priority will be lessened. The UCPB and UCAF are first concentrating on building a marquee for the UC similar to the one outside Hofheinz Pavilion. 

UCPB member and nutrition senior Dona Suttajit said this is a solution the UH community has been wanting. 

"The UC and Satellite are major areas of operation that pertain to students' needs," Suttajit said. "Having these antennas built in will resolve one of the biggest problems that has been ongoing not just the for the students, but the staff and faculty. I think this is a great idea."

Tuition will not be affected by the installation because funding will come from the UC's reserve and renovation budget, which is comprised of Student Fees Advisory Committee-appropriated funds and self-generated revenue, Kowalka said. 

The idea to build the antennas came from student surveys. Students said in a survey this year that lack of cell phone coverage was why many don't want to hang out in the Underground and Satellite, Kowalka said. 

"The Satellite gets terrible coverage, but as does the UC Underground. The UC Underground has been highlighted more so to us than the Satellite," Kowalka said. "People tend to go into the Satellite for an hour or two and leave, while people in the Underground -- your in an organization or if you're office is down there -- (have) a stronger possibility (to) be down there for several hours for a program or project. We get a lot more concerns from students in the Underground than the Satellite." 

Both facilities opened in 1973. Coverage in the UC Underground and Satellite is hampered because of the locations' limestone, Kowalka said. 

Kendra Tillman, a Smoothie King employee, said the lack of reception causes an inconvenience to workers and customers and that adding an antenna is necessary for employee emergencies. 

"We have to go outside instead of staying inside," Tillman said. "And when we have customers, (it'll) be real busy -- we even step outside to use our cell phones. We (are) missing customers and losing money because we're trying to talk on our cell phones outside. 

"I have a baby at home, and nobody can really get through to me with our employee phones, and they try my cell phone, and it doesn't work."

Kowalka said installing the antennas would make the facilities more appealing.

"Part of my role is creating an environment where people want to come, and they want to feel like they can get their business done. And if there are people say our building is a barrier to getting them calls, then that is definitely a barrier for our department," Kowalka said. "My goal is not to have any barriers to anything. I would love to have a building that has cell phone coverage in all areas. My goal is always is to look at the big picture and how we create more energy and excitement about coming to our complexes." 

More information on antenna installations, implementation dates and financial requirements will be discussed at the UCPB meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. April 27 in the UC's Bayou City Room. 

--Additional reporting by Debbie Aranda.

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