President Anthony Marx said that the survey was essential in determining how the College would work to improve cell phone reception on campus. "The College can and will make expenditures to bolster cell phone reception because that's how we are communicating with each other," he said. "In order to do that, we're going to have to find ways to ask students and faculty what type of provider they're using so that we can invest in a targeted way instead of an inefficient way."
According to Assistant Director of Systems, Network and Telecommunications Stephen Judycki, the survey will ask questions such as, "What cell phone service do you use?" and "How do you rate the strength of the signal for this service?"
The IT department hopes to use the survey to improve the overall quality of telecommunications. "While individual responses will be held in confidence, we intend to use aggregate survey results in ways that range from trying to leverage a cellular provider's response to identified problems areas, to exploring options for amplifying indoor cell signals ourselves, to advising the community of which cellular providers have the best coverage on our campus," said Judycki.
The College decided to create a survey after a significant shift from landline to cellular use by the campus community alerted the College of the need to address cellular coverage. "When we began to explore the realm of possibilities for improving cellular coverage on campus, we realized that we faced not a simple problem but one that was exacerbated by multiple cellular providers and a plethora of cell phone models in use by between 1,500 and 2,000 members of our community," said Judycki.
Judycki said that a survey was the only practical way to learn about the many needs that are required by the community's cell phone users.
In addition, Judycki stated that members of the IT department had found complaints of poor cell phone reception on campus on some of the College's online forums. "When we scanned the Daily Jolt and New Athenian, we found some discussion about poor cellular reception, but students seemed to be adaptive and generally accepting of their conditions," he said. "They were also very willing to share specific details about their service that might benefit others."
Judycki said that parents were unhappy with poor cell phone reception as well. "We've received a couple complaints from parents of students, and the Dean of Students' office has alerted us to poor cellular reception in some dormitory buildings, so they apparently have received some complaints," he said.
According to Judycki, Verizon used to provide landline service, known as Student Centrex, to approximately 900 Amherst students. However, service declined to 600 subscribers in 2003-04 to less than 300 students in 2004-05. Consequently, Verizon discontinued its service for the current school year. Currently, students living in only 45 dorm rooms and suites subscribe to Verizon's residential service. In contrast, reported cell phone usage is at approximately 1,400 students.
As many students may already know, reception for Cingular subscribers greatly improved after a Cingular antenna was installed on the smokestack of the College's heating plant over the summer.
By spring 2006, a Verizon Wireless antenna will also be installed on the smokestack. However, because the smokestack is only safe for two antennae, no other providers' antennae will be installed. According to Assistant Director Physical Plant for Operations Daniel Campbell, the Cingular antenna was installed after Cingular approached the College, whereas for the Verizon antenna, the College approached Verizon.
The IT department has already conducted tests to identify which cell phone services provide the most reliable reception. "When my staff and I recently conducted non-scientific tests with Cingular and Verizon phones in dormitory hallways, we found somewhat mixed results," said Judycki. "But Cingular tended to be stronger overall, probably due to their presence on our smokestack."
Because of the new Cingular antenna, students who use Cingular as their cellular provider are also finding it easier to make and receive calls. "It's wonderful. I don't have to run outside now every time I need to call my parents," said Eric Hsu '08. "My friends can reach me whenever they need to."
The reception may have improved for Cingular users, but it still remains unreliable for many other students. "[The reception] is fairly unpredictable. OK in some spots, but not so much in many of the regular places that I need reception," said T-Mobile subscriber Di Shui '06. "[There is] barely any reception in the Media Center, no reception in the campus center, none at the gym or Smudd."
Verizon user Brandon Jones '08 said that for the most part he has little problem with his cell phone, except when he is in his room at Seligman House. "In most places, [the reception] works fine, but in Seligman, it's pretty bad," he said. "I have to go outside to order food. It's pretty inconvenient because I live on the third floor." However, Jones said that for the most part he did not think that cell phone reception is a critical issue.
Madeline Camacho '09 agreed with Jones and added that although it is not of utmost importance, improved cell phone reception is beneficial because "you never know what can happen."
Shui also added that unreliable reception is problematic for seniors who are in the process of finding jobs. "[I have] some reception in my room in Cohan [Dormitory], but it goes in and out, which is problematic because this is the time for job search and phone interviews," said Shui. "I always have to find a landline just in case my reception cuts out at a critical time."
Bad reception also creates inconveniences for students trying to contact friends, family and of course, restaurants. "In terms of not being able to contact people on campus, or being contacted by friends, family, potential future employers or food delivery people, it's inconvenient and an annoyance," said Shui. "It seems silly that people have to leave their rooms in order to check their voicemail for all the incoming calls they missed."