Is cell service getting worse?

By JEFF MORRIS 

The Bedford Wireless Facilities Working Group recently updated the Town Board on infrastructure and consumer cell coverage. Among the revelations during the presentation was confirmation of residents’ complaints that cell service seems to be getting worse.

A map provided by the Wireless Facilities Working Group highlights areas that were identified as wireless coverage gaps in town — the white areas outlined in red. The large oval midway up the right side has now been mostly filled by the Bedford Post Inn tower; the circle in the upper right will be filled by the new tower off Route 35 by the Cross River Reservoir. DIAGRAM COURTESY OF TOWN OF BEDFORD

irThe Oct. 20 discussion was the group’s first update since May 2025. Tom Kennedy, chair of the working group, said it had been formed in 2019 to identify gaps in wireless service and cooperate with carriers to try to fill those gaps, while minimizing negative impacts on the community.

Emergency services

Andrew Klein, the group’s representative from the Bedford Police Department, provided an update on police communications. He said the new police radio system is now fully up and functional, and they’ve been having “great success” with it, with coverage that is “really good.” 

Klein said the old system covered about three-quarters of the town, and now with portables and mobiles they “pretty much have 99% coverage of our town,” which is “a great feat with this system.”

Ironically, Klein, who was calling in from New Rochelle, had his call dropped mid-presentation.

Klein said they are still having some significant issues with coverage of their mobile data terminals and vehicles, which they use to communicate with headquarters when they’re receiving calls or running plates. He said they have tried different carriers, and are contemplating looking into a Starlink system, which the Bedford and Pound Ridge fire departments have switched to and the Pound Ridge Police Department is looking at.

Otherwise, Klein said, they are looking forward to continuing to build out the townwide radio system, to allow all town agencies to talk together in a major incident.

Consumer wireless

Kennedy provided updates on facilities that have been going in. He said the tower at Bedford Post Inn was operational shortly before the last update, and at that time only had Verizon on it. 

Now, AT&T has received authorization and is in the midst of putting its antennas on that tower. Kennedy said he was told the AT&T signal will be operational by the end of the year, and that “obviously, we want to have as many carriers as possible” on all facilities.

“No facility is going to be a panacea in the town,” Kennedy noted. “That’s why we continue to look; we have very hilly terrain in town.” 

One major gap that is in the process of being filled is along routes 35 and 22 in Katonah. Kennedy said the town worked with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to gain approval for a site next to the Cross River Reservoir; that approval has just come through, and he expects building to start within months. 

He also cited a gap on the Mount Kisco border that will be solved with a tower approved in Mount Kisco, and an approval that was granted in 2021 for a tower next to Bedford Hills Memorial Park that will fill a gap there “if they come back to build that facility.” He said they cannot compel, even after approvals, “for these people to build them. We try to stay the squeaky wheel.”

A gap in Bedford Village also has terrain issues, said Kennedy, and will not be filled even with the Bedford Post Inn tower, so they are looking for other locations. The owner of Bedford Playhouse has offered his rooftop as a location, he said, and other property owners in Bedford Village have also indicated they are willing to host towers, including a potential site by Hunting Ridge Mall. Kennedy said the Playhouse will actually be a very good facility for giving coverage to the Middle Patent area, and even the beginning of Long Ridge Road. He also said one at Hunting Ridge Mall will be great for Bedford Village Memorial Park, which is another area where service is bad. However, he noted there have not been any formal proposals or agreements for these sites, and there is nothing yet before the Planning Board for approvals.

Is service worse?

Supervisor Ellen Calves noted that people across town swear that they used to have better service than they do now. 

“And they are correct,” Kennedy said.

“So that’s a real thing?” Calves asked.

“Yeah, it’s a real thing,” replied Kennedy, “and it’s not because we tore down towers or the carriers turned off their signals.” He said there are more people in the area, and there are a lot more apps using a lot more bandwidth. 

He said people notice it at some times of the day more than other times, such as when kids get home from school, or when people are off on a holiday. When people say they used to get a signal out in an area but now they’re not getting it, “it’s a bandwidth thing. If you have less of it going out, it doesn’t travel as far.” 

It’s why more wireless facilities are needed in the area, Kennedy said.

At times when there’s a storm or there’s something damage-related, Kennedy said people should inform the town, because it does have good contacts with the wireless companies. Calves clarified that people should first inform their carrier. “If you don’t get a response, inform the town. If you need a push, we’re happy to help,” she said.

These are multibillion-dollar companies making business decisions, Calves observed.

“So really, their customers can also reach out and complain if they want better service — but I think our willingness to work with them and find locations that are less intrusive to our residents but provide the service that they need has been a real helpful thing to everyone.”

The discussion continued to encompass the pros, cons, and practicality of Starlink service, Wi-Fi extenders, network extenders, car hot spots, and other technologies that individuals can use to fill gaps in wireless service.