Commissioners push for mapping of cell-phone dead zones after residents report missed calls during emergencies

Commissioners addressed repeated reports from residents about poor cell-phone reception in parts of Pine County, particularly east of Pine City and Rock Creek, and asked staff to gather specific location evidence to present to carriers.

A commissioner who requested the agenda item said residents have reported being unable to call for ambulances or fire assistance without driving to the top of a hill. The board discussed collecting handwritten or emailed location reports from townships, staff feedback (deputies, assessors) and town-hall testimony to create a map of dead zones. A private advocate (named in the transcript) offered to compile the data package for carriers if the county can supply location-specific evidence.

Staff and commissioners discussed the interaction between fiber and tower siting—some towers require fiber backhaul—and noted some partly completed fiber projects in the eastern county that staff want to follow up on with project leads. Commissioners asked staff (economic development coordinator and others) to assemble a coverage map and any evidence of half-completed fiber projects so the county can press carriers and contractors to complete required work.

What happens next: Commissioners directed staff to collect township reports, staff observations and any relevant project status on fiber buildouts, then provide the compiled data to the county’s economic development coordinator to forward to the advocate preparing a carrier package.