By Steven Sandberg
 
November 25, 2009
 
WILLIAMS, Ore. - Finding a cell phone signal in one rural small Southern Oregon town is creating some debate.
 
The town of Williams has a population of approximately 4,000. It also has scarce cell phone coverage. A new cell phone tower is being planned for the area, but the community is divided on whether that is a good thing. Cell phone coverage for the town is provided by two different services. But some say it isn't enough.
 
"Half the valley has service, half the valley doesn't. So the half that doesn't have service, they want to have service," said Steve Williams with the Williams Town Council.
 
Last month AT&T proposed to build a new cell phone tower in the middle of the city. However, the tower's location had the community up in arms.
 
"It was right smack dab in the middle of the elementary school, library, church and general store," Williams Resident Sam Einhorn said.
 
The town council quickly shot down the proposed site.
 
"The town council (voted) 3 to 2 against it. And the citizenry's vote was 33 against and three for," Einhorn said.
 
The town planning department is working with AT&T in order to find a new site. Some citizens are trying to prevent the construction of what they call an eyesore and potential health hazard.
 
"We don't want to be seeing it, we don't want to be reminded that it's there, and we don't want it to be damaging our kids and our old folks... Some citizens say it's extremely difficult to get cell phone reception in certain areas of Williams. In one spot you may get a full signal, but go a few hundred yards up the road, and you may get nothing," Einhorn said.
 
The Williams City Council says there's an agreement with the town planning department and AT&T that assures a tower will be built. However, the council expects the company to negotiate with the citizens to find a site that works for everyone.