Around hear, it seems that wireless service isn't what I'd expect.
Cellular has been deployed for what almost 10 - 15 years.  It seems that where ever I go service is somewhat lacking.   It's both poor or marginal signal or the inability to get a call though (got signal, but after dialing the number and hitting "Send", nothing happens (except, "Call, UI, or(and) Calling 831-555-5555") for a minute then the phone beeps and sez, "Call failed" or I get a fast busy, or "I sorry, all circuits are busy, please call again (this either from PacBell or Verizon, etc.).  I believe this happens because of one or more of the following, no enough call capacity at the cell site (base station (cell site) hardware (cards or radios, etc.), not enough backbone (T1's, or microwave. How the ur call goes from the cell site to the wired half of the system.), and not enough call sites (also, there is interference, complexity of the nature of wireless service, etc.)
I'm not saying this happens all the time, but fair too often.  If this was the case, I'd except that I have a Cell phone problem (again.  But no, I have a Motorola - so that cant be ;=)

So what do the Cellular company's have to do to fix this?

• Adding backbone (T1's, or more microwave radios) to increase call capacity...
• Adding more base station (cell site) hardware (cards or radios)...
• Adding more Cell Sites (Anyone ever tried to get a building permit, and u thought that was a pain...
• Cell phone makers to make better; receivers (RF), electronics and imbedded software, that makes up a cell phone.

Why don't they?
Well, they are, vary slowly.  However, most companies these days seem to be so "ROI" (Return-On-Investment) retentive (excessively focused).  There focus seems to be on making there shareholders money, even if it may mean loss later (in time);  Instead of being concerned about there customers!  This should be there most important concern.  So companies like myn (the provider I have) (like all the others) keep making these sweet "Re-Up" and other deals to get new cellular customers.  These plans encourage the new customers, to use there service, thus adding to the already loaded network, to the point of overload, thus the, "Call failed" or I get a fast busy, or "I sorry, all circuits are busy, please call again..."!!!

What needs to change?
There is a need for a better more well thought through public policy about Wireless (Cellular) towers, from a realistic (not as in Radio Shack ;=) point of view.  If we want your cell phones to work, there must be a cell site on the other end.  On the other hand we probably don't want a cell site on ever street corner (however a few new pho-tree (fake trees there are really towers), cell site ore more ok - HINT, HINT), we need balance.  I've not yet ever head of a plan (as in City/County Planning) that made any sense, from the this point of view.  Instead just more of the same, bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy, this is a wrong solution!!!

Hear is ONE of the problems (with wireless coverage).
Some areas may not, ever, be covered (or covered well) with Cellular service, do to perceived ROI concerns.  These are not areas, that there are not enough customer, just perceived to be, not enough.  Case in point.  Caramel Valley, Ca.(East of Monterey, Ca).  I had a friend that lived way out on the eastern end of Caramel Valley Rd.  My (Verizon) service was somewhat spotty(dropped calls, call blocking, call fades(poor signal) (my friend has Cenglur(GSM), this was a little more spotty than nyn, but ok. But CellularOne (AT&T) was better.)  In the town, it was usually, ok (All the carriers).  CellularOne (now AT&T Wireless (TDMA) has a cell site at the far, far end (near Tosahara Rd) of Caramel Valley.  GTE (Verizon  now (CDMA) decided that there wasn't enough customers, so they didn't co-locate with Cell-1 (~10 years ago).  Then, this area was somewhat sparsely populated, now there is lots of houses, several retreats - it's grown.  But now, there is a higher bar, a threshold - ROI;  this area, will not make the list for a new site Verizon (CDMA) provider - there have other more important problem areas to fix...

If there wont, maybe someone else should (Sh.. or get off the pot).
My idea would require a FCC rules change to the rule governing Wireless/Cellular, AND to the technical standards (rules) that spell out how cell phones work (UMT-136(TDMA)(GSM), IS-95, 2000, etc..).

Hear my idea:
Allow third party (there is a acm. for wire line service, equivalent,  i forgot???) wireless providers.  Take my example, Verizon will never add a new site there.  So, allow a third party provider to put a site up...

A) Potential FCC request for rules change:

• Allow for third party Cellular(wireless) providers
• Third party provider would submit a request to the local cellular provider, and CC'ed to the FCC, there intent to put a cell sit up in a present under/uncoverd area (Sh.. or get off the pot)
• The FCC would start the process
• The Cellular service provider would have 90 days (3 mo) to respond;
• yes we'll start the process to put up a site within a year (baring any local City/County Planning problems
• or, no thanks, u can have it, good luck (suckers ;=)
• Require primary providers to negotiate and allow use of third party providers (This includes frequency/Channel coordination (make them get along)
• Require manufactures to sell this equipment to the "NEW" provider after FCC licensed
• Require the "NEW" third party carriers, not to gouge the new customers (set standors charges for roaming)
• Phone manufactures need to up date phone fermwere to more clearly state what kind of roaming, there about to do (I think GSM douse this, Example, "Now roaming to 'Bruce's Cellular Inc.', but add, " @ 40c p/m")

Or and;

B) Potential FCC request for rules change:

• Be required to adhere to all the same rules that wire line phone carriers have adhere to, like;
• Publish call quality specs. (call failure, call voice quality std's, etc.)
• Must provide wireless coverage to ALL AREAS, at there cost

At one time u could just Roam to the other carrier and get service, now Verizon seems to NOT allow Roaming, when ur near ur home area...

I'm hearing more and more stories about people who are getting tired of all the dropped calls, call sound quality problems, promises not kept, and are CANCELING there Wireless service TOTALLY, replacing it with NOTHING.  Because not having any wireless service, is better that the problems that are cased be (not) having it - because of its unreliably...

I'm not there yet, but I understand there frustration...

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