Yellowstone's wireless plan draws protests

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The new wireless communications plan for Yellowstone National Park would bring additional cellular service to park users and would leave the door open for placing webcams in the back country.

Critics say the plan will destroy solitude for the sake of technology.

Bill Boteler is with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. He says Yellowstone now aspires to be an amusement park. He says people don't go into the backcountry to be surrounded by cell phone towers and gadgets.

Park spokesman Al Nash says Yellowstone is trying to balance visitor demands for solitude with the connectivity people have come to expect in daily life.

The communications plan will be up for debate through Oct. 31, when the public comment period closes.