Putting Cell Phone Service at Subway Stations is Hard!

Ha ha ha. Gothamist had a good laugh over this one: Various cell phone service providers have asked the MTA for a second extension in giving them bids for wiring the subway stations for cell phone usage because it's difficult to recoup money. Recouping money? Who said anything about making money when it comes to the MTA? Please. The MTA's RFP only asked for how providers would wire subway stations - not tunnels, so our fears of chatty Cathies on the train were misplaced. Newsday has the providers' perspective:

The companies figure a commuter could use 40 minutes of talk time during a commute but only about 10 minutes at a station -- not enough to recoup the estimated $250 million investment. Companies were also upset the MTA wants them to lease space for their equipment.

"Everyone is disappointed at the [MTA's] lack of flexibility," David Snyder, co-founder of Snyder & Snyder, a law firm that specializes in telecommunications told the paper. "We have here a prescription for failure."

Again, prescription for failure? The MTA knows something about that! We're being very harsh, of course, but it just seems like the MTA is very slow-footed when it comes to technology - awesome new subway cars aside. Just having the subway stations wired would be funny - everyone would be desperately looking for service during that minute you're waiting there.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 5, 2005 1:23 PM

Comments [rss]

Ripper

Marcus - Most of the time it's quite a bit louder but I see your point for normal volume.

Marcus

Why is it that it's ok to talk to your friend who's standing next to you in a subway car, but somehow it's not ok if that same friend is on the other side of phone call?!?? What's the difference? Why do people get so bent out of shape about it. The level of volume is exactly the same yet one conversation annoys people and the other one doesn't. Let me tell you my theory...

I think people semiconsciously listen to the conversations going on around them. Everytime someone around you starts a conversation the human mind starts to track it. When the other party is there, the mind can follow reasonably well (even if you're not aware it's doing so). When the conversation is on a cell-phone, the mind is constantly trying to "catch-up" to the conversation. This causes more mental energy to be spent, and if the listener is already mentally tired, causes him/her to become irritated.

People need to learn to be more tolerant and that if something as harmless as someone talking on a cell phone is annoying to them, it's *their* problem and they should learn to tune out the "noise". For crying out loud people, we're New York City folk, we should be the KINGS of tuning out the noise!

Toby

I was shocked when riding the DC Subway (I am not going to call it Metro) that my cell phone rang while underground. (Is it me or do their underground stations look like the Dr. Strangelove war room set?) I of course wondered why can'tthe TA do that?

Closer to home, you see people who are riding on trains over the Manhattan Bridge get their phones out and make calls while the train goes over the bridge. Its sort of funny to watch.

Sean

If I ever have to be near one of those idiots using one of those Nextel walkie-talkie things on the subway, I may finally lose it once and for all.

Krsboz

Bravo Publius!

It's about time someone commented on that simple, unavoidable fact of life.

I'm all for forging ahead with the way of life of our choosing/not living out of fear, but I'm not sure the risk is even close to the reward in terms of this.

There's a big disparity between necessity of daily life and adding another enormous security hole to the already long list.

Publius

What happened to the alleged security risk presented by explosive devices that could be triggered by by cellphones? Or did the MTA forget that it was worried about that after the July 7 attacks in London?

Trilby

Mike is wrong, Jen is right. It's "Chatty Cathy," a doll from the early 60's.

Oh, no I've dated myself! (OK, I've dated worse.)

igor

no cell phones on the subway PLEASE for the love of god! just read http://transithell.com/articles/index.php?mainarticle_type=2

for all the ranting about cell pollution. Its bad enough I have to hear lame ringtones on the way home.

i use chatty cathie myself just for a twist.

correction

Actually mikey, Chatty Cathy is the name of a 1960's doll to which the expression refers. You can find them on eBay.

alex

"We're being very harsh, of course,"

Not harsh enough I'd say. Please, if there's one instance where the history of "prescription for failure" with the MTA needs to be applied it's with cell phones in the stations/tunnels. If you really want to take a gander at what it will be like if those plans are ever realized (G-d forbid) just ride on one of those elevated trains (i.e. 7, D, N, Q or any elevated lines in the outer boroughs).

MT

Do we really need cell phone service in subways? I agree with k that it will be a nightmare being trapped on the subway with hordes of chatty cathies. Besides, aren't cell phones the preferred method for terrorists to set off bombs on trains? You'd think just not installing it will not only save money, but make us a little safer.

Ari

For the love and silence and all that is holy - my ears get enough of an assault on the bus and just walking down the street - I need a haven and the subway is it.

Besides, have you EVER overheard an actual important conversation taking place on a cell phone? Y'know "I tested positive for the std so that accounts for the itching..." or, "so, then, it turned out I actually DID win the lottery" - NO. All you ever hear is; I'll be home soon, I was soooooo drunk last night or, the file is on my desk.

All nonsense that can wait. Remember that? When things used to wait 10 minutes and we all survived?

mikey

i believe "chatty patty" is the preferred expression, not "chatty cathie." in this case rhyming trumps alliteration.

k

a city of millions walking outdoors chatting away on their cells, okay fine, i just walk away from their screeching. but subway platforms?! like it's bad enough that we wait forever for the R train, now i gotta listen to miss nyu recount last night's pukefest?