Musetta Vander
FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2016, file photo, a group of people huddle together to take a selfie on a cell phone at the Paradise area at Mount Rainier National Park, Wash. Spotty or no cellular service has been the norm at the nation's fifth oldest park south of Seattle, but that could change. Parks around the country are grappling with how best to expand service while preserving the pristine nature. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
National parks balancing demands for cell service, silence

By Michelle A. Monroe And Felicia Fonseca Apr. 29, 2020 07:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2015, file photo, tourists Joseph Lin, Ning Chao, center, and Linda Wang, left, pose for a selfie along the south rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. Parks around the country are grappling with how best to expand service while preserving the pristine nature. One of the latest debates is playing out at the Grand Canyon where park officials are road mapping future telecommunications towers. The handful that exist now are prominent among the park lodging, visitor center and residential area. (Emery Cowan/Arizona Daily Sun via AP, File)
National parks balancing demands for cell service, silence

By Michelle A. Monroe And Felicia Fonseca Apr. 29, 2020 12:46 PM EDT