The map shown here is a copy of the Verizon propagation study completed for the Barton Mountain site.   Note the white areas show that the population centers in Barton and Orleans villages, the businesses along Route 5 between the two, and much of I -91 will not receive cell service from this location. 

The most recent Vermont Telecommunications Plan put forth by the Department of Public Service (September 2004) states that the first priority in the delivery of cellular services should be given to major interstate routes such as I-91, secondary routes such as Route 5, and population centers. The Barton Mountain site does not provide primary coverage for the town or local primary routes.

Note also that some of the areas in green may not receive cell service either. At wireless telephone frequencies, coverage is substantially line-of-sight, i.e. no terrain obstructions. Signals do not penetrate earth. Foliage covering the antenna will absorb some or much of the signal, depending on the type and density of foliage (e.g. water content). It's not black-and-white but rather shades of signal strength. Therefore, since signals will not penetrate terrain, the landscape itself causes inevitable gaps and dead spaces.

Barton Mountain is simply a convenient high point and has been chosen irrespective of population density. The site does not fulfill Verizon's stated objective of coverage of route I-91 and route 5. Vermont's Telecommunications Plan notes wireless siting should be directed first to population centers and primary travel routes, such as I-91 and route 5. Thus we should first locate wireless facilities in Barton according to the state mandate, where the engineering resources and radio equipment will deliver coverage to people: to the village population centers, to businesses, and to the local primary routes. Vermont's Telecommunications Plan also states that personal computers services (PCS) or wireless data information are expected to be delivered via utility poles providing universal coverage throughout the state for 2nd and 3rd generation voice and data packets.