Lakewood Ranch residents seek improved cellular coverage

Edgewater’s  Jay Schwartz fills his days as a chiropractic neurologist adjusting patients, consulting on cases and teaching classes.

But two evenings a month starting in April, he’s relaunching efforts to improve cellular communication service within the boundaries of Lakewood Ranch by going door to door with a petition in hand.

Homeowners might have a landline, or buy a network extender to improve service inside the home.

“That’s not solving the problem,” Schwartz said. “What if you are on your grass or you’re a block away? I don’t want one person having a heart attack to not be able to call 911.”

Schwartz calls his movement the Coalition for ExCELLent Service & Safety, and already has about 300 signatures on his petition, after starting it last summer in Edgewater, Summerfield and Riverwalk.

The newest technology can be attached to existing buildings, light poles or other structures and used to boost cellphone coverage for major wireless providers.

In December, Sarasota-based USA Groups approached Lakewood Ranch community development districts about installing its system on CDD properties, and have since identified seven proposed locations within Phase I Lakewood Ranch.

Supervisors on CDDs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 said they weren’t ready to approve the USA Groups action, and instead agreed to have an independent consultant examine gaps in cellular coverage in Lakewood Ranch Phase I. Town Hall Executive Director Anne Ross said Lakewood Ranch’s developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch already has agreed to let USA Groups use its right of way, and may have research the districts could use.

USA Group’s Ben Edmond confirmed the company has secured rights to develop and build infrastructure to support future wireless technologies along Lorraine Road, south of University Parkway, as well as other locations in Lakewood Ranch.

Schwartz said he doesn’t oppose the due diligence CDD supervisors want, but hopes a decision can be made quickly.

“I’d like to see the process take a few months, versus a few years,” he said.