By definition the news media is in the communications business. When communications fail, uplinks cannot be completed, live shots are missed for a lack of cues and urgent messages are lost. Communications in and out of Uplink City were a nightmare. The only cell site within range was 25 miles away in Marfa. I’m told it only has only six channels. Even if your particular cell phone would work on the GTE system, 98 percent of the time you couldn’t complete a call. Even the satellite phones were more temperamental than usual. Employees of Southwestern Bell brought in a temporary exchange, spliced it into a cable repeater box and connected over 200 phone lines. Their efforts provided us with reliable communications and gave the local residents a chance to use their cell phones again. A tip of the hat to the men and women who work for Southwestern Bell in and around Fort Davis. We couldn’t have done it without you. |
