DC Metro transit system finally gets some bars

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

October 3, 2008, 3:38 PM

Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have approved a bill that will give all cellular customers coverage in the Washington DC Metro transit system.

Several years ago I lived in Washington, DC, and relied exclusively on the Metro (DC's equivalent to New York's Subway, Boston's "T", and Chicago's El) for transportation to and from Northern Virginia for work. While it always seemed like I had a wireless signal in New York's subway, any time I was underground on the DC Metro, either on trains or in stations, I would be without signal. Those scant moments when the Blue Line trains were above ground while heading into Springfield, VA were the only times I could use my phone.

This is because I have been a long-time T-Mobile subscriber, and Verizon Wireless has an exclusive contract with the DC Metro Transit Authority. And while Verizon subscribers were the only ones who got reception in the Metro, even that was reportedly spotty. Locked iPhone users suffer the same coverage problems as T-Mobile subscribers.

That could change now, thanks to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D - Calif.) and ranking member Tom Davis (R - Va.). These two have championed what was originally known as H.R. 401: The National Capital Transportation Amendments act of 2007.

A condition of this bill prohibits the DC Metro Transit Authority from receiving capital investments if, among other things, it fails to provide "access to wireless service to rail service customers within the metro system and ensures that each wireless provider of such service has access to the system for upgrades and maintenance."

This approval of this bill means that all wireless carriers must be represented in the 20 busiest metro stations by the end of 2009, and have total coverage by 2012.