By Rockland Daily Staff

Efforts are intensifying to improve cellphone service in the area, as officials and providers work to address ongoing connectivity issues, specifically in heavily congested shopping and commercial areas.

As part of these efforts, following more than two years of hard work, Verizon is currently in the process of installing additional infrastructure in several locations to strengthen network coverage.

At the same time, officials have advocated for the installation of temporary cell towers to help manage increased demand during the busy Pesach shopping season. The need for improvements has become more urgent in recent months, with reports of emergency calls that were unable to go through due to poor service.

A temporary Verizon tower has now been installed on the roof of Shopper’s Haven, marking a collaborative effort between elected officials and local leadership. Those involved include Congressman Mike Lawler, Assemblyman Aron Wieder; Senator Bill Weber; and Town Supervisor Michael Specht, all of whom worked together to address the issue.

As progress continues, Assemblyman Aron Wieder recently met with Verizon officials in Albany, expressing appreciation for the advancements made while continuing to advocate for further improvements.

"I want to give special thanks to Rafi Silberberg for spearheading this vital project and for his unwavering determination over the past two years,” said Assemblyman Aron Wieder. “When he reached out to my office, we joined forces in advocacy, and thanks to his persistence and our combined efforts we were finally able to secure Verizon’s agreement on the temporary tower at Shopper’s Haven — overcoming significant hurdles along the way. This temporary solution is now providing critical connectivity for our EMS responders and constituents, especially during the busy Pesach season. I was pleased to meet with Verizon leadership in Albany to thank them personally and to continue pressing for the permanent upgrades our District 97 deserves".

Town Supervisor Michael Specht was instrumental in moving the effort forward, providing critical support and coordination throughout the process.

These efforts come as Congressman Mike Lawler, alongside his Deputy Chief of Staff Rafi Silberberg, continues to push for solutions to ongoing cellphone service issues across the 17th Congressional District.

Officials say these efforts are expected to significantly improve service reliability during one of the busiest times of the year.