In response to several recent letters that voiced concerns on the quality of internet and cellphone service in Ocala/Marion County, three residents wrote in to Ocala-News.com to share their thoughts on this topic.
“I live on the northwest side of town. I swear that cell towers are turned down after 7 p.m. It’s almost impossible to get anything up. It takes me one hour just to try to look at one home for sale. It has taken me now one hour to do this. The service is horrible. Yes, build gas stations, car washes, huge buildings, and multi-million dollar homes, and let’s leave the internet alone. Oh yes, nobody here knows how to time street lights either. You can sit at one for 15 minutes before it ever changes. This city is growing, and it’s one of the worst cities that is so backwards. I don’t think this city will ever come into this century,” says Regina Pickett, Ocala resident.
“I asked a customer service provider if they had complaints about Verizon cellphone service and was surprised when she said “lots of them.” I have had Total Wireless, which has been changed to Total by Verizon, for several years now. But lately, the connectivity of the internet using mobile data has not been up to par. My mechanic whom I spoke with today told me he has Verizon and knows of several other people who have cellphone service with them who also have problems with connectivity. My cellphone tower (Verizon) is within a quarter mile of my residence. It is 2023 and we still can’t get decent phone service out here in the forest. We can put a man on the moon and have him talk to someone here on earth, but I can’t get quality cellphone service. This is extremely frustrating. I think all of us should get together and sue for our money back from Verizon each time our phones don’t work. But they don’t care as long as they are the leading cell carrier in the country, which doesn’t necessarily mean satisfaction in service by the way. After all, this isn’t 1997. We deserve better. If they can’t give us decent coverage with 4G, how can they expect any of us to go with 5G? Let’s fix the problem now before we are left behind when 5G is the only avenue available,” says Silver Springs resident Pamela VanVliet.
“I live in Dunnellon and we have trouble finding the internet signal too. I read a letter from one of the Ocala residents saying they have trouble with the internet, and it’s true that a lot of residents are having trouble with the internet signal. Sometimes I need walk out of my home, past the sidewalk, and walk far from my home in order to get an internet signal. The people here in Ocala need the government to do something with this situation. Ocala is growing and needs the government to take action with this situation. I appreciate that somebody brought attention to this issue,” says Sonia Marrero, Dunnellon resident.