KINSTON - Following a decision by Verizon to deactivate a  pay phone on Route 28, in Big Indian, an area that has little to no access to  cellular communications, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein persuaded Verizon to reverse its decision. Verizon has reconnected the phone and, per  an additional request by the County Executive, it is also seriously considering activating cellular service on a vacant municipal telecommunications tower in the Town of Shandaken,  to better serve the community.   

Prior to deactivation of the Big Indian pay-phone in July of this year, a limited number of  pay phones were the only public telephone access available along a 15 mile stretch of  roadway, extending from the intersection of Route 212 and 28, in Mount Tremper to Pine Hill.   

Over the years, the pay phone In Big Indian had been the source of numerous emergency  calls to the County’s 9-1-1 system. Charles Perez, a volunteer firefighter and proprietor of   Big Indian Service, a repair and towing business located on Route 28, said he had personally made several emergency 9-1-1 calls utilizing the phone.   

County Legislator Don Gregorius, whose district includes the area of Route 28 in question said, “Telephone communications is extremely important. Those of us who have access to the emergency and convenience use of telephone service are something we take for granted, until we don’t have it.”