Wi-Fi Access Granted within Green Bank Observatory's Previously Silent Region for the First Time
Green Bank Observatory to Allow Wi-Fi in Quiet Zone After Decades of No Internet Access
For the first time in over six decades, the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia, the oldest federal radio astronomy facility in the United States, is set to allow Wi-Fi within its Quiet Zone. This significant change comes after extensive scientific study that found very low risk to the observatory's research, while providing huge community benefits.
The Quiet Zone, established in 1958, spans a 33,670 square-kilometer (13,000 square-mile) area around the observatory to prevent local signals from impacting its readings. It prohibits the use of devices that create emissions, such as radios and Wi-Fi routers. However, despite its name, the Quiet Zone is not entirely quiet, as the community within the 10-mile radius of the Green Bank Telescope has managed to maintain a high number of Wi-Fi connections, albeit unofficially and in violation of rules.
The decision to allow Wi-Fi in the Quiet Zone will apply broadly to the community, including businesses, residents, and notably the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School (GBEMS). Principal Melissa Jordan stated that this change is a "big, positive change" for the school and will provide "equal opportunities" for students. The Wi-Fi at the school and other community locations will likely be password protected and secured, with efforts to limit interference by turning off Wi-Fi during non-school hours at GBEMS, though this may not extend beyond the school grounds.
The advent of the Internet has radically transformed education, and this change will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the students at GBEMS. The school, located next to the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope, has just been permitted to install Wi-Fi for the first time ever.
The Green Bank Observatory will monitor the impact of this change over the coming years by conducting ongoing spectrum monitoring to track any interference or impact on their scientific data. This change marks the first time Wi-Fi is officially permitted anywhere in the Quiet Zone since its establishment in 1958, reflecting a modern balance between important scientific research and community technological needs.
In the late 1950s, when the Green Bank Observatory was initially established, the advent of the Internet was not anticipated. Today, journalist Stephen Kurczy, author of The Quiet Zone, has found it difficult to locate anyone without Wi-Fi in the Green Bank community. The amendment aims to make it easier and fairer for those following the rules to access Wi-Fi within the Quiet Zone.
The Green Bank Observatory continues to be a beacon for groundbreaking scientific research, and this change is a testament to its commitment to balance the needs of science with the needs of the community.
[1] Green Bank Observatory. (n.d.). Wi-Fi at the Green Bank Observatory. Retrieved from https://www.gb.nrao.edu/about/wifi
[2] Kurczy, S. (2019). The Quiet Zone: A Journey to the World's Least Distracted Place. New York: St. Martin's Press.
[3] National Radio Astronomy Observatory. (n.d.). Green Bank Observatory. Retrieved from https://www.nrao.edu/about/green-bank-observatory
[4] National Radio Quiet Zone. (n.d.). Green Bank Observatory. Retrieved from https://www.nrao.edu/about/green-bank-observatory/national-radio-quiet-zone
- The decision to allow Wi-Fi in the Quiet Zone of the Green Bank Observatory signals a significant shift in the balance between scientific research and community technological needs.
- The advent of the Internet and its impact on education is an aspect that the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School is now poised to fully explore, as the school recently received permission to install Wi-Fi for the first time.
- This change in the Quiet Zone policy presents an opportunity for research and development in fields such as technology, science, and education, given the observatory's standing as a hub for groundbreaking astronomical research.
- The Green Bank Observatory's move to allow Wi-Fi within its Quiet Zone aligns with broader trends in education-and-self-development, where access to technology is increasingly recognized as vital for equal opportunities.
