1. What is the National Park Service? What is the NPS’ annual budget?

2. What project are National Park Service officials considering? What is the cost?

3. Why is the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility opposed to the Go Digital program in the parks?

4. a) Why does PEER director Jeff Ruch say it would be inappropriate for the NPS to fund a fiber-optic line?
b) What does he say park officials should do about talks with CenturyLink?

5. a) What did Boston University professor James Katz discover about his teenage kids and their use of technology during their trip to Yellowstone?
b)  Have you ever gone on a trip with no access to internet/wifi?  If so, did it bother you?  (or if not, would it bother you?)  Explain your answer.

6. Generally a telecom company pays to install fiber-optics in a town or city. It makes money by charging customers for access. CenturyLink is asking the NPS to pay most of the cost for the line installation. Do you think the taxpayer-funded NHS should pay for the installation? Explain your answer.

7. A reader commenting on the article at CBS News wrote:
“I’m not sure why wireless access in a national park would be such a necessity. Not having access is a benefit in my view. If you can't ‘unplug’ long enough to visit the Tetons or Yellowstone, you might have some prioritizing to consider.”
Do you agree with this assertion? Explain your answer.