If you've ever lost a call driving through Rye or struggled to get a signal downtown, the city wants to know exactly why.

The City Council has approved $36,000 for the first phase of a citywide study to identify Rye's worst cell phone dead zones—a problem that residents and businesses have complained about for years.

The study, approved Wednesday, will be led by wireless consulting firm CityScape Consultants, which will survey existing cell towers, analyze radio signals and create detailed maps showing where coverage breaks down.

City officials say the issue is about more than dropped calls.

Councilmember Amy Kesavan has warned that weak coverage in parts of Rye can even interfere with emergency communications, with some 911 calls potentially routing to dispatchers outside Westchester County before reaching local responders.

The city's business community has also raised concerns, saying unreliable service affects customers and workers in the downtown area and the Purchase office corridor.

Rather than rushing to build new cell towers, Rye is taking what officials describe as a "data-first" approach: pinpoint the problem before deciding on solutions.

The first phase is expected to take three to four months. If the city moves forward with later phases, the project could grow into a $74,525 effort that includes public meetings, engineering studies and recommendations for improving wireless coverage.

Residents will also have a chance to weigh in through a public survey identifying where they experience the most frustrating dead zones.

For anyone who's ever watched their phone drop to one bar—or no bars at all—the study could be the first step toward better service across Rye.