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The Department of Interior is proposing a rule change that could open the door for more private companies to operate within national parks.

The proposed would make it easier for the Park Service to expand commercial services inside parks. Think WiFi towers or food trucks.

鈥淭he NPS recognizes that the needs for commercial visitor services in parks may change over time, including the need to provide new services that are not currently provided. Recent examples include wireless connectivity services at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, parking management at Muir Woods National Monument and bike rentals at Grand Canyon National Park,鈥� the proposed rule document states.

The Interior Department said it鈥檚 a move to modernize the park experience and could lead to better services. But, Jayson O鈥橬eill with the conservation nonprofit Western Values Project believes the move could lead to higher park fees and less fulfilling visits.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e not going to have that natural experience. You aren鈥檛 going to potentially see that wildlife that you might have before, because now we are sort of overrun with food trucks and pins and whistles and these other things,鈥� O鈥橬eill said.

According to the , there are currently more than 500 commercial concessioners operating inside parks already, which brings in $135 million worth of franchise fees every year.

The public can submit on the proposed changes through mid-September.

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