UNICEL ADDS CELL SITES IN WAITSFIELD AND ACROSS VERMONT
Waitsfield, Vt.; Oct. 3, 2008 - Unicel has added five new cell sites in the past few months, bringing the total number of Unicel cell sites in Vermont to 126. The wireless services company plans to add as many as 12 more cell sites this year, providing Vermont residents, business people and travelers with the benefits of its advanced network.
Unicel announced its most recent cell sites today with Gov. Douglas at the Waitsfield Inn, the historic home to one of Unicel's latest cell sites.
Working closely with innkeepers Mike and Ronda Kelley as well as a consultant to the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation, Unicel's latest cell site is virtually invisible. The antennae used for the cell site is completely enclosed in a false chimney attached to the main building, and the rest of the technology is housed in an additional building that perfectly matches the look and feel of the traditional New England inn that has anchored Route 100 since 1825.
"Unicel is committed to bringing the most advanced wireless technology to rural areas of Vermont," said Tom McLaughlin, director for Unicel. "Our new cell site in Waitsfield is a perfect example of Unicel's priorities, serving the wireless needs of Vermont residents, visitors and businesses."
According to innkeeper Mike Kelley, the new cell site has made a huge difference in the Valley.
"As a business owner, it was a real challenge for us to not have cell service for our clients coming here from more urban areas," said Kelley. "Our guests come here for skiing, for weddings, and for foliage, and they expect to be able to get away and also to stay in touch, but like most B&Bs we don't have phones in the rooms."
"Unicel's initiative has a lot of support in the Valley, and we're thrilled to have the boost in wireless coverage in time for foliage season," added Kelley.
Governor Jim Douglas was at the Waitsfield Inn to recognize the importance of continuing to build out Vermont's wireless infrastructure.
"Unicel realizes that Vermont is a great place to invest and to do business, and we're grateful to the company for continuing its commitment to increase wireless coverage across our beautiful rural state," said Gov. Douglas.
In addition to the new cell site at the Waitsfield Inn, Unicel has turned up cell sites in four other locations across Vermont in the past few months:
* Burke
* Lincoln
* Lyndon
* Vernon
Unicel plans to add as many as 12 more cell sites in Vermont this year.
Unicel and Verizon Wireless completed a deal in August for Verizon Wireless to acquire Unicel's 15-state wireless network, but federal regulators required that certain sections of the company - including all of Vermont - be sold to another wireless carrier for competitive reasons. Until a deal for Verizon to divest itself of Unicel's Vermont assets is approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, Unicel is being run through a management trust in Vermont. Unicel's operations in Vermont are headed by Tom McLaughlin, who has been with the company and its predecessors since it turned on its first cell site in the Green Mountain State in 1990.