Exclusive: Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch

[maddezmom]

Source: WaPo

BY JAMES V. GRIMALDI
Washington Post Staff Writer

Early in 2007, just as her husband launched his presidential bid, Cindy McCain decided to resolve an old problem -- the lack of cellular telephone coverage on her remote 15-acre ranch near Sedona, nestled deep in a tree-lined canyon called Hidden Valley.

~snip~

After a request from Cindy McCain, Verizon Wireless proposed installing a cell tower close to the couple's home near Sedona, Ariz.In July, AT&T followed suit, wheeling in a portable tower for free to match Verizon's offer. "This is an unusual situation," said AT&T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones. "You can't have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage."

Over the course of the past year, Cindy McCain had offered land for a permanent cell tower and Verizon embarked on an expensive process to meet her needs, hiring contractors and seeking county land-use permits even though few people other than the McCains would benefit from the tower.

Ethics lawyers said Cindy McCain's dealings with the wireless companies stand out because Sen. John McCain is a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the Federal Communications Commission and the telecommunications industry. He has been a leading advocate for industry-backed legislation, fighting regulations and taxes on telecommunications services.

McCain and his campaign have close ties to Verizon and AT&T. Five campaign officials, including campaign manager Rick Davis, have worked as lobbyists for Verizon. Former McCain staffer Robert Fisher is an in-house lobbyist for Verizon and is volunteering for the campaign. Fisher, Verizon chief executive Ivan Seidenberg and company lobbyists have raised more than $1.3 million for McCain's presidential campaign and Verizon employees are among the top 20 corporate donors over McCain's political career, giving more than $155,000 to his campaigns.

McCain's Senate chief of staff Mark Buse, senior strategist Charles R. Black Jr., and several other campaign staffers have registered as AT&T lobbyists in the past. AT&T Executive Vice President Timothy McKone and AT&T lobbyists have raised more than $2.3 million for McCain. AT&T employees have donated more than $325,000 to McCain campaigns, putting the company in the No. 3 spot for career donations to McCain, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/10/exclusive_verizon_gave_cell_to.html

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READ the whole thing

[Paulie]

1. What a load

If all they needed was cell phone coverage, they could have dropped at T1 or two into the basement and put in a couple of micro cells. No tower required. And it would be easy to remove later after he loses. But that they went for towers is fishy.

[Joe Bacon]

2. Aw, he wants to snoop on calls just like President Asshole does!

No doubt Mc Cain and his pals are listening in hoping to snoop on phone calls from the Obama HQ!

[notadmblnd]

20. What? their land lines don't work either? Cell phones are not a right, they're a luxury

Besides, didn't I read that that monstrosity of a house is up for sale?

[kirby]

3. HAHAHA!!

"Mrs. McCain's staff went through the Website as any member of the general public would -- no string pulling, no phone calls, no involvement of Senate staff," Rogers said. "Just because she is married to a senator doesn't mean she forfeits her right to ask for cell service as any other Verizon customer can."

[Ignis]

18. HA! Cindy McCain, average Joe Verizon customer...

Pull the other one! :rofl:

[grantcart]

4. thanks

[maddezmom]

5. You're welcome

:)

[rosesaylavee]

6. Move along now. Nothing to see here. n/t

[Raine1967]

7. Exclusive: Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch

Source: Washingtomn Post

Early in 2007, just as her husband launched his presidential bid, Cindy McCain decided to resolve an old problem -- the lack of cellular telephone coverage on her remote 15-acre ranch near Sedona, nestled deep in a tree-lined canyon called Hidden Valley.

By the time Sen. John McCain's presidential bid was in full swing this summer, the ranch had wireless coverage from the two cellular companies most often used by campaign staff -- Verizon Wireless and AT&T.

Verizon delivered a portable tower know as a "cell site on wheels" -- free of charge -- to Cindy McCain's property in June in response to an online request from Cindy McCain's staff early last year. Such devices are usually reserved for restoring service when cell coverage is knocked out during emergencies, such as hurricanes.

In July, AT&T followed suit, wheeling in a portable tower for free to match Verizon's offer. "This is an unusual situation," said AT&T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones. "You can't have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage."

(More at link)

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/10/exclusive_verizon_gave_cell_to.html

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Move over Ted Stevens....

I am stunned that they are saying it's because he is a presidential candidate, and that is why it had to be done.

[last1standing]

8. You really should look to see if a headline has already been posted.

Dupe.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3546218

[Raine1967]

15. I'm Sorry

My bad.

I didn't see it.

[maddezmom]

27. no biggie, it happens all the time

I just happened to post it before you, but I've had my fair share of dupes as well. :hugs:

[grantcart]

9. already posted here

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3546218

[kirby]

10. This needs to be made into a Qwest / RNC commercial! n/t

[cboy4]

11. I found a photo of McCain's personal cell phone.

It's a beauty.

[brentspeak]

12. I have a friend who lives in a NJ town that had been waiting years for Verizon DSL service

Despite the fact that this entire town (Clifton) was already receiving Verizon phone service -- and surrounding towns were receiving Verizon DSL -- Verizon, for years, refused to provide its DSL for much of Clifton. "Not enough customer demand to justify the cost," was Verizon's excuse.

That all changed last year when some upper-middle-class McMansion community of about 50 newly-built McMonstrosities popped up in the middle of Clifton. All of the sudden: DSL service in that part of town.

[hack89]

22. Sounds like basic economics

Since companies exist to make money it appears that the McMansion demographic was enough to make DSL a money making proposal.

[brentspeak]

26. There are thousands of households densely-situated in that area of Clifton

But Verizon got off its rear-end only after the small McMansion community wanted DSL. That's bad economics.

[hack89]

28. Versizon strikes me as a well run and profitable company

perhaps things aren't as simple as they appear?

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. kick nominated n/t

[nc4bo]

14. Oh geez, something sounds very, very wrong here. Since when do ordinary joe six packs get

their own personal cell phone tower? Strike that, 2 - TWO - cell phone towers and 1 of the was provided for FREE???!!

Holy :wtf: Batman!!






How many straws does it take to break a camel's back?

[wicket]

16. A telling part:

Robb Alarcon, an industry specialist who helps plan tower placement, said the proposed location appeared to be a "strategic build," free-of-charge coverage to high-priority customers. A former Verizon executive vice president, who asked not to be named because he worked for the company, agreed with Alarcon, saying, "It was a VIP kind of thing."

Can you imagine the howling from the right if this had been a high profile Democrat like Obama or the Clintons? WOW.

[autorank]

17. k*r Just read the entire article. It's Wash Post speak for BRIBE

What an outrage. This sure looks like extortion and bribery to me. Of course, nothing is logical in lawyer-world, but to us simple citizens, when the Phone Company gives a public official several hundred thousand dollars worth of something they'd refused to give before that official ran for president, the motive is clear.

Washington Pose, Oct. 15, 2008

In July, AT&T followed suit, wheeling in a portable tower for free to match Verizon's offer. "This is an unusual situation," said AT&T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones. "You can't have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage." (Why not?)

"It was a VIP kind of thing." Verizon not for attribution source. (Oh, a guy who can help them)

McCain and his campaign have close ties to Verizon and AT&T. Five campaign officials, including campaign manager Rick Davis, have worked as lobbyists for Verizon. Former McCain staffer Robert Fisher is an in-house lobbyist for Verizon and is volunteering for the campaign. Fisher, Verizon chief executive Ivan Seidenberg and company lobbyists have raised more than $1.3 million for McCain's presidential campaign and Verizon employees are among the top 20 corporate donors over McCain's political career, giving more than $155,000 to his campaigns. (And the companies have paid money to get him elected.)

Rogers said. "Just because she is married to a senator doesn't mean she forfeits her right to ask for cell service as any other Verizon customer can." (Try it yourself, see what you get)

Construction costs would be $22,000, records show. Industry specialists said the figure probably only covers the tower and fence because the antennas, the dish and power source would run the cost into the six figures. On Dec. 4, Cindy McCain signed a letter (see document) authorizing Verizon Wireless to act on her behalf to seek county land-use permits. $22,000 pluse, oh $300-400,000. That's called bribery, if were us, but they do it all the time)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/10/exclusive_verizon_gave_cell_to.html

[Doctor_J]

19. Was that lobbyist McCain was banging from Verizon?

she was telecom, can't remember her affiliation.

[burythehatchet]

21. I think she might have been a drug dealer (big Pharma)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. I've been after them for four-years to extend the DSL service the extra 100ft to reach me

They stopped at my neighbors house when they were rewiring our area. All I keep getting is it's not in their plans to add my "area" at this time.

[Oak2004]

24. There are dead spots in my building

Do you think I can get Verizon and AT&T to give us our own cell towers? We're a housing project for senior citizens and disabled people.

Oh. Right. Never mind.

[lynnertic]

25. This put the Verizon wireless jingle in my head. Dagnabit!