Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch --(at no charge)

[radfringe]

Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch
Senator's Wife Did Not Receive Favors, Campaign Says
By James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 16, 2008; Page A06
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/15/AR2008101503575.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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

Over the past year, she offered land for a permanent cell tower, and Verizon Wireless embarked on an expensive public process to meet her needs, hiring contractors and seeking county land-use permits.

Verizon ultimately abandoned its effort to install a permanent tower in August. Company spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said the project would be "an inappropriate way" to build its network. "It doesn't make business sense for us to do that," he added.

Instead, Verizon delivered a portable tower known as a "cell site on wheels" -- free of charge -- to the McCain property in June, after the Secret Service began inquiring about improving coverage in the area. Such devices are used for providing temporary capacity where coverage is lacking or has been knocked out, in circumstances ranging from the Super Bowl to hurricanes.

---snip---

Ethics lawyers said Cindy McCain's dealings with the wireless companies stand out because her husband, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), 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 telecommunication services.

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

McCain's Senate chief of staff Mark Buse, senior strategist Charles R. Black Jr. and several other campaign staff members 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 the Republican's campaigns, putting the company in the No. 3 spot for career donations to McCain, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

[pnutbutr]

1. secret service

Although kind of shady, the reason related to the secret service is understandable.

[AndyA]

2. Another reason to dump AT&T in my opinion.

I don't know that much about Verizon, I've never used their service, but AT&T is just horrible. And there are an overwhelming number of good reasons to not pay AT&T for ANYTHING. They opened the door and threw out the welcome mat to Bush's illegal spying, and now they're obviously in bed with the McCain's.

No AT&T for me. Never ever again. And on top of that, they have lousy customer service.

[conscious evolution]

3. I would love to have a cell tower

on property I own.
Cell tower owners pay big bucks for rent for their sites.
If Mcsame is letting them have the site for free then He is getting screwed by the cell company.

[pnutbutr]

4. guy I work with

let them put up a tower on his property. They pay him $1400 a month.

[conscious evolution]

5. He is getting the shaft.

When I was in that business the going rate was $4000/mo and up.