Rhode Island Picks 3 Carriers for Cell-Phone Tower

[jones]

May 20--GLOCESTER, R.I. -- Improved cell phone service may be coming soon to West Glocester.
Three carriers were approved last month by the State Properties Committee to be housed at a tower in the George Washington Management Area at 2185 Putnam Pike: AT&T, Sprint and Cingular.

The 190-foot tower, to be located on land owned by the state Department of Environmental Management, was approved by the same committee in August.

The tower is under construction and set to be in service by the end of next month, according to Jim Rech, vice president for operations of National Tower.

National Tower signed the lease with the state and then assigned it to TCP Communications. Under the agreement, National Tower would lease a 100-by-100-square-foot area from from DEM for $1,500 a month for five years. The lease allows for three successive renewal terms, with rent increasing 3 percent in each five-year term, said Deborah George, senior legal counsel for DEM.

[ZaphodB]

May 20--GLOCESTER, R.I. -- Improved cell phone service may be coming soon to West Glocester.
Three carriers were approved last month by the State Properties Committee to be housed at a tower in the George Washington Management Area at 2185 Putnam Pike: AT&T, Sprint and Cingular.

The 190-foot tower, to be located on land owned by the state Department of Environmental Management, was approved by the same committee in August.

The tower is under construction and set to be in service by the end of next month, according to Jim Rech, vice president for operations of National Tower.

National Tower signed the lease with the state and then assigned it to TCP Communications. Under the agreement, National Tower would lease a 100-by-100-square-foot area from from DEM for $1,500 a month for five years. The lease allows for three successive renewal terms, with rent increasing 3 percent in each five-year term, said Deborah George, senior legal counsel for DEM.

Uhhhh...

Why would AT&T and Cingular need to be on the same tower?

[bobolito]

I guess now with the merger, Cingular will consolidate its properties there and there will be only two carriers in that tower. This may possibly become a vacant spot for another carrier, such as T-Mobile, Nextel or Verizon.

[Dewars]

Uhhhh...

Why would AT&T and Cingular need to be on the same tower?

At the time, May 2004, the merger still did not have approval so AT&T needed to be on that tower. But now, Like Bobolito said there may now be an open spot.

[ZaphodB]

Isn't there already a cell tower in Rhode Island? Why on earth would a state you can throw a rock across need more than one? :-P

[bobolito]

LOL!