Verizon Sends Cindy McCain Her Own Tower

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

BY JAMES V. GRIMALDI
Washington Post Staff Writer

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.

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

Ethics lawyers said Cindy McCain's dealings with the wireless companies stand out because her husband 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.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) 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.

Exclusive: Verizon and AT&T Provided Cell Towers for McCain Ranch - Washington Post Investigations

 

I do think it's wrong that Verizon or anybody else would try to claim that it's normal procedure and they would do the same for anybody. The At&t spokesman was at least more honest about it and I agree with their assessment.

There are just some places that need reliable cell service. The home of any possible Presidential candidate is probably one of those places. What if there were a catastrophe that were to occur at that place and emergency personnel couldn't get reliable communication services? If he were to become President, then it would probably be important to have the permanent tower ready at that location for the high-ranking officials that might be there from time to time.

Other examples where temporary cell sites tend to go up rapidly and are soon replaced with permanent towers include new power plants, airports, military installations, etc. Reliable communication capabilities in these areas are really necessary because of what might happen if tragedy were to strike, or in some cases even to prevent tragedies.

 

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

Don't worry, as soon as McCain loses the election, those COWs (Cell On Wheels) will be gone

 

Wirelessly posted (Opera Mini on Alltel HTC 6800: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.11355/786; U; en))

Some things are what they are... no need for spin...of course I'm sure the secret service has a stable full of cows... if I were them I would.

 

I thought McCain had Sprint

"What? Who won the election? Wait, let me go stand by the window... is that better?"

 

Agreed. This is been thrown out there like the McCain's are taking advantage of the carriers. I think this is one of the biggest non-news items pushed upon us lately.

-Jay

 

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

They can come over by my house. Wait, I get excellent signal on Verizon! Also AT&T, TMobile, Nextel and MetroPCS. The only one that sucks somewhat is Sprint. But I have an Airave for that. So tell them they can keep their COWS.

 

I think the intent was to show that Cindy McCain was more important than someone else because of all her money instead of that it was to make life easier for the press. I imagine that if McCain became president they'd get rid of the COWs and put something in permanent. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm willing to bet that the carriers put some infrastructure in at the Shrub Ranch in Crawford, Texas (pop. 705) when he became the prez along with installing multiple T-1's for all the telecom that he might need. And nothing was "pushed" on us. It happened and it was reported. I don't know what your problem is with that. COWs are usually only deployed after natural disasters or for high volume events such as professional sports games.