Chicago (IL) - Two of the largest telephone service providers in the nation, Verizon and AT&T, have temporarily installed communications towers at the Arizona ranch of Senator John McCain. This installation was made in an effort to provide the area with cellular telephone coverage. Both companies claim to have done this for business reasons, and not at the personal request of Senator McCain who is not only the Republican presidential nominee but also on the Senate Commerce Committee.
Jeff Nelson, spokesperson for Verizon told the New York Times that the Secret Service is a customer an agreement states specifically that if the Secret Service needs service anywhere for any reason related to accomplishing a goal, then Verizon must accommodate that request at no charge and provide customer service 24/7.
On Wednesday, the Washington Post first broke news regarding the efforts to get cellular service to the McCain ranch. These efforts actually began earlier in 2007 when Cindy McCain asked Verizon to its service to their Sedona residence. Sedona is a valley with a minimal population.
“Mrs. McCain and her staff went through the public Web site as any member of the public would,” said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign to the Washington Post. “No strings were pulled, and there was no involvement of Senate staff.”
At that point in time, the request was declined by Verizon. Mr. Nelson claims that this was done so because “it didn’t make traditional business sense.” The change was made only after Senator McCain received the nomination for president and began receiving protection from the Secret Service in April. It was at that point that service was needed not in the actual home, but instead in a trailer that is the base camp for the Secret Service agents responsible for protecting Senator McCain.
“This was meant as a temporary fix,” said Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the Secret Service. “We never spoke on anyone else’s behalf, only in our own interests. At no time were we involved in discussions about a permanent tower to be put up.”
AT&T’s installation was slightly different, because there is no Secret Service contract in place. A spokesperson for AT&T, Claudia Jones, stated that after it was clear that Senator McCain would be the Republican presidential nominee, AT&T “made a business decision” to install a temporary tower for the entire duration of the campaign.
“We anticipated a surge in usage and traffic because of reporters and other visitors who are AT&T customers,” Ms. Jones said to the Washington Post. “We sought to locate it in a number of other places, but not a lot of people want a temporary cell tower on their property. So we got permission from the McCain family to locate it on their property.”
Jeff Nelson, spokesperson for Verizon told the New York Times that the Secret Service is a customer an agreement states specifically that if the Secret Service needs service anywhere for any reason related to accomplishing a goal, then Verizon must accommodate that request at no charge and provide customer service 24/7.
On Wednesday, the Washington Post first broke news regarding the efforts to get cellular service to the McCain ranch. These efforts actually began earlier in 2007 when Cindy McCain asked Verizon to its service to their Sedona residence. Sedona is a valley with a minimal population.
“Mrs. McCain and her staff went through the public Web site as any member of the public would,” said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign to the Washington Post. “No strings were pulled, and there was no involvement of Senate staff.”
At that point in time, the request was declined by Verizon. Mr. Nelson claims that this was done so because “it didn’t make traditional business sense.” The change was made only after Senator McCain received the nomination for president and began receiving protection from the Secret Service in April. It was at that point that service was needed not in the actual home, but instead in a trailer that is the base camp for the Secret Service agents responsible for protecting Senator McCain.
“This was meant as a temporary fix,” said Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the Secret Service. “We never spoke on anyone else’s behalf, only in our own interests. At no time were we involved in discussions about a permanent tower to be put up.”
AT&T’s installation was slightly different, because there is no Secret Service contract in place. A spokesperson for AT&T, Claudia Jones, stated that after it was clear that Senator McCain would be the Republican presidential nominee, AT&T “made a business decision” to install a temporary tower for the entire duration of the campaign.
“We anticipated a surge in usage and traffic because of reporters and other visitors who are AT&T customers,” Ms. Jones said to the Washington Post. “We sought to locate it in a number of other places, but not a lot of people want a temporary cell tower on their property. So we got permission from the McCain family to locate it on their property.”