Aspen Skiing Company Takes on American Tower

The Aspen Skiing Company in Colorado filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Pitkin County District Court against American Tower Corporation contesting the contract’s termination. SkiCo wants legal approval for its $1.6 million contract, the Aspen Daily News reported. In spring of 2014, the companies entered into an agreement that would allow American Tower to install a wireless network that would serve the four ski areas. This network included DAS with rooftop antenna sites, towers, and other temporary or permanent infrastructure necessary. Under the agreement, American Tower would then work with the wireless carriers and lease space on the infrastructure. The tower company was obligated to pay SkiCo a percentage of the tenant rent. “Instead, in December 2014, ATC informed Aspen Skiing Co. that all engineering efforts had been suspended, and there would likely be no construction in 2015 or possibly even 2016,” SkiCo’s attorney, Kathryn Reilly of Denver wrote in the lawsuit. (Aspen Daily News) SkiCo alleges American Tower representatives sent an email in January trying to negotiate a new deal that only created a network on Aspen Mountain, with the cost being borned by the ski-hill operator. “In this and other communications, ATC stated that its ability to perform under the wireless network agreement was contingent on third-party financing,” according to the filing. “The … agreement, however, includes no such condition.” (Aspen Daily News) The ski company wants to find a company that will complete the network in a timely manner, and hopes the judge will relieve them of their contract.