AT&T Backs Out in Summit County  

Two tower projects in Summit County, Colorado, have been put on the back burner, and the County Commissioners aren’t happy about that. Yes, you read that correctly. The Commissioners have been trying for some time to improve network quality in the county, and recently sent AT&T a letter expressing their concerns about the lack of connectivity. After working on the potential project for two years, AT&T told the Summit County Planning Department that it had been removed from their list of projects. The town officials want these towers, saying they were crucial to the safety of the town. This is a geographic area in dire of need of being able to call 911, for instance,” Summit County commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier told the Summit Daily. “We have had numerous situations in the Lower Blue, numerous accidents, wildlife collisions … We’ve had numerous accidents where we’ve had near fatalities due to a lack of ability to call 911.” The county, and the group Friends of the Lower Blue River, had been working with AT&T over the past two years to bring the towers to the county. Last December, when the company originally told the county the project would not happen, Stiegelmeier convinced them to continue with the project. The county even readied a cell tower site north of Silverthorn, creating a special four-acre subdivision with an access road especially for the project, according to the Summit Daily. In regards to the project, AT&T said, “We understand the concerns this community and county commissioners must have regarding this decision, and we’re very appreciative of the collaborative process we’ve had to date. AT&T regularly evaluates and assesses networks construction plans, market conditions and customer needs. It is currently unknown when building plans may resume.” The Commissioners’ strongly worded letter explained that the coverage gaps in the area represent real compromises to public safety, and that the on-going lack of coverage also perpetuates unacceptably poor service to AT&T customers who live, work and vacation in Summit County.