Cellphone reception in Bradenton Beach improved for some users a couple of months ago when Verizon installed its equipment on the cell tower near the Cortez Bridge. But AT&T won’t put out a signal in Bradenton Beach or Anna Maria until 2018 — if ever.
According to Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, Bradenton Beach’s liaison on cell-tower issues, AT&T is having financial difficulties. In May 2014, AT&T purchased satellite television company DIRECTV for $48.5 billion.
“But I intend to stay right on top of it,” Vosburgh said June 16, adding that even though it’s not connected, AT&T is obligated to pay the city quarterly payments, as is Verizon. Attempts to learn about those payments from city hall were unsuccessful.
Verizon is the only cell provider on the tower. Vosburgh said she is looking into whether other companies, like Sprint, want to put their equipment on the cell tower. But, she added, the smaller companies usually don’t put their equipment on cell towers until after AT&T and Verizon are on board.
Some providers pair up with AT&T and Verizon for their antennae signals.
“I think it’s very important for our visitors as well as our residents” that the tower be fully operational, Vosburgh said.
Meanwhile, on June 16, Brett Buggeln, president of Florida Tower Partners, the company that owns the tower, said his company is working to fix problems caused by the late April incident in which part of the tower fell to the ground. Buggeln ordered new shroud antenna covers for the tower and installed some equipment to the top of the tower.
“We don’t anticipate the problem to present itself again,” he said.
Service to Verizon customers was not interrupted.
Buggeln said repair of the tower likely will be complete within the next month. — Ed Scott