22
October
2021
|
04:19 AM
Europe/Amsterdam

UScellular Enhances Wireless Service and Coverage in Mendocino County

Covelo, Calif.

Collaboration among Wireless Company, Local Officials and Round Valley Indian Tribe Improves Connectivity in Covelo

Two new cell towers in the Covelo area are enhancing UScellular’s wireless service for Mendocino County residents. The 150-foot towers, located on Henderson Road near Duncan Fitz-Gerald Park and Covelo Road near the Round Valley Indian Tribes Water Association, improve and expand UScellular’s network in Covelo, and add to the more than 120 cell sites UScellular has across Northern California.

These network upgrades are the result of collaborative efforts between State Senator Mike McGuire, Mendocino County officials, Round Valley Indian Tribe leaders and UScellular representatives to address increased connectivity needs in the area. The Round Valley Indian Tribe built the tower structures, and UScellular added the equipment to connect to their network.

“Round Valley has experienced some of the greatest impacts of wildfires over the last few years. And, at the same time, inconsistent and at time’s inoperable cell phone service has hampered emergency response and put lives at risk. When we first heard of this issue, we immediately moved on a fix,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “We’re grateful to the Round Valley Indian Tribes, the County of Mendocino, State OES and UScellular for the partnership. All sides worked together to get these two new towers built and to ensure residents have the service they need to stay connected on a daily basis, but especially during times of emergency.”

These two cell sites complement previous work UScellular has completed to enhance service in Mendocino County, including backhaul and capacity improvements, network hardening and the addition of backup generators at high fire-threat sites across the county. In 2020, the company invested $8.6 million in its Northern California network, including $1.8 million in 5G upgrades – available now in parts of Mendocino County – that bring customers faster data speeds, a more responsive mobile experience and the ability to connect more devices to the network at the same time.

“By working together with members of our community to provide a great network experience for our customers, we can make sure that local families and businesses have access to the technology they need,” said Anthony Carlson, interim area vice president and general manager for UScellular in the northwest region. “We want to thank everyone involved for their dedication to finding a solution to enhance wireless service in the area, especially our network team who worked tirelessly with local leaders to ensure increased connectivity for this growing area.”

Residents can check out UScellular’s latest devices, prepaid and postpaid unlimited plans and in-home High-Speed Internet offerings at uscellular.com or by visiting retail stores in Willits or Ukiah. UScellular is also participating in the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help families and households adversely affected by COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households can receive monthly discounts on their wireless service of up to $75 per month if they live on tribal lands. For more information and to confirm eligibility, go to https://www.uscellular.com/plans/emergency-broadband-benefit-program.

About UScellular

UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with UScellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

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For more information, contact:

uscdlmediarelations@uscellular.com