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Verizon cell coverage coming

The Tusayan Ranger District is reissuing a permit to Alltel Communications for its continued use of the Tusayan communications site.

Through an agreement with Alltel, Verizon will begin offering service here.

According to the Kaibab National Forest Decision Memo, which was signed Nov. 14, "Alltel's use of this site will serve both the Forest Service and the public interest by continuing to provide cell phone coverage throughout the local area, and improving that coverage by inviting other service provider tenants to share its location and cell tower."

The new Alltel permit is for a five-year period and includes the following components:

• Continued use of the existing monopole antenna.

• Alltel is to maintain Forest Road 2616, which accesses the site.

• Alltel is to install a locked gate to protect the site from unauthorized access.

• Allow Verizon, an additional service provider invited by Alltel, to construct a 10-by-30 foot building on the site to house communications equipment.

The 0.2-acre Tusayan Communications Site was originally leased to Alltel in 1997. The area has been in use by Alltel since that time.

The site is located just west of state Highway 64 near the park's border.

The 95-foot monopole antenna was erected in 1998 and has been in continuous use since then.

The new permit is intended to allow Alltel to continue its current use and expand that use in order to provide improved cell phone coverage in the Grand Canyon and Tusayan areas.


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