U.S. CELLULAR EXPANDS NETWORK NEAR MARQUETTE COUNTY

Wireless Network Expansion Helps Economic Development, Public Safety.

Marquette County, Wis., – U.S. Cellular is expanding its presence in the Marquette County area to improve call quality for customers. Two recently constructed cell sites will increase U.S. Cellular’s coverage west of Montello along Highway 23/82, as well as adding coverage to Neshkoro and along Highways 73, N and E.

"This part of Marquette County lacked quality wireless service. As a result, we identified the community as a priority," said Chris Rathsack, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Wisconsin, "People everywhere depend on their cell phones to meet critical safety and business needs."

In 2008, U.S. Cellular received approximately $21 million in Universal Service Fund (USF) support in Wisconsin and used this funding to bring wireless service to 40 sites in rural cities and towns across the state.

In Marquette County, as in other parts of rural America, first responders such as firefighters and police officers depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. Nationwide, nearly 300,000 emergency 911 calls are placed via cell phones every day.

The new tower was built by U.S. Cellular with support from the federal Universal Service Fund, a critical resource for wireless expansion throughout rural America. U.S. Cellular has led the effort to preserve federal support for rural wireless development through Connecting Rural America (www.connectingruralamerica.org), a grassroots coalition of concerned citizens, community leaders and elected officials working for equality in wireless telecommunications. Its goal is to provide rural communities with the same access to technology as their urban counterparts.

The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people’s lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. Based in Chicago, U.S. Cellular is the nation’s fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.