[bird72]

It used to be very important which wireless you choose in the inland northwest, for coverage while travelling. Verizon kind of proved over time they were good. I've done a lot of installs at cell sites, design and build. So when picking lesser coverage carriers, they are riding on others towers and switching to their network to fill holes, so going with the big boys involves less network hopping at times.

Many don't know wireless isn't wireless. I've run miles and miles of fiber optic cable to cell sites. In todays world, the wireless part is only a mile or two. It goes optical across the country, and then back to wireless at the far end if calling a cell phone there. The phone companies main revenue isn't land lines anymore. They make money serving the wireless industry and hauling the traffic.

Money is also in being a tower owner and leasing spots to every Tom, Dick, and Harry cell company. When you see these towers now, they have tons of gear on them. It is multiple wireless companies, all hanging equipment.