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Wired water tower: C Spire installing network equipment in downtown Natchez [The Natchez Democrat, Miss.](Natchez Democrat, The (MS) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 25--NATCHEZ -- C Spire customers in the Natchez area could soon have better 3G and 4G reception thanks to work being done on a downtown water tower. Employees with a company contracted by C Spire, Global Tank and Tower, are in the process of installing equipment at the water tower on the corner of Monroe and Union streets that will help improve the network throughout the area, said C Spire senior manager of media relations Dave Miller. The company is installing antennas and 4G radio heads on the tank of the water tower, as well as additional equipment on the ground, Miller said. The equipment on the ground will eventually be covered by a wood privacy fence and will have concrete steps leading up to the site. "This is going to complement our existing network, as well as provide faster data speeds," Miller said. "It's going to improve our 3G and 4G LTE in the downtown area, as well as areas throughout the site." The work requires the Global Tank and Tower crews to scale the water tower, as well as do some additional work at the bottom of the tower. Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the city entered into a contract with the cell phone company to allow the work to be complete. "This might be the first time something with cell phone towers have been used on our tanks," Brown said. "It's the only thing since I've been in office, anyway." Brown said the company pays the city a flat fee for using the water tower, but the mayor said he was unsure of what the fee was in the contract between the city and C Spire. "The city is not at risk, and we're getting paid for it," Brown said. "As long as it doesn't impact the operations of the water tower or anything else, I'm good with it." Brown said officials with Natchez Water Works approved the scope of the work before anything began. "Water Works had no problem with it, and I've not heard any complaints so far," Brown said. "We made sure everyone was agreeable to the work before this thing even started." C Spire is the nation's largest privately held wireless communications company and is based in Ridgeland. ___ (c)2014 The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.) Visit The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.) at www.natchezdemocrat.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |