Verizon easement will boost cellphone service at Isle of Wight fair, county says
Published 9:16 am Friday, August 4, 2023
- Isle of Wight County supervisors have approved a Verizon easement at Heritage Park, intended to boost cellphone service by the start of the 2023 Isle of Wight County Fair. Here, attendees browse the 2023 Spring Fest, also held at the fairgrounds. (File photo)
Verizon customers who attend this year’s Isle of Wight County Fair should see more signal bars on their cellphones.
County supervisors, on Aug. 3, voted to grant Cello Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, a non-exclusive utility easement at Heritage Park, where the fair is held, for the purpose of adding underground data transmission cable.
The stated purpose of the easement is to improve wireless service at the fairgrounds. The work is planned to be complete by the Sept. 14 start of the four-day fair.
According to County Administrator Randy Keaton, Isle of Wight has been working with Verizon for years to bring better cellphone service to the fair. Fairgoers have the ability to purchase tickets online and display them on their cellphones, but Verizon customers have had difficulty taking advantage of the digital ticket option due to the wireless provider’s presently spotty service at the fairgrounds.
“This will really solve a huge problem any time we have a large event at Heritage Park,” Keaton said.
The supervisors approved the deed of easement unanimously with supervisor William McCarty absent.
This year’s county fair is scheduled for Sept. 14-17. This year marks the fair’s 30th anniversary.
