Peoria reader is ‘ecstatic’ for new cell phone tower

OPINION — I read your article in the June-July 2026 issue of the Peoria Independent (“Battle over cell phone tower ends in victory for connectivity”) and was ecstatic to hear of the approval for the Verizon cell phone tower construction in Vistancia.

I subscribe to Verizon and have not had coverage in my primary residence for the last four years. I’ve gone back and forth with customer service and at best I can only receive text messages.

Five miles outside of my neighborhood (Sonoran Mountain Ranch) I have excellent coverage. My concern was the lack of access to emergency services (911) and the ongoing lack of follow-up with Verizon customer service as I live alone when not caring for my 93-year-old father. Verizon suggested that I purchase, at my expense, a cell extender also known as a signal booster (several hundred dollars) and convinced me to purchase a new smart phone.

That phone is now paid off and a few days ago I obtained a Number Transfer PIN to transfer my existing line to a new carrier. After reading your article and discovering the new tower location is in a straight line west of my home (hopefully with limited obstruction across that stretch of desert), I think I will wait until the construction is completed (most likely months from now) before transferring my service.

Thank you for the informative article!