Metro Announces Wireless Plan

WMATA put out a press release this afternoon announcing that Metro's board has finally given the go ahead on a plan to build a new network that will allow companies besides Verizon to offer cell phone access in stations and tunnels. A contract has been awarded that will allow Verizon, Sprint Nextel, AT&T and T-Mobile to build a new wireless network inside the Metro system over the next four years, which would also eventually include wireless internet. In order to comply with rules written into a $1.5 billion funding package passed by Congress last fall, 20 of the busiest underground rail stations will have "expanded cell phone service" by the end of 2009.