The secret that’s not a secret: AT&T 3G online now in Nelson County

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Sunday, May 22, 2011 – For those of us who live in Nelson County and have owned an iPhone the last few years have been reminded of the fact we have never had full use of our handheld devices.

Oh, we’ve been able to play music, download and use all the apps, store and take photographs – all of those things – but we’ve been lacking one little feature: 3G wireless broadband.

Each time we’ve driven to Louisville or traveled the state’s major interstates, we have been reminded of the fact we haven’t had 3G access where we live. When I visited Olive Hill in Carter County (population 1,813) a couple of years ago, I found even they had 3G access (though this was undoubtedly due to their location along Interstate 64, it still didn’t settle well with this iPhone user).

But all of my 3G envy evaporated last Tuesday. I was checking Facebook and one of my friends noted in his status update that the 3G indicator on his iPhone was – for the first time – lit up while he was at home.

Was this some sort of broadband anomaly? I had to verify his results! I stepped outside, beyond the range of my home’s WiFi network and there it was: the 3G icon!

I immediately tested the speed of the network: I searched for houses for sale on Realtor.com; I loaded several YouTube videos; I checked the weather radar and animated the image; I loaded Safari and checked out the Nelson County Gazette.

3G! Yes!

There was no doubt in my mind, this was a newsworthy event; I contacted AT&T’s media department. Before long the phone rang; a PR representative from Nashville was on the line. She confirmed what we had already determined – 3G in the Bardstown area is indeed active, alive and well.

Great, I thought, I can write a story on it! Ms. PR’s tone immediately changed; gone was the celebratory tone, which was replaced by the tone of “we really wish you would do this our way.”

Their way? To paraphrase Ms. PR, “Don’t write anything about 3G access just yet.” She explained in rather vague terms that the AT&T PR department has some levers to pull, switches to push and some gears to turn in order to make this a proper production.

But what about those of us whose “3G” indicators are magically glowing with all the glory of high-speed broadband connectivity? It appears that this is just our little secret, so don’t tell anyone, OK?

I certainly don’t begrudge AT&T’s desire for a press release and their idea of a “proper” launch for this feature; its been a long time coming, and I think I can speak for all iPhone users – we’re damn glad its arrived. And the Gazette will be happy to cover their press conference and events related to the 3G availability.

But thousands of local AT&T users already know we have 3G capability now. Users like myself and other local iPhone users were sold on the device long ago; we were so sold on it that we’ve been using it even without the 3G access in our area.

Having 3G now just makes life with my iPhone just that much sweeter. It’s been a long time coming. Oh, and by the way, keep this between the two of us, OK?

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