Since Gov. John Baldacci in his 2005 State of the State speech said improving cell phone coverage was one of his top priorities, dozens of new towers have been built and many so-called “dead zones” eliminated. If you want to thank someone for the improvements, look in the mirror – you helped pay for them.

Although a task force, the Connect Maine Authority, is considering incentives, such as tax breaks, to improve cell phone and broadband coverage here, many of the improvements made to the state’s cellular network have been funded through the federal Universal Service Fund. This federal charge is assessed to landline customers across the country and cell phone users in 12 states. Usually about 10 percent of local, interstate and international line charges, the Universal Service Charge is used to raise money to subsidize high-cost rural phone companies, Internet and telecom connectivity for schools and libraries, phone service for low-income customers, and telecom costs of health care providers that use telemedicine. Maine’s two largest cell phone providers, Unicel and U.S. Cellular, both applied for and receive USF funds to bring cellular service to rural areas. The state’s other cellular carriers have not applied for this status.

Unicel and U.S. Cellular received about $14 million from the fund for their 2006 construction in Maine, according to the governor’s office.

Last year, U.S. Cellular added 12 sites in Maine, including in Jonesport, Sedgwick, Fort Fairfield and Bingham, where service was previously limited. This year, the company plans to add 36 more sites, including in Union and Grand Isle and 17 other sites that qualify for Universal Service Funds. The company will also greatly expand coverage in Portland. The company’s 2007 investment will be the largest since it launched service in Portland in 2004.

Unicel is also building new towers to reach new coverage areas and upgrading its network to handle greater call volume. Since June 2005, the company has added or improved coverage in 19 areas, including Hampden, Bangor, Pittsfield, Fort Kent, Dedham and Orono.

As part of the governor’s push to improve service, the Public Advocates Office maintains a map of cell phone dead zones. The “I Can’t Hear You Now” map showed hundreds of places where calls were dropped or would not go through. To see if the companies’ investments have improved service, the office has started a new map and contacted people who reported dead zones in the past. By comparing the new map to the old, the office can determine where dead zones have been eliminated. It is the first time the office has made such a comparison since the governor made cell phone service a priority.

Go to the office’s Web site: (http://www.maine.gov/meopa/telephone/reportdeadspot.html) to report a dead zone.

Now about broadband coverage …