SenWashington, Oct 16 : To resolve an old problem of the lack of cell phone coverage on her remote 15-acre ranch near Sedona (Arizona), as soon as John McCain launched his presidential bid, Cindy McCain offered land for a permanent cell tower.

Over the past year, she offered land for a permanent cell tower, and Verizon Wireless embarked on an expensive public process to meet her needs, hiring contractors and seeking county land-use permits, the Washington Post reported.

Verizon ultimately abandoned its effort to install a permanent tower in August. Company spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said the project would be “an inappropriate way” to build its network. “It doesn’t make business sense for us to do that,” he added.

Instead, Verizon delivered a portable tower known as a cell site on wheels -- free of charge -- to the McCain property in June, after the Secret Service began inquiring about improving coverage in the area.

Such devices are used for providing temporary capacity where coverage is lacking or has been knocked out, in circumstances ranging from the Super Bowl to hurricanes.

In July, AT& T followed suit, wheeling in a portable tower for free to match Verizon’s offer.

“This is an unusual situation. You can''t have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage,” AT& T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones said.

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said that the senator is not a regulator and that Cindy McCain received no favors from Verizon or AT& T. (ANI)