As chairman of the Hilton Head Island's Telecommunications Task Force, I was very pleased to see the announcement of the activation of a new cell tower on Marshland Road. This is the latest of a number of additional towers and facilities that should be coming this year. They underscore the public benefits that can come when private industry and government work together with a shared focus of doing what is right for the community.

Mayor Drew Laughlin and the council should be commended for their work and leadership in adopting the ordinances, which encourage investments such as this.

More dependable wireless service is important for our year-round residents, as well as our visitors. It also underlies virtually every effort we have identified for further economic development on our island. It will be very difficult to attract new jobs without excellent access to both wired and wireless telecommunications. Furthermore, each new cell site will also improve public safety while supporting the residents, visitors and businesses that depend on wireless communications.

Jim Collett

Hilton Head Island