Avoid Verizon at all costs. I tried it after having a customer service problem with Cell One which wasn't bad in Tazewell but was severely lacking in other parts of Southwest Virginia, especially in Russell County and anywhere else off the interstate. Overall Verizon is just poor around here also though. As soon as I hit Wythe County I'm on Extended Network roaming on alltel. Same thing in Marion and all of Smyth County. If I wanted to use alltel, I would have signed up with Alltel because the plans are a lot better and I can get My Circle and call home for free. America's Most Reliable... Maybe if you live in New York. Before you buy, go to the verizonwireless website and view coverage here. Change the map to prepay so that it doesn't show Alltel coverage and notice how a ton of it drops out. I'll probably try Alltel now that I've gone through the hassle of finding out how many things on my phone don't work when I'm on Extended Network because of Verizon's lacking coverage. If they don't want to invest the money to build towers throughout the area, I'll just buy from someone else. I've heard Alltel is pretty good and covers the area well so I'll be checking them out next.

Verizon Wireless is awesome in Tazewell County. The new tower that you see passed Ramey Chevrolet is 1 of 7 Verizon towers in Tazewell County. More towers are on the way for Richlands and Claypool hill as well. Still no service in Thompson Valley or some parts of Gratton but I am sure Verizon will see that one day and fix it. You should go check out RT Wireless (Verizon Dealer) in Tazewell Va right next door to Cellular One... LOL!

The other Alltel reviews must be for a specific location or residence. But I've always thought the Alltel reception was very good throughout Tazewell and North Tazewell. I've never hit a roaming signal myself and have family all over the place here and it's never roamed at their house. At the high school and at the church on Fincastle the signal is perfect. The signal drops off a little indoors but I can still usually make a call. At my house it's full signal also and it seems like most houses I've been in all over Tazewell still get a good signal inside. Alltel's coverage map shows they're about as good as it gets around here and there's nobody I know of that's any better. Signal is always full near any tower with panels so they must be on every tower around here.

For some reason I am located per Alltel only 8 miles from their tower on a high hill which is a digital tower but when I am at home my phone goes into analog roaming off of a Highlands Cellular tower out of Beckley WV which is at least 70 miles away - figure that one out - Alltel did change my plan so when I am at home and can get a signal I am not charged for roaming minutes. If you are in the Gratton area and use Alltel you need to get a phone that has both digital and analog capabilities since you will have service off of the Beckley tower and it is analog - otherwise you will not get any service at all.

I have great service but was recently contacted I am being dropped because cincular is having to pay to much for my roaming charges. I have never been late and had AT&t then cincular for the last 4 years. I was told that if your bill is over 50 percent roaming then you are being dropped as of April. I had a 2 year contract but they are breaking it 12 months early.