Can you hear me now? New cell tower on Route 23 in Prattsville

AT&T announced yesterday that they've just flipped the switch on a new cell tower on Route 23 between Prattsville and Ashland, in Greene County:

"More than ever before, customers look to wireless communications to stay in touch with family, friends and business colleagues," said Amy Hines Kramer, regional vice president of external affairs for AT&T in New York. "We're working to make this possible by investing in new wireless coverage in the Empire State. In addition, our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network. If approved, this deal means that we'll be able to expand the next generation of mobile broadband - 4G LTE - from our current plan of 80 percent of the U.S. population to more than 97 percent."

We're pretty sure that even if they do get around to covering 97 percent of the population, some of that 3 percent with no bars will still be in the Catskills. But hey -- every little bit counts. (Ask Kathy Aitken of Neversink, whose son Joe survived a brutal assault at a Claryville party two years ago -- in part because of a cell phone call to emergency responders that miraculously went through, in an area that normally has no reception.)

Readers: Do you live near Route 23? Are you getting better cell phone service lately?