Verizon now has seven rural LTE partners, vindicating McAdams’ vision

When Verizon Wireless launched its rural LTE program early last year, the company’s then-CEO Lowell McAdam appeared to be closely involved in the program, potentially putting his own reputation on the line depending on the program’s success. McAdam has since moved into the Verizon COO position, where he is being groomed to replace Ivan Seidenberg as CEO of all of Verizon and where he undoubtedly has larger fish to fry than the rural LTE program. McAdam’s vision for the rural LTE program seems to be holding up to market realities. The latest company to join the Verizon Wireless LTE in Rural America program is S and R Communications, a joint venture of two rural Indiana wireline telcos. That brings the total number of participants in the program to seven. That’s a respectable attainment in the five months since the first program participant was announced, especially considering that Verizon is only seeking partners in areas where it does not have its own 3G infrastructure.