AT&T’s new 3G cell site at Beaver Run in Breckenridge is up and running, expanding service coverage and increasing network capacity, the wireless provider announced Monday. The new tower extended AT&T’s service in the area and improved 3G service by 450 percent since March and doubled the network’s carrying capacity, according to a statement from AT&T. Improvements to existing AT&T service infrastructure in Breckenridge doubled the network’s carrying capacity. “This expansion comes at a critical time for Breckenridge customers as we begin the ski season,” AT&T Colorado president Bill Soards said. “Town leaders have worked closely with us to help achieve this enhanced service, and we’re grateful for their assistance.”The new 3G site will allow AT&T customers to access broadband speeds and should improve service when the network experiences heavy traffic, which has caused customers problems in the past. AT&T customers in Frisco have also complained of service problems, but the company has not said whether additional projects will be undertaken elsewhere in Summit County. “We’re always evaluating how to expand our network,” AT&T spokeswoman Sandy Goldberg said, although she said specific information on 2011 plans was not immediately available. Work on the permanent cell tower at Beaver Run, located alongside Sprint and T-mobile towers atop Building 2, took a couple of months longer to complete than initially expected. Work on the tower began earlier this year after customers complained of problems with AT&T service, particularly at busy periods such as Christmas time. “There have been a lot of dropped calls at the high-traffic times,” Breckenridge Mayor John Warner said. “We had many visitors complaining over the last couple years that their service was very poor here in Breckenridge.”Breckenridge spokeswoman Kim DiLallo said town government officials had become concerned interruptions in AT&T customers’ service could have negative impacts on tourism if not corrected and were happy to have a permanent tower in the area.Earlier this year AT&T leased space at the old CMC building from the town for a temporary tower to alleviate problems until the permanent tower was completed. In late August, AT&T representatives asked for a one-month extension on the lease through the end of September. Council granted the extension, but doubled the monthly rate from $1,000 to $2,000. Then in October, the national cell phone service provider requested and was given another month’s extension after running into setbacks with the permanent tower. Town council granted AT&T a third extension through the month of November. Rates on the lease were doubled to $4,000 in October and increased again to $5,000 when the lease had to be extended again into November. The town earmarked income from the lease for future plans for the CMC site, DiLallo said.SDN reporter Caddie Nath can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or at cnath@summitdaily.com.