MariTEL is nearing completion of its Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi region’s marine wireless VHF radiotelephone network. Launched in June 2001, the network provides mariners affordable and reliable direct dial, automatically connected marine telephone calls vessel location and touch tone services. By the end of 2001, the region will have 29 sites providing coverage from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Sarasota, Fla. Six more towers slated for completion in Spring 2002 will provide uninterrupted marine telecommunications coverage from the Mexican border to Ft. Myers, Fla., and the lower Mississippi River to Memphis, Tenn. MariTEL will introduce its privacy service later this month and e-mail service in March 2002. Privacy service will completely scramble a MariTEL VHF radiotelephone call.