I spend a lot of time in the Beacon Hill area, and being iPhone obsessed, can definitely vouch for how poor AT&T’s broadband access is in the area. During the tail end of last week in particular we noticed (along with others who also tweeted frustrations) some very poor service that made us feel like we were actually in NYC. It turns out that it may have had something to do with a new new mobile broadband cell site AT&T has set up in Beacon Hill.

This new mobile broadband cell site aligns nicely with City of Boston’s recent $1.5 million investment and revitalization of the Boston Common area near the State House (currently fenced off), which when completed means more traffic to the portion of the Common near Beacon Hill is expected. Part of plans for the area is offering free Wi-Fi along with patio tables, chess and checker tables and some nice grass to lay out on. Regardless of reason for AT&T’s focus on Beacon Hill, if you are with AT&T and spend time in that neighborhood, Boston Common or anywhere around The State House for that matter — you can now enjoy a much faster data connection.

“Our goal is for our customers to have an extraordinary experience. We’re always looking for new opportunities to provide an enhanced customer experience, and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way we’re accomplishing that,” saidSteve Krom, vice president and general manager, AT&T New England. “In addition, our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA will strengthen and expand our network throughout New Hampshire. 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.”