Verizon Wireless has released new information about its plan to drop some rural Maine customers from its wireless communications and data service.

The company sent letters to 213 customers, saying it would no longer provide service to them after Oct. 17, according to the Portland Press Herald.

“These customers live outside of areas where Verizon operates our own network and many of these lines use a substantial amount of data while roaming on other providers’ networks,” spokesman David Weissmann said Thursday. “The roaming costs generated by these lines exceed what these consumers pay us each month.”

Weissmann said Verizon “sent these notices in advance so customers have plenty of time to choose another wireless provider.”

He said other options for those customers include US Cellular and AT&T.

The company sent notices to 8,500 rural customers in 13 states.

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