I live near a major Interstate outside Boston, but I'm lucky to get one bar; while standing on one foot and rubbing my head. I am truly in a dead zone (all vendors) and all this 3G, 4G, etc. stuff doesn't do anything for me - I need bars!
I plan to push ATT to give me a femtocell as a retention incentive, but I suspect they'll say no. I can't hang Verizon over their heads, because they don't work here either.