Opening remarks at the FCC/DOL workshop will be made by, from left, Roger Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC; Dean McKenzie, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, DOL; Eric M. Seleznow, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ETA, DOL; and Tom Wheeler, Chairman, FCC.
As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) and Department of Labor’s (DOL) efforts to reduce communications tower-related fatalities and injuries, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announce the agenda for their upcoming workshop on tower climber safety and Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP).
As previously announced by Public Notice on December 15, 2015, the workshop will be held on February 11, 2016, in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This workshop will include panel discussions focusing on:
- Guidance on best practices for improving tower climber safety
- The comments received in response to OSHA’s Request for Information on Communication Tower Safety (OSHA-2014-0018)
- Implementation of the TIRAP program and telecommunications workforce development
Workshop Agenda – February 11, 2016
9:00 – 9:30 am — Opening Remarks
Roger Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC
Dean McKenzie, Acting Director, Directorate of Construction, DOL
Eric M. Seleznow, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ETA, DOL
Tom Wheeler, Chairman, FCC
9:30 – 10:30 am — First Panel Discussion
FCC/DOL Guidance on Best Practices for Improving Safety
Panelists:
Angela Jones, Union Wireless
Don Doty, National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)
Jason Becker, National Radio Operations Branch, BLM
John Parham, Jacobs Engineering Group
Kevin Schmidt, National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA)
Wade Sarver, Wade4Wireless.com
Moderators:
Claire Wack, Attorney Advisor, Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC
Jessica Douma, Regulatory Analyst, OSHA
10:30 – 11:30 am — Second Panel Discussion
Comments Received in Response to OSHA’s Request for Information on Communication Tower Safety (OSHA-2014-0018)
Panelists:
Bridgette Hester, Hubble Foundation
Craig Lekutis, WirelessEstimator.com
Nick Vespa, Southeastern Towers
Richard Cullum, Crown Castle
Moderators:
Michael Janson, Associate Chief, Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, WTB/FCC
Erin Patterson, Regulatory Analyst, OSHA
11:30 – 12:30 pm — Third Panel Discussion
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) and Telecommunications Workforce Development
Panelists:
Chase Hammock, TIRAP Apprentice, MUTI/Sabre Industries
Dave Anthony, Shenandoah Tower
David Sams, SBA Communications
Jonathan Adelstein, PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association
Laurie Gephardt, Verizon Wireless
Moderators:
Zachary Boren, Senior Advisor, Office of Apprenticeship, ETA
Matthew Warner, Attorney Advisor, Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC
12:30 pm — Concluding Remarks
The first joint FCC-DOL workshop on these subjects was held on October 14, 2014.
Attendance
The workshop is free and open to the public. Attendees do not need to pre-register. All attendees are requested to arrive promptly and with adequate time for building security. Attendees will be required to present photo identification to enter the building.
Webcast
The FCC will webcast the workshop on the FCC webpage. The webcast may be viewed at http://www.fcc.gov/live. Viewers may submit questions during the workshop via email at livequestions@fcc.gov and on Twitter using the “#FCClive” hashtag.
Accessibility Information
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
Press Inquiries and Additional Information for Attendees
For press inquiries or further information about attending the workshop, contact Cecilia Sulhoff, FCC, at (202) 418-0587, Cecilia.Sulhoff@fcc.gov ; Brian Hawthorne, Special Assistant, DOL, at (202) 693-4681, Lawder.Jesse@dol.gov; Mandy McClure, Special Assistant, DOL, at (202) 693-4672, North.Lauren.A@dol.gov; and/or Zachary Boren, Senior Advisor, Office of Apprenticeship,
Employment and Training Administration, DOL, at (202) 693-3793, Boren.Zachary@dol.gov.