On Tues., March 29, the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), in conjunction with curriculum and training provider Safety Controls Technology (SCT), hosted a Fall Prevention Worker Training Course in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. The course was attended by 43 industry workers representing tower service and maintenance companies located in the Great Lakes region of the United States. The Fall Protection …
Communications Sales & Leasing to purchase 32 of Windstream’s towers
Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc. (CS&L) today announced that they have entered into an agreement with Windstream Holdings, Inc. to acquire 32 wireless towers owned by Windstream and operating rights for 49 wireless towers previously conveyed to the company in its spin-off from Windstream in April of last year. With a portfolio of 81 towers after closing, CS&L will rank …
Legacy announces its expansion with new Rocky Mountain location
Legacy Telecommunications, Inc., a leading provider of wireless infrastructure construction and technical services, today announced the addition of a Montana location to accommodate the firm’s growth and expansion plans. The new 7800 square foot facility is located on a three-acre industrial parcel in Three Forks, MT. This will provide increased capacity for existing customer logistical support and services throughout the …
Safety alliance spreads its message at Las Vegas’ IWCE 2016 confab
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) hosted a Town Hall Meeting Wednesday at the 2016 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, Nev.. IWCE is a popular annual event for communications technology professionals in the working world. Over 7,000 individuals attend from a diverse group of industry professionals including government/military; public safety (law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical & 911); …
One Georgia tower down while another planned structure heads to court
Tower developer Municipal Communications LLC took Cobb County, Ga. officials to court last week for having an “impossible condition” placed upon it for a new 190-foot monopole, when the county asked it to move the structure 300 feet – while in Screven County, a tower decided to move hundreds of feet on its own when it collapsed yesterday. Although there …
Centerline Solution’s UCI acquisition raises its professional headcount to 420
Colorado-based Centerline Solutions has added Florida’s UCI Construction Services into its operation — an acquisition that makes Centerline one of the leading wireless infrastructure services providers in the U.S. The strategic partnership not only expands the company’s turnkey wireless services to a new geographic region of the United States, but also enhances Centerline’s construction capabilities through the addition of UCI’s …
Training, rigging and respect emphasized in NATE’s cathead video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) has released a Capstan Hoist & Rigging Safety Video as part of the Association’s Climber Connection campaign. NATE unveiled the video at the 2016 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, Nev. The video highlights practical safety tips for selecting and utilizing capstan hoists. Additionally, the video footage includes a testimonial from …
Sheriff’s tower takes down a video shooting New York drone
The New York Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying the owner of a drone that crashed into a communication tower. According to a media release, Sr. Radio Tech Dave Bartkowiak discovered a drone that had apparently impacted one of the county’s communication towers located at the Tom Erlandson Overview Park on Oak Hill Rd. …
Thirty-four Big Easy ‘Train-the-Trainer’ graduates announced by NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced the graduating participants of the Train-the-Trainer Course the Association hosted on Feb. 21 – 25, 2016 in New Orleans, La. NATE, in conjunction with curriculum and training provider Safety Controls Technology (SCT), offered a five-day course at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The course was offered free of charge to eligible …
Alpha Media balloons with new stations as it sheds its unmarketed towers to Vertical Bridge
Tower owner Vertical Bridge has announced that it has acquired close to 200 towers from Alpha Media, although no financial terms of the transaction were disclosed in a press announcement. The portfolio consists of 113 new sites, many with AM arrays accounting for the additional 87 towers announced in the deal. The acquisition, according to Wireless Estimator’s Tower Owners List, …
Techs rescue an eaglet hung up in a hanger kit on a Florida cell tower
Two tower techs belted up Monday night to rescue eaglets in distress after a neighbor contacted wildlife authorities stating that one of them appeared to be injured. Ricky Blanco and Steve Barefoot, employees of USA Structural, formerly Goff Communications, said they welcomed the opportunity to assist in the rescue. One eaglet was hanging upside down from the tower off of …
Sources: Five say no to FirstNet, but more than two bidders are expected
By Andrew Seybold Since last week’s commentary I have received verification that five other potential FirstNet RFP bidders have decided not to pursue this opportunity. Yet I have also heard from a reliable source that we can expect to see more than two bidders submitting proposals. I hope my source is correct since Public Safety deserves many bids on the …
Great video tips unveiled in NATE’s 100% tie-off safety video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a 100% Tie-Off Safety Video as part of the Association’s Climber Connection campaign. The video was released by the Association in advance of next week’s NATE UNITE 2016 Conference in New Orleans, La. The video highlights practical 100% Tie-Off safety tips for industry workers to follow to ensure that they are …
Ten days later, an unaligned Texas “tower” worker’s fall is still being reported
Commentary – When a Texas NBC affiliate posted a short breaking news bulletin on their website on Feb. 3, 2016 with the headline: “Emergency crews respond to man falling from tower on FM 54 in Hale County,” the link was immediately pasted on tower-industry Facebook groups. One social media poster even misinterpreted the headline and re-posted that the man fell …
The cell phone in your pocket shouldn’t cost a worker’s life
By Dr. David Michaels and Roger Sherman – Wireless services have opened up avenues of communication and resources unlike any in history. We rely on these connections to stay in touch with friends and family members, operate businesses and communicate on a global scale. But providing these innovative services through networks of communication towers should not come at the cost …
Northeast wireless safety confab’s attendance increases at second summit
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) played a significant role at today’s 2nd Annual Northeast Wireless Safety Summit in Tarrytown, N.Y. The popular industry event, organized by HPC Wireless Services, consisted of a series of keynotes and panel sessions and was attended by wireless stakeholders from throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions who have a keen interest in enhancing …
Empire State Building and NAB press the FCC for bidding expense compensation
Representatives of the Empire State Building and the National Association of Broadcasters have pressed the Federal Communications Commission to reimburse broadcasters for expenses they incur in the lead-up to the airwaves auction, according to a filing yesterday. On Jan. 29, 2016, those representatives met with officials of the Incentive Auction Task Force, Office of General Counsel and the Media Bureau …
Australian tower tech’s death is a sad reminder of lower international fatalities
A tower tech fell to his death from a communications tower in Australia today, according to a local news report that stated he was 43-years-old and died after falling off of a structure near Adelaide River around 4:00 p.m., but offered no additional information. The worker’s death accents what appears to be a safer environment throughout the world for tower …
Counterfeit RF training certificates join other tower tech false credentials
Counterfeit certificates have been a frequent headache for many of the industry’s fall protection trainers for many years due to high resolution printers and a few tower technicians’ Photoshop skills. In at least two climber fatalities, cards found in the deceased’s wallets were not identified as being accurate by the issuer. False radio frequency safety training certificates have also surfaced, …
Lawmakers’ FirstNet probe could unveil little more than the RFP’s deadlines
Lawmakers have scheduled a hearing on Feb. 2, 2016 that is expected to shed a little more light on FirstNet’s progress following the issuance on Jan. 14, 2016 of a request for proposal (RFP) for the public safety broadband network for first responders. However, some industry observers believe that little will be gleaned since the presentations will be well-scripted and …
