South Dakota-based VIKOR Teleconstruction is proud to announce that they have once again been listed on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is VIKOR’s fourth consecutive year being recognized on the list. Only a small portion of U.S. companies make the Inc. 5000 list each year. Those who do have witnessed significant growth …
Congruex adds Oregon-based A&M Communications to its portfolio of companies
Congruex, a national end-to-end provider of design, engineering, construction, and maintenance services to broadband providers, today announced the acquisition of A&M Communications. The acquisition further cements Congruex’s leading position as one of the nation’s largest telecom engineering and construction firms. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Boring, Oregon, A&M Communications is an end-to-end provider of wireless …
Murphy Tower Service rolls into the Dakotas with the acquisition of East River Tower
Murphy Tower Service, a leading provider of wireless and wireline infrastructure services based in Carlisle, IA, has acquired East River Tower of Gary, SD, allowing the company to broaden its service region into the Dakotas and western Nebraska regions. Murphy Tower has additional locations in Cedar Rapids, IA; Omaha, NE; the Twin Cities, MN; and Springfield, MO. “We’re very excited …
TIRAP tower technician apprentices to earn college credits thanks to national partnership with ACE
Apprentices participating in WIA’s Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship program (TIRAP) will have a chance to earn college credits, thanks to recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE is officially recommending that apprentices completing the Telecommunications Tower Technician (TTT) program earn 14 or more credits at community colleges nationwide. That’s almost a quarter of the way toward an associate …
Vertical Freedom trailer provides a quick insight about an upcoming tower tech feature length movie
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, in collaboration with STORYBUILT Media, released the debut movie trailer last night at the South Wireless Summit in Nashville, TN for Vertical Freedom, an epic, feature length documentary film highlighting the professional and personal lives of six communications infrastructure workers in the United States who possess diverse backgrounds and compelling stories, on and off …
America still in second place with 5G service in a worldwide tally of 1,662 cites: VIAVI
Viavi Solutions Inc. today released new research demonstrating the accelerating pace at which 5G is growing, with coverage extending to an additional four countries and 301 cities worldwide since the beginning of this year. The new total — 1,662 cities across 65 countries — represents an increase of more than 20 percent during 2021 to date, according to the latest edition …
IOA’s Stephanie Brewer pick as its new safety director ensures them a leg up in the insurance industry
When Insurance Office of America (IOA) realized the distinct client benefits that could be offered by having a telecommunications safety and compliance director on board to assist in their ever-growing telecom sector, they had a choice of many candidates, but one stood out with credentials that would make most safety professionals blush with envy – Stephanie Brewer – an individual …
Industry will be well-represented with Bryan McKernan on unmanned aerial systems rulemaking committee
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that UAS Committee Chairman Bryan McKernan, Chief Revenue Officer at Consortiq in Annapolis, Maryland, has been selected to represent the Association on the Federal Aviation Administration Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). Through his participation in the ARC, Bryan, a Marine Corps Veteran, will play a …
Scott Crisler named COO at CTI Towers as the company continues expansion of its executive team
CTI Towers, Inc. (CTI)) today announced the expansion of its executive team with the addition of Scott Crisler as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Crisler has an extensive wireless background with over 20 years in the wireless industry. He will assume oversight of day-to-day operations at CTI, including sales, tower operations, lease administration, and business development. “Scott has experience in every aspect of …
Contractors SatTEL Broadband and SRU Electric are now under AscendTek’s umbrella
SatTEL Broadband Inc. (SBI) in Kent, Wash., and SRU Electric in Cary, Ill., have joined AscendTek and its network of cell tower construction companies in providing 5G installations around the country. AscendTek now builds, maintains and updates cell towers in more than 30 states, including Hawaii, with nearly 100 tower, civil and electrical crews delivering infrastructure projects, large and small, …
Repeater Communications/InSite Wireless Group alum announce the formation of RCG Tower Group
Earlier this month, Paul Eisenberg and Michael Lifland, former Co-Presidents of Repeater Communications Group, LLC and Division Presidents of InSite Wireless Group, LLC announced the formation of RCG Tower Group, LLC. This new venture, similar to Eisenberg and Lifland’s prior collaborations, specializes in generating triple net lease revenue streams for landlords by leasing, developing, acquiring and operating co-located rooftop, in-building …
The FCC needs you to test your internet speeds with its app that will let you assess your carrier’s claims
As part of the Commission’s Broadband Data Collection effort to collect comprehensive data on broadband availability across the United States, the FCC is encouraging the public to download the FCC’s Speed Test app, which is currently used to collect speed test data as part of the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program. The app provides a way for consumers to test …
NWSA sets dates, location for May Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshop
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is encouraging industry employers, trainers and workers to register for the Telecommunications Tower Technician Practical Examiner Accreditation Program (PEAP) Workshop scheduled for May 11-13, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by Petzl America. NWSA-accredited Practical Examiners are NWSA-certified personnel who have been trained and authorized by NWSA to administer the practical examinations for NWSA …
Illinois student is recipient of Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and Tower Family Foundation today jointly announced that Alex Dodson, a junior civil engineering student from Jasper, Indiana has been named as the 2021 recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. Alex Dodson is at the top of her class academically and excels in …
U.S. trails China in 5G rollout that now has 1,336 cities globally: VIAVI
Viavi Solutions Inc. today released new industry data revealing that the number of cities with 5G networks is now 1,336 globally, a 350 percent increase during the past year despite an ongoing global pandemic. As of January 2021, more than 30 percent of the world’s countries now have 5G availability, according to the new VIAVI report “The State of 5G,” …
Illinois county’s ‘storage facility’ zoning language leads to AT&T lawsuit
AT&T filed a complaint in the Southern District of Illinois against the Monroe County, Illinois’ Board of Zoning Appeals and Board of Commissioners for their alleged “unlawful denial of a wireless communications facility siting request” in violation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as well as state and local laws. The carrier claims that the Act “preempts State and local decisions that …
Off the time card, former tower tech is arrested for multiple transmission line decoms
A 32-year-old tower tech was arrested last week for allegedly breaking into three North Carolina cell tower sites on September, 14, 15 and 22 in Wake Forest and Creedmoor, and stealing copper, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. The Sheriff’s Office charged Kenneth David Voncannon VII of Durham with injury of real property, injuring wires of …
It’s easy to deploy and maintain 5G NR and LTE/LTE-A cell sites with OneAdvisor-800 from VIAVI
VIAVI Solutions announces signal analysis enhancements to its OneAdvisor-800 all-in-one test tool to streamline 4G-LTE and 5G NR cell site installation, integration and maintenance. This milestone addition brings cell site maintenance functionality to the award-winning installation tool. As service providers, towercos and infracos face pressure to deliver on the promise of 5G, the demand still exists to maintain and to …
To help empower women, WON has established two education scholarships
Women of NATE (WON) has announced the establishment of the WON Education Scholarship. The scholarship was designed to encourage and inspire more women to enter the tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. Women play a prominent role as leaders and visionaries in the advancement of wireless and broadcast communications. Through the establishment of the WON initiative, the …
Industry vet Baumann appointed to TIRAP’s Advisory Board
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced today that Brad Baumann, Vice President, Wireless Solutions for Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc., has joined the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) Advisory Board. He has 37 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. “The Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) board and its members appreciate the time and energy Brad spends to represent our industry on the TIRAP Advisory Board, and we know …
