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Crown Castle Fiber has accused Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) of breaking FCC rules by charging excessive pole attachment fees and denying the company access to hundreds of poles. In its complaints filed with the FCC, Crown Castle alleges that ComEd refuses to recognize that wireless attachments are subject to FCC rules, and as a result, the utility has charged …
Favorable ruling upholds CommScope digital DAS patents leads Fast-Forward Friday articles
Article Media Favorable ruling upholds CommScope digital DAS patents Business Wire T-Mobile prepares for a Boost auction if Dish Network talks fail CNBC Nokia seeks rule change for 5G backhaul Fierce Wireless Mobile data use nearly doubles, CTIA annual survey shows CTIA Plaintiffs in FirstNet privacy lawsuit appealoppose AT&T brief Mission Critical LMR will continue alongside LTE Radio Resource 5G …
NRECA claims pole attachment rates not a barrier to rural broadband deployment
Broadband deployment in rural America is not impeded by pole attachment rates, according to a report released by Brian O’Hara, regulatory director, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), in a white paper, “Pole Attachment Policies and Issues.” O’Hara’s research indicates that most communications companies will not provide broadband to all of rural America even when the pole attachment rental rates are …
Reward offered for vandals who cut guy wires and collapsed 150-foot Oregon tower
The Coos County Oregon Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for the identification and conviction of the parties responsible for cutting the guy wires and collapsing a 150-foot guyed tower on Coos Mountain off BLM 26-1027 1 Road, according to a press release from the department. The damage was discovered Monday morning when a deputy responded to a call of …
AT&T to cut 1,800 wireline jobs as CWA cites an already ‘crumbling infrastructure’
AT&T will be cutting 1,800 positions, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA), union jobs in their wireline business, which the company claims has fewer customers after losing 1.9 million wireline customers between 2016 and 2018. “Due to changes as our business and industry continue to evolve, we are making some staff reductions involving technicians who install and repair …
SBA Communications’ 20-year record-high stock price celebrated on Wall Street
Jeffrey Stoops, President and Chief Executive Officer of SBA Communications Corporation, presided over the opening bell ceremony on June 17 at the NASDAQ stock exchange in recognition of the company’s 20th year of being listed. SBA was also featured on the exchange’s multi-story marketing sign fronting Times Square. The company’s stock set a record high yesterday at $228.73, closing at …
A Dish carrier network could set the table for higher contractor margins
Dish Network might play the pivotal role in the Department of Justice’s approval of the proposed T-Mobile/Sprint merger after The Wall Street Journal reported that Dish is the lead bidder on the spectrum T-Mobile and Sprint are divesting in their bid of winning regulatory approval for their merger valued at $26.5 billion. Charlie Ergen, who controls Dish, has approximately $10 …
Friday’s ham radio climber’s death is a stark reminder of dangers present this weekend during Field Day
Field Day is ham radio operators’ open house as approximately 40,000 amateur radio operators throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places this weekend to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill, and service to the nation’s communities. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills. It also can be deadly. In 2009, while installing an …
5G’s future could literally be full of hot air…and drones leads Fast Forward Friday articles
Article Media 5G’s Future Could Literally Be Full of Hot Air… And Drones LightReading Verizon competing with telecom company to replace Chico water tower Enterprise-Record New network for first responders raises concern among media The Washington Post FCC Chairman cautions India, says 5G can impact national security Inc42 Senators debut bill to boost broadband map accuracy MeriTalk Maine bill to …
Tower Infrastructure Deployment bill introduced by Representatives Walberg and Clarke
Update: June 14, 2019 – Commenting on the bill he co-sponsored with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke to establish a Telecommunications Workforce Development Advisory Council, Congressman Tim Walberg said in a statement today, “As the telecom industry deploys next generation technologies, there are tens of thousands of good-paying, highly-skilled jobs but nobody to fill them. Developing a skilled workforce needs to be …
Dems don’t want T-Mobile/Sprint merger, 10 States Attorney Generals state in lawsuit
Late last month Moffett Nathanson Research analysts set the odds of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger going through at 50/50. Today, it’s likely that the smart money is on the $26.5 billion mega deal failing after a lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan by a group of state attorneys general seeking to block the marriage of the third and …
FCC believes bank fraudster turned shock-jock illegally controls four AM radio stations
St. Louis radio shock-jock Robert Romanik is being investigated by the FCC to identify if he has a controlling ownership in radio stations that carry his show which would be a violation of federal law since he had been convicted of felony offenses – more specifically – in 1997 he obstructed justice by lying 150 times to a grand jury …
TIRAP elects new leadership with American Tower’s Paul Roberts at the helm
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced that Paul Roberts, Vice President, Compliance, American Tower Corporation, was elected to serve as Chairperson of WIA’s Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) Executive Board. A new slate of officers was also elected. Other newly elected officers include: Vice Chairperson, Beau Aero, President and Founder, GME Supply Co.; Chairperson Emeritus, David Sams, Vice President …
New inductees profiled in ‘Tower Climbers Hall of Shame’
Facebook pages provide an uncensored opportunity for stupidity June 5, 2019 – For over a dozen years Wireless Estimator has highlighted some of the most egregious tower climber safety infractions in its Tower Climbers Hall of Shame. Almost daily you could view violations on Facebook. Thankfully, most Facebook group moderators took the high road and now delete troubling photos. But …
Bureaucracy is hindering implementation of TIRAP program, Tilson chief tells legislators
In a hearing before the House subcommittee on Innovation and Workforce Development Tuesday, one of the nation’s largest telecommunications contractor’s CEO informed its members that the advancement of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) was burdened by state and federal conflicts and that 5G’s deployment is going to be delayed by a number of years due to the shortage …
FCC names winners who spent $2.7 billion in millimeter wave auctions
The FCC has released the names of companies (see full list of Auction 101 and Auction 102 below) that won licenses in the recently completed auction of spectrum suitable for 5G deployments in the 24 GHz and 28 GHz millimeter wave bands. In the $2.7 billion raised, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Windstream, Starry and U.S. Cellular were the big winners. Each …
Callous disregard for tower lighting regs could result in a $25K-plus fine
A Long Island, NY tower owner is expected to face several fines for violations observed by an FCC investigator of Merdarler Enterprises’ Lake Butler, Fla. tower. The FCC issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) on May 20, 2019 for an obstruction lighting violation claiming that on May 7, 2019 the FCC’s Miami enforcement bureau received information indicating that none of …
Tornadoes kayo at least three cell towers in the past weeks
After an almost two-week streak of tornadoes and record flooding, where individuals lost their homes and businesses, it’s almost a non-story that a few cell towers collapsed, considering that there were no injuries and the structures will be quickly rebuilt by well-funded carriers and towercos. Displaced homeowners and proprietors will not be accorded that benefit. There were multiple self-supporting structures …
InSite’s Weisman elected WIA Chairman; new slate of officers named to WIA Board of Directors
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) has announced that David Weisman, President and Chief Executive Officer, InSite Wireless Group, LLC, was elected to serve as Chairman of WIA’s Board of Directors. A new slate of officers was also elected. Additional officers are: Vice Chairman: Jeffrey A. Stoops; President and Chief Executive Officer; SBA Communications Corporation; Secretary: Jay A. Brown, President and Chief Executive …
May’s total: two toppled broadcast towers due to clipped guy wires
ELK-AM in Elko, Nevada is off the air after its tower collapsed into a parking lot of a restaurant damaging several cars last night. No one was injured. The 198-foot tower, located behind the station, fell after a semi-truck hit a supporting guy wire. It could be several days before the station is back on the air. No injuries were reported. …
