The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced this week that it is moving the dates for its Connect (X) 2021 show in Boston from May 25-28 to August 3-6 as a “precautionary measure” during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the NATE UNITE 2021 conference scheduled for February 15–18 in Memphis, Tennessee opened for registration today, the Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced this …
NATE video highlights new wireless infrastructure technician program at Southeast Technical College
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today unveiled a video shining a spotlight on the new Wireless Infrastructure Technician Program at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The video’s release is timely as community college and technical institute students across the United States head back to school for the fall 2020 semester. The video features testimonial interviews with …
Video challenges industry to look at suspension trauma response from a new perspective
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a video on the topic of suspension trauma. The video is the third to debut in Volume 5 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection series. The video includes important information that all tower technicians, trainers and first responder personnel need to know regarding how to respond effectively to a suspension trauma situation at …
NWSA to develop Spanish language telecommunication tower technician assessments
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved proceeding with the Spanish language translation of assessment tests for the Telecommunications Tower Technician 1 (TTT-1) and Telecommunications Tower Technician 2 (TTT-2) trade certifications. MasTec Network Solutions is sponsoring the effort with a generous contribution to cover the cost of translating written tests and associated …
Environment oftentimes weaves dangerous webbing, a Planning Advisory Notice explains why
Equipment exposed to the environment can have an effect on technician safety, effective use, and longevity. The focus of this Planning Advisory Notice (PAN), published with permission by the Telecommunications Industry Foundation, is: Best safety practices for slings, ropes, harnesses, and hard hats to help technicians identify and prevent environmental exposure and ultraviolet degradation. In 2017, Brigham Young University conducted …
Free wireless rooftop deployment training course in Atlanta set for August 3
NATE is offering a free Wireless Rooftop Deployment Training Course on Monday, August 3, 2020 at the Sheraton Suites Galleria-Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia to all industry professionals, announced NATE project coordinator Kimberly Elliott. The course is made possible due to a Susan Harwood Training Grant (SH-05134-SH9) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Applicants do not have to be …
NATE releases wire rope safety climb document, announces Jeremy Buckles as SEMC’s Chairman
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) Guide for Wire Rope Safety Climbs on Antenna Supporting Structures – 2020 consensus document. This 15-page, manufacturer consensus document is intended to address use of a wire rope safety climb/system in the telecommunications industry. This resource is only intended to apply to structures that are …
Even if you don’t climb, safety sleeve testing report is a must read
The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today officially released the NATE Safety Sleeve Testing Final Report. This in-depth, 62-page white paper describes the overall scope, methodology and results from the NATE sponsored Safety Sleeve Testing events that were performed at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) in Dayton, Ohio in 2018 and 2019. If you’re knowledgeable about the “Sunflower Effect” …
Contractors cautioned: Don’t underreact in protecting wireless field workforces against COVID-19
By Michael Devers and Jim Tracy The wireless communication industry we work in is as dynamic and fast-paced as it is critical. Over the past week, we’ve been witness to history as the dynamic, fast-paced, and extraordinary development of the impacts and storylines surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have begun to play out. This is especially true here in Western Washington, unfortunately …
Tennessee tornado trashes tower training complex, but ComStar rebounds in 24 hours
The tornado that tore through East Nashville, Tennessee Tuesday morning shredded one of the nation’s largest tower technician training facilities to pieces, but through the support of many individuals and companies, ComStar LLC was back up and running in less than 24 hours, with only “minor hiccups,” President Rick Ledford informed Wireless Estimator. Knowing that the tornado had cut a …
NCCCO and NWSA launch new Telecommunications Tower Rigger Certification
The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today the official launch of the Telecommunications Tower Rigger Level I (TTR-I) Certification Program. Established collaboratively between NCCCO and NWSA, the new TTR-I certification was adapted from NCCCO’s Rigger Level I program and specifically addresses those with responsibility for handling and moving …
NWSA announces dates, locations for first two Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshops of 2020
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) Workshops scheduled for March 24-26, 2020 in Mt Juliet, Tennessee, hosted by Comstar LLC, and April 7-9, 2020 in Phoenix Arizona, hosted by Tower Safety & Instruction. NWSA-accredited Practical Examiners are NWSA-certified personnel who have …
Wireless Rooftop Deployment Training is being offered free
Registration is now open for a highly-sought after industry training session – Wireless Rooftop Deployment Training – that is free to all wireless infrastructure company employees. The training, provided by the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) is available at no charge to NATE members as well as non-members Twelve Wireless Rooftop Deployment Training Courses will be hosted nationwide in 2020 …
Macro towers, 20K more trained tower techs and new skill sets needed to roll out 5G says FCC
Although small cells and 5G were high on the list of topics during yesterday’s U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation’s hearing on Industries of the Future, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly emphasized that 5G deployment requires more than just sound spectrum policy to be successful, and macro towers and additional worker skill sets are needed “It will need a …
Fatal falls from heights are at a five year low, but not for the nation’s tower techs
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) has released its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Report for 2018, and OSHA and media have been heralding the marked 14% decrease from 2017 of fatal falls to a lower level totaling 615, a five-year low since 2014 when there were 674 deaths. The wireless construction industry also saw a marked improvement in 2018 …
Carr applauds tower climber program that will expand America’s 5G workforce
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr lauded the announcement that the South Dakota Board of Technical Education has approved the creation of a new Wireless Infrastructure Technician Certification program at Southeast Technical Institute in South Dakota in partnership with VIKOR Teleconstruction. “Earlier this year, I announced a jobs initiative to expand America’s 5G workforce. Industry estimates that it needs to fill another 20,000 …
South Dakota’s wireless technician training program will assist in connecting the state to 5G
The South Dakota Board of Technical Education has approved the creation of a Wireless Infrastructure Technician Certification program through a partnership with Southeast Technical Institute (Southeast Tech) and VIKOR. VIKOR, formerly Sioux Falls Tower & Communications, is one of the leading providers of wireless infrastructure in South Dakota. The company saw a growing need to establish this educational program in …
Hightower and Tilson escort the benefits of TIRAP in apprenticeship’s new video
Hightower Communications and Tilson workers along with their company CEOs are featured in a new Wireless Industry Association (WIA) video promoting the benefits of joining the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) along with 27 other companies that have had 2,000 apprentices participate in the program. The video was unveiled at Tuesday’s WIA awards dinner in Washington, DC that raised …
NATE receives DOL grant for nationwide wireless rooftop deployment training
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2019-2020 program year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation. …
Heat-exhausted Texas tech is rescued from monopole by firefighters
UPDATE: September 9, 2019 – According to individuals knowledgeable of Friday’s incident in Katy, Texas where a tower tech was rescued by firefighters, the technician at first thought that he was having a heart attack and firefighters immediately arrived at the scene following a 911 call. The tech was checked out at the local hospital for heat exhaustion and …
