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Recent News
Elliott Investment Management turns up the heat on Crown Castle with another scathing critique
Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., on Wednesday submitted a Section 220 demand and accompanying letter to the Crown Castle Board, requesting inspection of the company’s books...
FBA and WIA spotlight TIRAP’s remarkable growth: From one company in 2017 to currently 100 employers
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is celebrating the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and its Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) as it signed an agreement with its 100th industry employer. FBA and other telecommunications companies and industry organizations work with WIA to...
Ohio fire chief and captain killed when their manlift being used for tower maintenance overturns
According to a press statement issued by the Fayette County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), on Saturday at 11:05 a.m., their department’s 911 center received a call of an overturned mechanical lift with injuries at the Concord-Green Fire Department along...
Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown must go, says Elliott Investment Management, after investing $2 billion
Elliott Investment Management L.P., which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., released a letter and presentation today detailing its perspectives on the company’s history of underperformance and calling for significant changes. One of those...
Unable to unionize tower crews, CWA tells Arizona it wants broadband ‘done right’ but the state is a step ahead of them
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) appears to have been unable to negotiate their first Tower Climbers Union collective bargaining agreement with QualTek Wireless after QualTek closed their wireless Henderson, Nevada office that employed eight eligible tower technicians, the majority...
Thanks for an industry that exemplifies the spirit of giving
Climbing towards two decades, Wireless Estimator has been privileged to reach your computer screen or smartphone daily, providing information and advocacy to an industry we proudly serve. For that, we are thankful. More importantly, we are thankful for those men...
NWSA sunsetting practical exams at the end of 2023 to benefit technicians and employers
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that as of January 1, 2024, the organization will cease conducting TTT1 and TTT2 practical examinations in favor of enhanced written-only testing through online remote proctoring. In keeping with NWSA’s objective...
Washington TV anchors find a tower rescue of two of their employees to be a laughable event
Earlier this week, after a small elevator on a 662-foot self-supporting broadcast tower owned by NBC4 in Washington, DC malfunctioned and two employees were unable to return to the ground in Tenleytown where they were stuck at about the...
Failing financials forces iHeartMedia to sell its towers to Vertical Bridge and Salem Media to sell its property
iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest owner of AM and FM properties, released its Q3 results last week, and its consolidated revenue decreased $35.9 million or 3.6% during the three months ended September 30, 2023. Analysts expected a higher amount, but...
Biden administration releases plan to grow more spectrum, but it’s light on details
The Biden Administration released a National Spectrum Strategy identifying more than 2,700 megahertz of airwaves to study for innovative new uses by the private sector and federal agencies. President Biden also released the Presidential memorandum on Modernizing the United States Spectrum Policy and...
An excellent way to support many of the nation’s veterans is to listen to their story and fly Old Glory
Veterans Day, every November 11th, honors all Americans who have served our country in war or peace. It is a day set aside to thank the living veterans for their service and sacrifice made to a grateful nation. It...
Delusional ‘Postmaster General’ serial coax thief Douglas Lee arrested again in North Carolina
In August, Yadkin County NC Sheriff’s Office investigators received a report that someone had climbed a tower in East Bend and cut off several hundred feet of coaxial cable that would likely be sold to a scrap metal firm....
Big policy decisions loom over the future of America’s wireless networks, says WIA CEO Halley
By Patrick Halley, President and CEO, WIA – Wireless Infrastructure Association Access to broadband – fixed and mobile – is table stakes for participation in today’s Internet-driven economy. Hence the billions of dollars coming out of Washington to connect every...
Dish Network stock dives following its CEO’s resignation, financial woes, and a steep drop in subscribers
Dish Network Corporation stock swung to a loss again this morning to $3.47 from yesterday’s close of $3.51, a severe loss from $17.16 where it traded last November. Dish reported a Q3 2023 loss of 26 cents per share...
Comcast slapped with a $19 million verdict for a fatal crash caused by one of its techs in Georgia
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of injuries or deaths on construction sites, and technicians are constantly reminded of that danger in tailgate sessions, stand-downs, and training. However, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of...
NTIA issues waiver for BEAD program’s excessive financial requirements
NTIA released a conditional waiver of the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program’s letter of credit (LOC) requirement yesterday. In September, hundreds of individuals and groups urged the agency to remove the requirement, citing potential limitations on small...
After an excellent Q3 financial report by DigitalBridge, the stock unexpectedly falls off a cliff
When American Tower Corporation (ATC)) released its Q3 earnings report on October 26, 2023, analysts were pleased with the company, beating its earnings per share of $1.26 by 11.51%. The company also had a surprise increase in revenue of...
Two more telecoms receive rip and replace extensions, one says it has problems paying its contractors
The FCC has extended the deadline for two more companies to rip and replace Huawei and ZTE Chinese-made network equipment in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Both companies said the lack of funding was their primary...
Petzl Astro Bod Fast, Sit Fast and Canyon Guide harnesses quarantined and should be inspected
Following the detection of a defect on the metal D gated ventral attachment point of a harness, Petzl is requesting that all customers quarantine and inspect the ASTRO BOD FAST, ASTRO SIT FAST and CANYON GUIDE harnesses. The company...
Tom Stoner, American Tower Corp. co-founder with Steve Dodge passes
Memorial services are being planned for Thomas “Tom” Stoner, 88, who died on October 19, 2023. The well-respected serial entrepreneur and philanthropist built Stoner Broadcasting and played a vital role in creating American Radio Systems (ARS) in 1993 with...
American Tower names Steven Vondran to succeed Thomas Bartlett as President and CEO
American Tower Corporation has announced that Tom Bartlett will retire as President, Chief Executive Officer, and director of the Board of Directors, effective February 1, 2024. The company said in a statement that its Board of Directors, having undertaken...
DC Judge okays Dish Network’s additional time to buy 800 MHz licenses from T-Mobile
A U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia signed off on an agreement Monday to give Dish Network additional time to buy 800 MHz licenses from T-Mobile. Judge Timothy Kelly accepted a motion filed last week by the...
Net neutrality, axed under Trump, have Democrats looking for a revival
The Federal Communications Commission voted 3 to 2 along party lines today to move forward with its proposal to reinstate open internet rules that were repealed during the Trump administration. A final vote is expected to come next year....
Eric Chase resumes CEO leadership of Ontivity; Ian Stringfellow is appointed as its COO
Ontivity, a leading national provider of wireless infrastructure services, has reappointed Eric Chase as Chief Executive Officer. The company said in a statement that the leadership move will fuel the company’s culture of growth. In September, Ontivity acquired Infinity...
NATE highlights 192 companies that are participating in the STAR Initiative and NATE-OSHA-FCC Partnership
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program and the NATE-OSHA-FCC Partnership program for the 2023-2024 year. NATE has proudly accepted 192 participating companies...
SpaceX says AT&T and RWA’s opposition to satellite direct to cell is a ‘desperate 11th hour campaign’
AT&T and the Rural Wireless Association (RWA) have coordinated “a desperate, 11th-hour campaign” to prevent SpaceX from testing its mobile coverage from space in partnership with T-Mobile with “baseless procedural claims while offering no substantive reasons” for denying its...
South Florida Broadband Careers Awareness Day is expected to set the national template for other states
South Florida will host the first national Broadband Careers Awareness Day, a broadband industry coalition led by Broadband Careers and supported by Junior Achievement of South Florida and Neptuno USA, Corp. Open to the public at no charge (REGISTER...
Nation’s largest-ever lawsuit filed against DoD and Commerce for $39 billion by Ligado in spectrum fight
Satellite company Ligado Networks is seeking up to $39 billion in compensation from the U.S. government for spectrum rights it claims were unfairly denied, alleging that the Pentagon and Commerce Department used a false pretext of GPS interference to...
Telecoms get rip and replace extension, but China-controlled equipment may be with us past 2024
The FCC has granted five telecom companies’ requests for additional time to “rip and replace” Chinese-manufactured equipment due to a shortfall of funding, supply chain issues, and workforce shortages due to factors beyond their control. The agency agreed to...
Four innovators inducted into prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame
Approximately 300 attendees honored four individuals last night at a sold-out event. The honored guests joined the 76 wireless industry pioneers and innovators inducted into the prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame in Washington, DC. The event, hosted by the...
Four honorees will be inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame tonight: Baker, Gellman, Whitacre and Mechaley
Tonight’s 2023 Wireless History Foundation’s (WHF) Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Washington, DC, is sold out. Still, thanks to The Grampion podcast, available here on YouTube, viewers can get a sneak preview of the event and the history...
Following a tech’s death, the industry unites for best practices for wire mesh grips in new NATE advisory
After a 32-year-old tower technician passed away last December in Texas and Wireless Estimator identified that a hybrid cable hoisting grip failure might have caused the fatality, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association engaged a Hoisting Grip Task Team...
Ohio tower technician succumbs from injuries following a 250-foot fall during an AT&T installation
Services have been announced for Darren Bishop, 28, of Proctorville, OH, who passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023, after falling approximately 250 feet off a 300-foot guyed tower in Huntsburg Township, OH. According to individuals knowledgeable of the...
Heard through the Grapevine women, NATE’s WON summit was a huge success
Women of NATE (WON) held their third successful annual Women’s Leadership Summit on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in Grapevine, Texas. The summit was a massive success due to the support, enthusiasm, and participation of over 30 sponsors and 150...
TechDash Telecom shutters its doors, swelling unemployment, but some companies are still hiring
After Fredericksburg, TX, TechDash Telecom ran out of cash when investment funding fell through, and they were aware that one of their lenders would be shortly filing a lawsuit since a note for $4,000,000 had matured, and the company...
‘Real world’ lanyard testing video shows concerns that will be detailed in upcoming NATE SEMC white paper
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video today highlighting a recent fall arrest lanyard testing event that the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) held at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The #ClimberConnection video...
BEAD funding will go to lions and tigers and bears, oh my! – Senator Ted Cruz’s investigation
Led by Senator Ted Cruz, Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee released a scathing report Friday that identifies that the Biden administration’s $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program duplicates a number of other subsidy programs and is a...
Rewards offered for a copper stripper’s arrest and recovery of a Hydradyne hoist
Two cash rewards have been offered, one leading to the arrest of an individual who stripped a Subcarrier Communications tower of copper and another for information that will lead to recovering a single drum winch and trailer. Last week,...
Thirteen distinguished and dedicated wireless leaders to be honored by the Radio Club of America
The Radio Club of America has announced this year’s award recipients, as well as its incoming class of 2023 Fellows. Since 1935, RCA has recognized major contributors to wireless communications. This year, 13 awards are being presented, and eight RCA members...
Crown Castle’s Federal Sales Director says he was fired in retaliation for whistleblowing
A US District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, on August 23, 2023, denied Crown Castle USA, Inc.’s request to dismiss a whistleblower’s complaint for failure to make a claim, and the company is now required to...
Breakaway pole requirement is just one of several ‘misapplied standards’ in Verizon’s New Jersey lawsuit
Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit on September 7, 2023, against Monmouth County in New Jersey federal court, alleging the County wrongly rejected its applications to provide small cell site structures along the Borough of Belmar’s boardwalk based upon misapplied...
AT&T CEO says not to worry, but new Verizon lead cable lawsuit tackles climbers’ future harm
AT&T’s CEO John Stankey said yesterday at a technology conference that tests conducted at several sites where the carrier has abandoned lead-clad cables have shown no risks of a public health crisis. His statement comes shortly after AT&T and...
Comtrain and SafetyLMS’s partnering will provide a powerhouse of curriculum and training
Comtrain USA, a training organization with a rich history in the telecommunications industry has joined the parent company of SafetyLMS, a top training provider in industries including telecom with a particular focus on tower safety. Comtrain, a brand synonymous...
Deadlock at the FCC ends with the confirmation of Anna Gomez
The Senate voted today, 55-43, to confirm Democrat Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, breaking the deadlock at the agency that has lasted for over two years. Gomez’s confirmation comes after an extended battle to confirm Biden’s initial...
Passionate about tower safety, CITCA offers TATE training at no cost to stop human trafficking
CITCA has announced that the company has partnered with the TATE Initiative (Telecommunications Against Trafficking & Exploitation) to begin implementing their RAN (Recognize And Notify) certification training into their climbing, rescue, and rigging programs. The certification program only takes about...
Company’s ploy to build Dish and other crews with 105 foreign tower techs has its VISA requests rejected
H2-B TOWER TECH FAILURES IN 2023 – In addition to Vastek, Inc. being denied its request for 105 tower technicians, in 2023, four other companies were unsuccessful in using the VISA program: Pioneer Communications Group, 21 tower techs, Santa Barbara,...
Midco sells its towers and is sold on Sioux Falls as its new headquarters
Midco announced that it sold its tower portfolio to K2Towers. The companies did not reveal the amount of the transaction nor how many towers were in the agreement. However, according to Midcontinent Communications’ registrations with the FCC, the company...
Tower tech jumps to the aid of a driver and her dog after their car is engulfed in flames
Joey Jazwiec has been a tower technician for one year, and his fellow workers at Legacy Telecommunications say he quickly picks up on all the demanding skills required of the profession. He’s also quick to respond to an emergency,...
As communities struggle with Idalia’s damage, cell tower sites have weathered the hurricane
Hurricane Idalia left a path of destruction in areas of Florida normally not impacted by a hurricane, leaving a trail of destruction on Wednesday in Florida before losing power as it moved inland through Georgia, South Carolina, and North...
Karmen Rajamani joins WIA as VP of Government Affairs, bringing a wealth of towerco experience
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) today announced that Karmen Rajamani has been hired as Vice President, Government Affairs, effective September 5, 2023. Rajamani joins WIA from Crown Castle where she was Vice President of Government Affairs working with state...
It’s a big no from T-Mo to Dish’s extension request to lower its interest rates for spectrum funding
T-Mobile US and parent Deutsche Telecom told the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that Dish Network can’t shove off its requirement to finance a $3.6 billion divestiture of T-Mobile simply because interest rates are considerably higher...
Charleston’s historic skyline is degraded by a 5G mono toilet paper pole: residents
Founded 353 years ago, the City of Charleston, SC, is one of America’s most beautifully preserved architectural and historical treasures. It boasts the first public college, museum, and playhouse in the U.S., and unfortunately, as The Post and Courier has labeled...
San Antonio cell tower arsonist faces up to 140 years after he pleads guilty to eight counts
A San Antonio, Texas man pleaded guilty in federal court in San Antonio on Thursday to eight charges in two indictments related to arson and felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Sean Aaron Smith, 29,...
Vertical Bridge lawsuit says 30-foot tower near Finley Point, Montana won’t fly
Vertical Bridge filed a lawsuit last week against Lake County, Montana, stating that there is a well-known gap in mobile coverage near the Finley Point area of Polson, Montana, and an unnamed carrier wants to fix it. Still, Vertical...
Maui cell site outages drop considerably as death toll rises to 111 with possibly 1,000 still missing
Although cell phone coverage has improved significantly in Maui today with only five out of 21 cell sites on the west coast out of service, the death toll has risen to 111, and according to authorities, more than 1,000...
“Y’all better come back for your trial on coax theft,” alleged New York thieves told after being set free
If you’re hell-bent on making a quick buck by illegally stripping coax from communications towers and you live in Akron, Ohio, your county’s landscape is pin cushioned with approximately 300 or more towers to cherry-pick from. So why did...
Almost half of Maui’s cell sites are operational in six impacted areas as communications on the island improves
Since yesterday, when 90% of cell sites were out of service in six hard-hit cities on Maui following the deadly wildfire that swept through the island’s west coast, carriers have considerably recovered, with 48% of sites being operational today....
SEMC is keeping the industry’s workers safer through its research and testing of equipment
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today unveiled a video shining a spotlight on the important research and testing initiatives of the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC). The video is the third to debut in Volume 6 of the...
Cell tower fires did not cause Maui’s communications outages, power was the problem
According to Hawaii Governor Josh Green, residents will be allowed to return to the devastated town of Lahaina in Maui today, stating, “They will see destruction like they have never seen in their lives.” Authorities said that most of...
With Frontier or Verizon as a possible anchor, Tillman FiberCo, gets a $500 million investment deal
Tillman FiberCo, LLC and private investment firm Northleaf Capital Partners today announced a strategic partnership where Northleaf is funding Tillman FiberCo with an initial investment of $200 million, with the potential to invest up to $300 million more as...
MasTec stock tumbles on CAPEX shaves, but fundamentals remain positive
MasTec, Inc. reported mixed results for Q2 on Friday, with earnings beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but revenues of $2.87 billion missed their target mark of $3.01 billion by 3.1%. Nonetheless, it jumped 25% from $2.3 billion a year...
Electrifying love and other heartbreaks are resolved after tower climbs in India
Although unauthorized tower climber incidents are more frequent in India, the U.S. has its share of climbing events, such as a man who scaled a 320-foot guyed tower late last month in Thornton, CO, after he exited a stolen...
U.S. Cellular stock almost doubles after announcement it is being readied for the auction block
The boards of directors of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and United States Cellular Corporation have decided to initiate a process to explore strategic alternatives for U.S. Cellular. The comprehensive process will explore a range of strategic options. “The...
DigitalBridge says it will continue to profit from providing the picks and shovels for Gen AI that is edge delivered
DigitalBridge stock gained 1.2% in Friday trading after the company turned in much stronger than expected Q2 revenue and said it remains on track for its $8.0B fundraising target. During the Q2 analysts call, CEO Marc Ganzi’s message of “promises...
DigitalBridge is betting a quarter billion dollars on its competitors becoming more profitable
On Monday, during its second-quarter earnings call, SBA Communications cited a slowdown in U.S. carrier activity, similar to previous announcements by American Tower Corp. and Crown Castle, whose Q2 activity had declined a whopping 50%. DigitalBridge Group, whose tower...
Lawsuit relies upon Wall Street Journal reporting about toxic lead-sheathed cable buried underground
UPDATE – August 2, 2023 – On Tuesday, Verizon investors filed a similar lawsuit in Pennsylvania federal court to AT&T’s securities fraud lawsuit, stating the carrier lied about the health and safety risks associated with its network of lead-sheathed cables,...
750 field services workers to be terminated by Ericsson; unprofitable contracts cited
On Thursday afternoon, Ericsson’s U.S. field services employees were informed via a live webcast that the company will be shuttering its self-performing installations group by September 29, 2023, since the current market demand will no longer allow the company...
One size PPE can’t fit all, says OSHA chief Douglas Parker, requesting to hear from all sizes of stakeholders
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify the personal protective equipment standard for the construction industry. The current standard does not state clearly that PPE must fit each affected employee properly, which the...
Crown Castle consolidates offices and axes 750 employees, many of them providing construction management
Crown Castle Inc. initiated a restructuring plan this week as part of the company’s efforts to reduce costs to better align the company’s operational needs with lower tower activity, as discussed in Crown Castle’s second quarter 2023 earnings release....
Incline acquires GME Supply as the company positions itself for additional product lines and growth
Platte River Equity, a Denver-based private equity firm, announced the sale of GME Supply Co. to Incline Equity Partners. GME is a premier critical worker safety and productivity supplier distributor to field-deployed technicians serving multiple infrastructure end markets. “Platte River’s...
Fentanyl water bottle death hoax hits home about not accepting water or food from strangers
Last Wednesday, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) sent out a warning to its contractors that claimed that a stranger gave two workers on a solar project a water bottle, and the incident alert said: “Apparently, the water bottles...
AT&T says Mississippi county is stiffing it for relocation costs after they were forced off private property
AT&T is suing Rankin County, MS, in U.S. District Court for Southern Mississippi, for relocation expenses incurred when the county required the carrier to move its distribution and other equipment for a road expansion project from a leased easement...
As telecom infrastructure builds stall, some carriers are faced with a new dilemma, toxic lead cables
Shares of AT&T Inc fell more than 5% yesterday, reaching their lowest level in thirty years, after analysts downgraded the stock following a Wall Street Journal report last week that said the telecommunications giant left toxic lead cables buried...
Insurer wins $112K default judgment for unpaid audit premiums owed by Vanguard Towers
A federal court for the Western District of Louisiana provided an insurer with a default judgment of over $112,000 against Vanguard Towers Inc. in its April 3, 2023, lawsuit over unpaid premiums after the company failed to enter a...
FCC nominee Gomez advances to Senate floor despite Ted Cruz’s protests, Carr and Starks are renominated
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted today to bring nominations for the Federal Communications Commission to a floor vote against dissent from multiple Republican senators. The vote considered the renomination of commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey...
Doctor Joyce examines a tower site to appreciate how the industry can assist in curing the digital divide
Although Crown Castle’s safety protocols do not require having a medical doctor on a tower site when technicians are present, one was available for Novotech Construction’s safety-conscious tower techs recently should a medical emergency present itself during a recent...
QualTek is close to emerging from bankruptcy as stockholders lose all of their equity
QualTek Services, Inc., currently in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, knew that its stock would be delisted from the NASDAQ stock market after it was notified on January 5, 2023, that if its listed securities didn’t reach a minimum...
Collecting $3 million from an ISP will be a tough road to hoe for American Tower and Crown Castle with its $386k
American Tower Corp. (ATC) has filed a lawsuit against a wireless and satellite internet, phone, and DISH television provider, alleging it stopped paying rent payments on 60 of its structures on November 24, 2021. ATC says it is due...
Nexius, owing $600 million to creditors, shoveled millions to a supplier in Beirut before filing bankruptcy
In 2001, brothers Nabil and Ned Taleb co-founded Nexius in a two-bedroom Virginia apartment. They continued to bootstrap their first year’s revenues of $1 million to a multi-corporation self-performing wireless industry enterprise that boosted revenues to $1 billion in...
Ugandan carrier claims American Tower is discriminatory, but Kenyan official says ATC brings diversity and the internet
Smile, a carrier in Uganda is sneering at American Tower Corporation (ATC), asserting to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) that ATC illegally disconnected the power to its network and the company has been quoted in numerous media outlets stating...
Still awaiting its first contract, the Tower Climbers Union/CWA’s first local set for a July 4 launch
According to an announcement on the Tower Climbers Union website today, the official union local of the Tower Climbers Union/CWA will launch on July 4th, 2023. The article read, “Having an official TCU/CWA local means access to membership benefits as...
In Pennsylvania, if the House approves a bill, holding your cell phone while driving could cost you $150
Pennsylvania’s state Senate wants to broaden a ban on texting while driving and approved legislation last week that would increase the penalties for motorists who have a cell phone in their hand for almost any purpose while driving. The bill,...
Virginia broadband railroad crossing fee lawsuit says one price endangers site safety
The Association of American Railroads wants a new Virginia law streamlining broadband providers’ access to railroad property invalidated. In a federal court lawsuit, it alleges that it amounts to an illegal taking and violates both the state and U.S....
Associations are swift with accolades for allocations after State-by-State BEAD funding is announced
Ecstatic industry associations were quick to applaud Monday’s White House announcement concerning BEAD allocations for broadband infrastructure deployment, where five states snagged over $10 billion of the $42.5 billion in available funding. State by State funding amounts are available...
Five states snag over $10 Billion of $42.5 Billion available in broadband funding
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced how it has allocated funding to all 50 states (VIEW ALLOCATIONS BELOW), the District of Columbia, and five territories to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service to...
Rescued tower tech is showing some improvement but needs the industry’s prayers and financial support
Jared Farley, a 31-year-old Plantersville, TX tower technician, remains in critical condition after he became unconscious following a heat stroke last Thursday while working on a 300-foot guyed tower in Navasota, TX, in 98 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures that remained...
Unconscious tech’s condition is unknown after a three-hour rescue in sweltering high 90 degree temperatures
While performing maintenance on a 300-foot guyed tower in Navasota, TX, yesterday afternoon, a tower tech was overcome by heat stress and had to be rescued in a coordinated effort by multiple agencies. According to a City of Navasota press release,...
Dish meets its 70% buildout deadline with assistance of three major towerco partners
Dish Wireless announced yesterday that as of June 14, the carrier is offering 5G broadband service to over 70 percent of the U.S. population, giving more than 240 million Americans access to its technology. This marks a significant milestone...
Tripped up by their trail, methheads await charges for Verizon cell site break in
Three Livingston, TX residents remain in the Polk County Jail, and another is still at large after they were accused of stealing from a Verizon 200-foot self-supporting cell tower compound and also exposing a toddler to methamphetamine and fentanyl. Polk County...
FCC’s systems have been down for the past week and may be unavailable for the foreseeable future
The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) is currently down and not accessible to the public. This includes the Commission’s License Manager, License Search, Application Search, Tower Construction Notification System, E-106 System, Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) Online Filing, ASR Application...
Aggravated over aggregator Everest’s ‘multi-million dollar scheme’, Vertical Bridge files a lawsuit
Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC has filed a lawsuit against competitor Everest Infrastructure Partners (EIP), alleging that it ran an unfair “multi-million dollar scheme to unlawfully improve its market share” at Vertical Bridge’s expense through trade secret misappropriation, interfering with...
FCC’s report shows Guam’s cell site outage at 20%, three weeks after Typhoon Mawar crippled the island’s power
After Typhoon Mawar tore through Guam, the second largest U.S. territory, on May 24, the FCC identified that 60% of its 327 cell sites were down. Two days later, it increased to 70%. However, in today’s report, that number...
Contractor Dan Combs takes the bragging rights of having the best ‘Tough Tower’ techs in America
Fourteen tower technicians representing seven companies competed this weekend for the first place prize in the inaugural Tough Tower competition in North Jackson, OH, where they went head-to-head in a battle of skill and agility that included climbing, rigging,...
While burning contractors and suppliers, Nexius’s facade exposed a possible terrorist cell site security hole
As Nexius used ‘every trick’ to keep contractors working, although the company knew they would never pay them, the wireless infrastructure developer reportedly continued scamming T-Mobile by using a Nexius-aligned company in Lebanon that was prohibited from accessing T-Moble’s network...
FCC issues a $5,134,500 penalty for illegal robocalling; a whopping $4,500 for each call made
The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a $5,134,500 fine against John M. Burkman, Jacob Alexander Wohl, and J.M. Burkman & Associates LLC for making 1,141 unlawful robocalls. In this unanimous decision, the FCC rejected the arguments asserted by the...
New Jersey Wireless Association commemorates Marty Cooper’s first call and takes a glimpse into the future
The New Jersey Wireless Association (NJWA) commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first cellular call on May 23 with an educational program, “A Celebration of the First 50 Years… and a Glimpse into the Future,” held at the global...
Not a typical gin pole, Matt’s Arm provides a safer, quicker and more profitable pick at any level
Matt’s Arm is the newest tool in the tower industry, and contractors say there is no other tool that is so versatile since it adapts to most all tower types and lifting needs. It’s quickly becoming an essential tool...
Valmont records longest beyond visual line of sight flight on the wings of T‑Mobile 5G
Valmont has completed an industry-first, piloting an unmanned 77-mile beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operation, enabled by T-Mobile 5G. Traditional methods for infrastructure monitoring typically require extensive manpower, manned aircraft operations or ground-based inspections, which involve significant...
FCC updates national broadband map to fix nationwide accuracy challenges
The FCC took another step forward in its effort to develop the best and most accurate broadband maps ever built in the United States. In a note, to understand why requires a bit of history, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel....
QualTek Services files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with hopes that its debt can be cut almost in half
Wireless infrastructure developer QualTek Services warned earlier this month that it would need to obtain alternative sources of capital or otherwise meet its liquidity needs and/or restructure its existing indebtedness through the protections available under Chapter 11 of the U.S....