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Recent News
Industry questions why a co-worker wasn’t on site when a MasTec tech died after falling from a 500-foot tower
A tower technician is dead today after having fallen from a guyed tower, according to Trinity County Texas Sheriff Woody Wallace. According to a press statement, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office received a call for a welfare check at...
CWA Unions see uneven wage hikes in AT&T agreements: West vs. Southeast which gets a BEAD perk
AT&T workers, including technicians, customer service representatives, and others who install, maintain, and support AT&T’s network, will receive wage increases of at least 15% throughout the new four-year collective bargaining agreement in the West and over 19% during the...
Helicopter slams into SBA’s Houston 999-foot radio tower, igniting blaze, collapsing it and killing all aboard
UPDATE – October 22, 2024 – SBA Communications has released a press statement to address what it described as “incomplete and/or inaccurate information” circulating in news reports concerning the helicopter crash that occurred in Houston, Texas on Sunday. The...
From Q Link to the clink: Telecommunications provider’s CEO pleads guilty to massive FCC fraud
Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, FL, and Q Link Wireless LLC, of Dania Beach, FL, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over...
End of an era: Stainless ceases operations, selling tower documentation and engineering assets
After 77 years of shaping the American landscape with more than 50% of the nation’s broadcast towers, in addition to microwave structures and other communications installations, Stainless is closing its doors, according to FDH Infrastructure Services, LLC. FDH, which...
Safety-first approach by NATE, FCC and OSHA program participants ensures quality and reliability for industry clients
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has 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 2024-2025 year. NATE has proudly accepted 171 participating companies in...
Iconic industry leaders Dobson, Goldsmith, Horwitz, and Kennard Inducted into Wireless Hall of Fame
Four well-known and highly-respected individuals joined the 80 wireless industry pioneers and innovators inducted into the prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame. The event, hosted by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF), a nonprofit organization that has honored the hall of...
No casualties as hot air balloon collision collapses 645-foot tower at Albuquerque fiesta
In 1972, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began as the highlight of 770 KOB Radio’s 50th anniversary. It broadcast the 13-balloon event’s activities from its two-tower array. The annual event now features 1,000 balloons in the sky, drawing hundreds...
NATE advocates for industry-specific adjustments to OSHA’s heat safety proposal
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will accept public comments through Dec. 30, 2024, on its proposed rule issuing a heat injury and illness prevention standard for outdoor and indoor workplaces. According to NATE: The Communications Infrastructure...
Better data, better quality: How drones are revolutionizing UScellular’s tower maintenance
By J. Sharpe Smith, Contributing Editor According to a speaker at a recent NATE conference, data provided by drones is helping carriers increase their quality control, and tower maintenance companies are getting a report card judging their work on...
UScellular pleads its case before the FCC, stating if T-Mobile doesn’t acquire it, the future looks bleak
In a pivotal step toward finalizing T-Mobile’s acquisition of U.S. Cellular Corporation’s (UScellular) wireless assets, key representatives, including UScellular CEO Laurent C. Therivel, met with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials last week in meetings to discuss the transaction’s implications...
Massachusetts cell site contractor faces prison for failing to pay over $1M in payroll taxes
Kenneth Marston, 67, a business owner from Kingston, Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to willfully failing to collect, account for, and pay over payroll taxes owed by his companies, Bowmar Steel Industries Inc. and Teleconstructors Inc., located in Hanson. This...
Country’s second deadliest hurricane still has catastrophic cell service failures as Musk lends a hand
According to yesterday’s FCC outage reporting, large areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, particularly in Western North Carolina, remain without cell phone service. In counties like Buncombe, where Asheville is located, approximately 56% of cell sites are still down, mainly...
Southeast is still reeling from Helene’s impact: Lives lost, cell networks down
When Hurricane Helene swept through and inundated communities across the Southeast with flooding and destruction, many towns were in crisis mode, struggling to recover without one of the most critical lifelines: cell phone service. According to the FCC, over...
Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc with broadcasters, forcing them off the air
As of yesterday, Hurricane Helene has damaged broadcast stations in a five-state area hit by the devastating Category 4 hurricane at landfall that has killed 128 people across six states. In Georgia, there are 2 TV stations out of...
Vertical Bridge and Verizon seal a $3.3B deal for 6,339 towers, the largest buy in almost a decade
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vertical Bridge today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Vertical Bridge to obtain the exclusive rights to lease, operate and manage 6,339 wireless communications towers across all 50 states...
Unprecedented outage: No hurricane has knocked out more cell sites than Category 4 Helene
Hurricane Helene has severely disrupted cell phone communications across the affected regions, particularly in Western North Carolina. The storm caused widespread power outages, flooding, and infrastructure damage, which led to the shutdown of numerous cell towers and fiber optic...
A Phoenix Rising: Catherine Piche soars back to Crown Castle in previous COO role as Kavanaugh retires
Crown Castle Inc. has announced the upcoming retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer–Towers, Michael J. Kavanagh, effective October 28, 2024. Kavanagh, who has held various leadership roles during his 14-year tenure, will remain in an advisory...
Lawsuit alleges Crown Castle tower skirts historic site rules, delays Las Vegas Huntridge Theater restoration
A lawsuit filed on September 20, 2024, in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, by Brass Monkey, LLC, the owner of the 80-year-old Huntridge Theater, against Crown Castle Inc. and AT&T Wireless Services threatens to delay...
Cell tower evidence is convincing factor in denying bail for Ryan Routh in attempted Trump assassination
Ryan Routh, the would-be assassin who targeted former President Donald Trump, was tracked by authorities using cell tower data. This information revealed that Routh was surveilling the area and plotting the assassination, according to a document in support of...
AT&T to reel in 107,000 pounds of lead cables from Lake Tahoe
AT&T has agreed to remove approximately 107,000 pounds of lead cables that have been submerged in Lake Tahoe for decades as part of a settlement announced last week. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the California Sportfishing Protection...
Dish Network pushes for an extended deadline on its 5G rollout
In a formal request submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), DISH Network’s Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs, Jeffrey H. Blum, has sought an extension of the company’s deadline to complete its 5G wireless network buildout....
Beyond Telecom: Goodman Networks’ defrocked Frinzi reinvents himself in the arms trade
James Frinzi’s journey through the business world, from lobbying for the defense minister of Indonesia and officials in Qatar, has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, marked by his rapid ascent as CEO of Goodman Networks, allegations of...
Tower Family Foundation appoints Pete Hagstrom and Steve Ouzts to its endowment committee
The Tower Family Foundation announced today that Pete Hagstrom, Vice President of Procurement at Viking Maintenance, Inc., and Steve Ouzts, founder and principal broker at Tower Advisors, LLC, have been appointed to serve on the Foundation’s Endowment Committee. The...
Luxury lifestyles, no bars: America’s wealthiest town in Texas blocks cell tower, Vertical Bridge lawsuit alleges
If you reside in Westlake, Texas, you’re part of the wealthiest community in the state, where the average home sells for nearly $5 million, and the mean household income soars to $508,000. In this exclusive enclave, dandelions dare not...
T-Mobile’s overtime calculation practices challenged in class action lawsuit initiated by Florida technician
T-Mobile USA, Inc., is facing a collective action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. The lawsuit, initiated by plaintiff Olvin Gomez from Palm Beach...
In mixed ruling, Ninth Circuit invalidates FCC’s concealment provision, citing procedural missteps
On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals three-judge panel for the Ninth Circuit issued a mixed ruling in a case brought by several California cities and organizations against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its 2020 Ruling that...
AT&T workers end strike, but work-life balance concerns remain unresolved for field technicians
AT&T wireline workers across the Southeast have long expressed dissatisfaction with harsh working conditions and unfair pay. Concerns over heavy workloads, long hours, and insufficient compensation drove thousands of Communications Workers of America (CWA) union members to strike, bringing...
Verizon’s nearly $2 billion severance charge sparks speculation of tower sale as financial pressures mount
According to a regulatory filing, Verizon expects to incur a severance charge between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024. This is part of a voluntary separation program the company announced in June, targeting select...
FCC to ISPs: Broadband data dodgeball will cost you $15K a pop
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued Notices of Apparent Liability (NAL) to nine internet service providers for failing to provide critical data on broadband coverage. The companies face penalties for not complying with federal data reporting requirements, marking...
American Tower exits India market in $2.3 billion deal as it cuts its global portfolio by one third
American Tower Corporation (ATC) has officially exited the Indian telecom tower market, completing a $2.2 billion deal with a Brookfield-led consortium. This marks a significant shift in India’s telecommunications landscape. The consortium, which includes Brookfield Asset Management, British...
Tower Family Foundation: A decade of delivering financial support to affected industry workers and their families
The Tower Family Foundation officially celebrates its 10-year anniversary today as a 501c-3 non-profit organization supporting the industry’s workforce and their families. The Foundation officially launched during a reception and press conference that was held on Wednesday, September 10,...
Lather, rinse, fraud: FCC Ponzi cell tower scammer Merced-Torres can’t stop repeating himself
A man previously convicted for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar cellular tower investment fraud, after serving years in jail, once again has found himself behind bars. Miguel Merced-Torres, 57, who served six years in prison for his role in a $14.2...
‘Bible of Safety’ updated: NATE’s new video explores key changes to A10.48-2023 standard
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a safety video highlighting the revised ANSI/ASSP A10.48-2023 standard. The standard—Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification, and Maintenance of Communications Structures—serves as the industry’s playbook and provides comprehensive...
Verizon to acquire Frontier Communications in $20 billion deal, expanding fiber network across 31 states
Verizon said Frontier’s fiber network will enhance its position as the provider of choice in more markets Verizon Communications Inc. announced its agreement to acquire Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at $20 billion this morning....
New extensive study confirms no link between mobile phone use and brain, head and neck cancers
The Federal Communications Commission is frequently accused of taking what some people believe is an industry-backed supportive role in minimizing cancer risks from cell phone RF exposure. The agency acknowledges that “some experimental data have suggested a possible link...
Elon Musk confirms T-Mobile will get exclusive access to Starlink mobile internet for one year
Elon Musk’s Starlink and T-Mobile have partnered to expand mobile coverage by using Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This collaboration aims to eliminate dead zones in remote areas, providing connectivity even where traditional cell towers don’t reach. The service...
Cell towers are the new banks: Georgia thief’s surprising career move is thwarted; Pastor is punished
In a surprising turn of events, a man who once found it lucrative to rob a bank has shifted his focus to stealing from cell tower sites. Brione Carnell Russell, previously wanted for a bank robbery in Shreveport, Louisiana,...
Lawsuit seeks $6 million from an airplane’s insurer after a crash destroyed a radio station’s tower
Agape Broadcasters, Inc., a Christian radio station operator, has taken legal action against American National Property and Casualty Company (ANPAC) to enforce a $6 million judgment against the estate of Marcus Todd Sampson, whose aircraft crash in 2018 destroyed...
Atlas shrugs off industry downturn after acquiring QualTek as it signals for other contractor acquisitions
QualTek Services, formerly one of the wireless infrastructure industry’s largest turnkey contractors that scaled down during post-Covid years and after emerging from bankruptcy, has been acquired by Atlas Holdings, a company that owns and operates 28 companies in various...
American Tower’s CEO gets $20 million annually, and employees are paid $60K, but is it accurate?
American Tower’s CEO has the industry’s highest salary at $19,709,245, while its employees—compared to other public companies in the U.S. such as MasTec, Crown Castle, and SBA Communications—receive the lowest salary at $59,881. Conversely, a DigitalBridge employee’s median annual...
Kept in the dark: Contractors left guessing as Black & Veatch’s wireless sale to Dycom is revealed
Infrastructure company Black & Veatch announced this morning that it has sold its wireless telecommunications infrastructure business, a subsidiary of Overland Contracting, to Ansco & Associates, a wholly owned subsidiary of telecom engineering and construction services company Dycom Industries....
FTC’s non-compete ban on hold after Texas Federal Judge declares rule is overreaching
In a momentous legal development, a federal judge in Texas has halted the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ‘s new rule aimed at facilitating employees’ transition to competitors. The ruling, delivered on August 20, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Ada...
NATE, Crown Castle and JHC Construction host California Congressman Obernolte on a site visit
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and member companies Crown Castle and JHC Construction LLC facilitated an opportunity for Congressman Jay Obernolte to conduct a communications tower site visit in the 23rd Congressional District of California. During the site...
SpaceX’s cellular service plans face strong opposition from AT&T and Verizon over interference concerns
SpaceX’s ambitious plan to offer cellular service in partnership with T-Mobile through its Starlink satellite system faces significant opposition from major telecom giants AT&T and Verizon. The two companies have submitted filings to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging...
CWA workers at AT&T Southeast strike over alleged unfair labor practices amid critical negotiations
UPDATE: The Communications Workers of America strike against AT&T Southeast continues into its sixth day, with reports of service outages and delays mounting across the Southeast. In Eads, Tennessee, a striking worker was injured on the picket line by...
Celebrate the unsung heroes: Shine a spotlight on the Sky High Heroes of the telecom industry
Wireless Estimator is proud to announce the industry-supported Sky High Heroes Awards, which will spotlight the unsung heroes throughout the year who elevate the telecommunications infrastructure industry to new heights who will be selected by their peers and industry...
NWSA stresses importance of compliance with exam environment rules for online certification testing
As part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of fairness and reliability in online certification testing, the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is reinforcing the importance of adhering to exam environment and location requirements. In alignment...
DigitalBridge to expand Japan’s telecom sector with the acquisition of JTower for $631 million
In a landmark deal, DigitalBridge Group, Inc. has announced its acquisition of Japan-based JTower Corporation. The acquisition, executed through a tender offer, is a significant step in DigitalBridge’s strategy to expand its global footprint and enhance its presence in...
It’s your last chance to attend a complimentary in-person or remote training course on PPE for telecom workers
NATE The Infrastructure Contractors Association understands that staying ahead in today’s fast-paced environment requires continuous learning and growth. That is why they are extending a special invitation to those who may have missed their previous free training course on PPE for Telecom...
Texas State Wireless Association takes on lead sponsorship role of Tower Family Foundation golf event
The Tower Family Foundation has announced that the Texas State Wireless Association (TXWA) will once again be the premier sponsor for the upcoming golf event to be held at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina on February...
Over 1,000 days later, BEAD broadband $42.5 billion program is still searching for a shovel
In a chess rating system, breaking 1,000 indicates that a player has moved beyond the beginner level and can recognize common tactical patterns and avoid simple blunders. However, today, the broadband equity, access, and deployment (BEAD) program rollout has...
Throwing Verizon under the bus, CWA union cheers for AT&T in 4.9 GHz spectrum battle
AT&T CEO John Stankey has entered the fray over allocating the valuable 4.9 GHz spectrum band, advocating for its exclusive use by FirstNet, the nationwide first responder network operated by AT&T. Stankey defended the proposal amid opposition from other...
Trustee alleges complex fraud scheme in Goodman Networks bankruptcy case
Scott M. Seidel, Trustee of the Goodman Networks, Inc. bankruptcy estate, has filed a detailed and compelling complaint in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, against Symbiont Ventures, LLC, formerly known as...
NATE doubles down on safety with the addition of Brian Bicknese to assist its member companies
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has hired Brian Bicknese as the Director of Safety and Education, a new staff position established by the Association. Brian officially begins his duties with NATE on August 1....
Urgent call from NATE, WIA and other stakeholders for FAA to finalize BVLOS drone operations rules
Spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a coalition of industry organizations, including NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Wireless Infrastructure Association have formally requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) swiftly issue rules to enable beyond...
NATE cautions: First aid supplies on the tower job site should include more than your standard ANSI medical kit
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video covering first aid at communication tower sites. The video is the fifth to debut in Volume 7 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection Series. The video includes an informative, back-and-forth dialogue...
Court says workers’ compensation law provides SAC with immunity from tower site electrocution lawsuit
The Eleventh Circuit, a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, on Wednesday, declined to renew a lawsuit against SAC Wireless LLC by a crane oiler who was electrocuted and seriously injured...
Senators sound alarm on T-Mobile’s plan to acquire US Cellular, predict higher prices, loss of jobs
In a concerted effort to protect competition and consumers in the wireless market, a coalition of US Senators, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), has...
Louisiana tower tech gets up to 20 years for killing a crew leader at a Nebraska work site shooting
David Phillips Jr., a 22-year-old tower technician from Kenner, Louisiana, was sentenced Monday by Nebraska Judge Bryan Meismer in Cedar County District Court to two to 20 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of his coworker, crew leader...
FCC proposes 60-day deadline for carriers to unlock mobile phones
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is making it significantly easier for consumers to unlock their mobile phones from their carriers. The agency has proposed new rules requiring all devices to be unlocked just 60 days after purchase, a move...
Verizon said to be readying a sale of up to 6,000 of its cell towers
New York-based Verizon is reportedly exploring options to sell thousands of its mobile network towers in the US, reported Bloomberg today. According to sources familiar with the matter, the telecom giant has hired advisers to gauge interest from potential...
FCC Commissioner Carr condemns $42 billion BEAD’s delays with construction possibly detained until 2026
In testimony before Tuesday’s House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr sharply criticized the Biden Administration’s handling of the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Carr’s testimony highlighted significant delays and inefficiencies...
D.C. Circuit upholds FCC decision on SpaceX satellite system Starlink over Dark-Sky and Dish’s challenges
The D.C. Circuit panel upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to license a new SpaceX satellite system, rejecting challenges from Dish Network and the International Dark-Sky Association. The decision released today, made by U.S. Circuit Judges Neomi Rao,...
Hackers stole records of almost all of AT&T’s customers’ calls
In a significant cybersecurity incident, telecommunications giant AT&T announced on Friday that a cyberattack exposed data from “nearly all” of its customers. The compromised data was downloaded to a third-party cloud platform, marking a severe breach for the company....
Ericsson faces class action lawsuit by tower techs for unpaid wages stemming from meal break deductions
Ericsson, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lawsuit, initiated by tower technicians Ryan Brewer and Kenneth Wiles on behalf of themselves and all others similarly...
21 students selected to receive scholarships from the Tower Family Foundation for 2024-2025 academic year
The Tower Family Foundation announced today the recipients of the non-profit organization’s inaugural merit-based scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. In 2024, the Tower Family Foundation opened the program to the broader NATE community by offering a limited...
Two California counties wanted $25.5 million for student towers; FCC denies holey Trinity application review
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released an order denying the Trinity County Connectivity Consortium’s request for $25.5 million in funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) to construct 16 wireless towers in Trinity and Humboldt County, California. In...
T-Mobile may be first in line to take advantage of SCOTUS’s Chevron decision to vacate an $80 million FCC fine
On February 27, unaware that the following day, the US Supreme Court would decide to limit the broad regulatory authority of federal agencies such as the FCC, T-Mobile USA, Inc. filed a petition for review in the United States...
Moderators and Trump squandered a golden opportunity to address America’s infrastructure logjams
Before Thursday’s presidential debate in Atlanta, President Joe Biden’s senior aids spent a week at Camp David holding mock debates, informing the press that America was going to see a “fully charged” Joe Biden who would strike a strong...
U.S. Supreme Court decision threatens FCC and OSHA’s regulatory framework
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled decades of regulatory law, significantly complicating the ability of federal agencies like the FCC and OSHA to issue rules and regulations based on broad congressional mandates. This ideological ruling overturned a 40-year-old...
U.S. Supreme Court’s decision could boot the FCC’s ability to issue fines for telecommunications violations
Yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in SEC v. Jarkesy could significantly alter the landscape of FCC enforcement actions. This ruling, which was passed with a 6-3 majority, could prompt extensive litigation for federal agencies, including the FCC, fundamentally changing...
The country’s mayors are demanding that Congress should kill a broadband bill that cuts through red tape
During the U.S. Conference of Mayors held this past weekend, city leaders strongly opposed the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023 (H.R. 3557), urging Congress to reconsider the bill. The mayors emphasized their unwavering determination to renew the Affordable...
California denies AT&T’s request to reduce OpEx by ripping out landline service to almost 600,000 households
Despite AT&T’s request to discontinue this less profitable service, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has made a significant ruling mandating that the carrier continue providing landline services in California. This decision will undoubtedly shape the company’s future operations...
Musk and Carr tag team against the Biden administration’s inability to dish out BEAD funding until 2025
Elon Musk and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr have publicly criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The $42.45 billion initiative, designed to provide high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas,...
Spending an enlightening nine minutes with rope expert Loui McCurley could easily save climbers’ lives
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has unveiled a crucial new video focusing on the importance of safety ropes in the communications tower industry. Featuring an engaging dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley and Loui McCurley, CEO of NATE member company...
Dish adds another cut to the possibility of the contracting industry’s ‘death by a thousand cuts’
In a recent legal battle, Dish Wireless Inc. emerged victorious against Crown Castle USA Inc., with a Denver jury ruling on April 11, 2024, that Dish did not violate the 30-year master lease agreement between the two companies. The...
American Tower is gaveled a $4 million award: Court says yes, tenant’s wallet says no
In a recent decision from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a motion for default judgment in favor of American Tower Corp. against TPT SpeedConnect LLC (TPT), a subsidiary of...
Florida contractor’s owner succumbs from a 200-foot fall off a Crown Castle cell tower in North Carolina
A 52-year-old owner of a Kissimmee, Florida, contracting company that specialized in structural reinforcements and welding passed away on Monday when he fell from a Crown Castle tower in Shelby, North Carolina. Wireless Estimator has identified the deceased as...
Verizon takes gloves off in battle against AT&T’s FirstNet over $14 billion 4.9 GHz band management gift
Verizon is no longer letting proxies speak for it in the ongoing debate over AT&T’s FirstNet proposal to become the national manager of the 4.9 GHz public safety band. In a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC),...
Nebraska Fire Chief: Tower crew should be credited with tower technician’s rescue
Although media reports said that the York, Nebraska Fire Department and other agencies helped to extricate a tower technician whose hand was reported to have been pinned by a mounting frame on top of a cell tower on Tuesday...
Crown Castle announces significant job cuts amid industry uncertainty
Crown Castle USA Inc. has announced it will cut 10% of its workforce and close certain offices as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and refocus its capital expenditures. The telecommunications infrastructure company detailed these measures while...
Relying on CWA’s flawed survey, Minnesota now requires prevailing wages and training in broadband construction
A newly signed bill in Minnesota, endorsed by Governor Tim Walz, prioritizes fair labor practices in broadband network construction. When distributing broadband funding, the Minnesota Broadband Office must now favor applicants who pay prevailing wages and offer comprehensive benefits...
SBA Communications’ Joe Hayes and Ethan Preston take trophy as ‘tough’est tower techs in America
Although exceptional physical condition is a requisite for being a tower tech due to many challenging circumstances, this weekend’s second annual Tough Tower competitors were judged upon their proficiency in complex rescue, simple rescue, full install, lighting install, level...
Old Wires, New Wealth: How telecom companies are turning copper into cash
In the evolving telecommunications landscape, a new gold rush is emerging—not for the precious yellow metal, but for an equally valuable commodity: recycled copper. AT&T Inc., BT Group Plc, Orange SA, and their global peers are gearing up to...
CommScope acquires Casa Systems’ cable business amid Casa’s bankruptcy proceedings
CommScope, a global leader in network connectivity, has emerged as the highest and best bidder to acquire Casa Systems, Inc.’s cable business assets. The acquisition agreement, finalized on May 29, 2024, involves a purchase price of $45.1 million and...
Five fiber cuts near Florida’s Lion Country Safari resulted in a lawsuit filed by Crown Castle
Near the renowned Lion Country Safari in South Florida, Crown Castle Fiber LLC (Crown Castle) has laid miles of crucial fiber optic cables along the bustling State Road 80. A lawsuit recently filed in the Southern District of Florida...
U.S. Cellular to retain tower operations amidst $4.4 billion acquisition by T-Mobile
In a strategic move within the telecom industry, T-Mobile has announced an agreement to purchase U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations and select spectrum assets for $4.4 billion. This deal, which combines cash and up to $2 billion of assumed debt,...
Judge throws out Vertical Bridge’s trade secret lawsuit against Everest Infrastructure in Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC and its subsidiaries against Everest Infrastructure Partners, Inc. The lawsuit, which included allegations of trade secret misappropriation, violations...
Copper Clowns: Faux AT&T workers’ scheme fizzles out at Minnesota WISP’s tower site
Two men from Minnesota unsuccessfully posed as AT&T employees and burglarized a communications tower site outside Little Falls in pursuit of valuable copper wiring. Although the theft was carefully planned, the suspects failed to list on their arrest hazard...
With 5G at 50% completion, NTIA is jump-starting 6G deployment with questions on a range of issues
At last week’s Connect X in Atlanta, panelists in multiple sessions estimated that 5G had been rolled out across approximately 50% of America. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wants to jump-start 6G deployment. It requests public...
Vertical Bridge kicks broadcast squatter off its towers after running up $2 million in unpaid leaseback payments
A Texas-based radio station network has been kicked off Vertical Bridge’s towers for ignoring its rent payments for years, forcing the company to take nine stations silent. In February 2018, Vertical Bridge, REIT Inc. purchased 43 towers and the...
Industry leaders at Connect X foresee massive growth for indoor 5G networks
The wireless industry is abuzz with anticipation for the potential of bringing 5G technology indoors. This technology promises faster and more reliable connections, lower latency, and the ability to connect a massive number of devices simultaneously. During the Wireless...
Tower tech, a healthy climber and MMA fighter, suddenly passes while on a Verizon modification project
Tower tech Shane Magee, 28, was a picture of health, physically fit from climbing towers and frequently exercising and training as a competitive mixed martial arts fighter. Sadly, he suddenly died while performing a routine installation in Pennsylvania. On...
Analyst Craig Moffett predicts Dish Network could face bankruptcy within six months
Craig Moffett, a senior managing director at MoffettNathanson, has issued a stark forecast for Dish Network, predicting potential bankruptcy within the next four to six months. This marks his first specific timeline following three years of warnings about the...
Rexel and Talley: A merger poised to accelerate wireless and datacom innovations across America
Talley Inc., established in 1983 by John R. and Elizabeth J. Talley, has grown from a small, family-operated business in Santa Fe Springs, California, into a dominant force in the U.S. wireless infrastructure industry. Talley Inc. is set to be acquired...
Forget the filters: In earnings call Viavi CEO Khaykin delivers a dose of harsh reality about infrastructure builds
In a refreshing twist from the typical earnings call script, Viavi Solutions Inc.’s President and CEO, Oleg Khaykin, left analysts and investors buzzing with straightforward commentary during Thursday’s Q3 FY24 earnings discussion. Departing from the usually reserved tone of...
Celebrating connectivity, NATE announces Tower Technician Appreciation Day
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has officially declared Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. This annual event, now in its eighth year, is dedicated to recognizing the essential role of tower technicians who maintain and enhance...
New rule in effect on independent contractor classification will have a profound impact on broadband
A new rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to classify whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor became effective March 11, 2024, and a random sampling of four smaller-sized wireless contractors found that three...
Maui Files lawsuit against Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Spectrum Mobile over failed alerts during deadly fires
Maui County has launched a lawsuit against several major wireless service providers, accusing them of failing to notify emergency management officials of network outages during the devastating wildfires on August 8, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at...