A U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge has found that a Louisiana tower erector’s owners, during a hearing to vacate a $7,000 Serious OSHA fine received following the death of two of the company’s workers in 2013, purposely misled the court, fraudulently altered documents and were deceitful in a number of representations, and he denied their …
New content rich Daily News Briefs now available from Wireless Estimator
Known for its original feature news content, Wireless Estimator has expanded its editorial offerings with its Daily News Briefs, industry stories that are too important to miss, and oftentimes are not covered by industry media. The new section, separate from Wireless Estimator’s featured articles, is light on NIMBY news which is important for readers of local newspapers and other suburban …
FBI investigating a string of fiber cuts; AT&T posts $250,000 reward
AT&T said yesterday that the company is offering up to $250,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for fiber vandalism across Alameda County in California. AT&T spokesman Jim Greer said vandals cut fiber in two different manholes about 10:30 p.m. Monday at Altamont Pass and Carroll Road in Livermore, causing Internet service to go out. …
Many wireless contractors will be required to provide a week of paid sick leave in 2017
Based upon an executive order signed by President Obama last week, wireless contractors with contracts from the federal government, as well as their subcontractors, will be required to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave a year starting January 1, 2017. It is likely to affect the cost of FirstNet’s deployment of the $7 billion 700 MHz nationwide …
PCIA urges California’s governor to sign bill that would alleviate site delays
PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association has urged Governor Jerry Brown to sign California Assembly Bill 57, which will help alleviate delay in applications to site new wireless facilities and renew permits for existing wireless facilities. In the letter, Adelstein noted, “For example, in San Diego, a PCIA member reports that applications for conditional use permit renewals at four separate …
Epidemiologist: Banning Wi-Fi in schools based on cancer is “cuckoo”
Dr. Geoffrey Kabat, an epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in response to a question regarding what he thought about movements to ban Wi-Fi in schools with a view toward exercising the “precautionary principle,” told the McGill Reporter he thinks those efforts are misplaced. “Based on my reading of the evidence, this whole movement is cuckoo. These exposures …
Key analyst likes Crown Castle, but sees American Tower with less acquisition exposure
Morningstar analyst Michael Hodel has provided an excellent overview of the industry’s three publicly-traded companies, American Tower Corp., Crown Castle International, and SBA Communications. Whereas there are almost daily yawn-inducing recommendations from analysts, Hodel’s insight and extensive analysis is worth the read. Although Hodel has previously said that his favorite amongst the towercos is Crown Castle, because he thinks it …
Carabiner’s use in lieu of shackle could have caused tower tech’s decapitation
The Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (KY FACE) has released a comprehensive examination of an industry fatality that happened last year when a 28-year-old Indiana worker died in Cynthia, after he was decapitated by a cable when a 5/8” shackle failed while his crew was lifting a 1800-pound boom with antennas on it. One of the key findings was that …
Man who fell from tower is stable, but news reports aren’t healthy with facts
On Sunday, weekend anchor Andrew Havranek for WDTV in Clarksburg, W.Va. provided a 29-second news story on a man that fell from a “cell phone tower” in Summit Park in Harrison County Friday afternoon. The incident, Havranek said, according to Harrision County EMS officials, required the worker to be flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital with a head injury, but he …
To be 5G, or not to be, that is the question seeking answers at Super Mobility 2015
In advance of any standardized next-generation network, it is expected that carriers will be following Verizon’s lead and will be jumping on the faux 5G bandwagon. But the proclamations will be steeped in marketing since there are no clear paths to which technologies 5G will include. Tom Keathley, AT&T’s senior vice president of network and product planning, said at Fierce Wireless’ breakfast panel …
FCC denies review of a site fencing violation and obstruction lighting charge
The FCC recently denied two tower owners’ requests to review their forfeiture orders and let stand their fines totaling $16,600. Following a petition for reconsideration by Alaska Integrated Media, Inc., licensee of Station KOAN, Anchorage, the FCC said it found no basis for them to review the fine of $5,600 for failing to enclose the station’s tower within an effective …
Clear Channel Outdoor Americas and Vertical Bridge announce landmark partnership
Vertical Bridge, the largest U.S. private owner and manager of wireless telecommunication infrastructure and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of iHeartMedia Inc., today announced the signing of an exclusive multi-year agreement for the management and marketing of wireless deployment on Clear Channel Outdoor America’s (CCOA) billboards and other out-of-home assets in 45 of the top 50 U.S. markets. …
FCC Commissioner Pai says Title ll has depressed broadband investment
While FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler was pumping next March’s incentive auction of 600 Mhz wireless spectrum at CTIA Super Mobility 2015, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai was deflating Wheeler’s belief that imposing Title II regulations on broadband were good for the nation, stating that Wheeler had dismissed arguments that classifying broadband as a common carrier service would depress investment, but data is …
India High Court: Use your landline if you don’t want cell towers installed
In a rather unorthodox response to a petition by residents alleging that a cell tower was being constructed in their neighborhood in violation of a local recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee, India’s Delhi High Court dismissed their plea and basically said that residents of Vasant Kunj should stop using their cell phones and revert back to using landlines, and then, …
FCC’s Wheeler says he’s banking upon 600 MHz auction taking place in March 2016
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler committed today to a March 29, 2016 start date for an incentive auction of 600Mhz wireless spectrum now under the control of the nation’s broadcasters. He told a packed audience at CTIA Super Mobility 2015 that the auction, which he described like a Swiss watch with many moving parts, has never been done before, …
Going beyond compliance standards and use of SAUCE could curtail tower-site accidents
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) board chairman Scott Kisting today urged members of the wireless infrastructure industry to watch a newly produced video aimed at strengthening workplace safety, enhancing workplace quality, and improving worker health and safety training. Initiated by TIRAP and produced by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the video released today, the first of a planned ongoing series, …
Tower Family Foundation highlights founding donors at Vegas CTIA conference
Companies, organizations and individuals recognized for distinguished level contributions The Tower Industry Family Support Charitable Foundation today announced the list of founding donors who have made distinguished level contributions to the Foundation since the organization’s official launch in September 2014. The Foundation made the official announcement at CTIA’s “Super Mobility Week” in Las Vegas, Nev. The non-profit Foundation has been …
“Perfect” cell tower battery theft thwarted by neighboring camera system
A Michigan man who reportedly was employed in the industry at some point, or possibly still is, might shortly find his next employment on a prison work detail as soon as he is arrested for stealing batteries from cell site cabinets. Warren authorities say they expect to arrest the man targeting cell towers in Macomb County. He was caught on …
American Tower reportedly picking up an additional 41,000 towers in India
American Tower Corporation is reportedly ready to ink a deal to acquire a majority stake in Indian tower operator Viom Networks, which will expand it’s portfolio there by approximately 41,000 towers. If the agreement is signed, according to the Economic Times, it will be the largest tower acquisition ever made by a US-based tower consolidator. Viom has another 1,000 towers …
Presbyterians: 1; Evangelicals: 0 in Verizon’s cell tower search in Nebraska
Southern Heights Presbyterian Church members’ dream of a having a bell tower on their church property in Lincoln, Ne. came true when a 67-foot brick structure housing cell antenna was constructed recently along with the base station, and the electronic digital carillon bells will soon be in place with crosses covering the opening on each side. The community liked it, …
