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, …
Indiana looking for firm to manage its 300 cell towers on park land
Indiana is working on plans to design and build Indiana’s first new inn at a state park in more than seven decades, and Gov. Mike Pence has said the lodge will be paid for solely by the leasing of untapped capacity of more than 300 cell towers on DNR land. None of that cell capacity has been leased yet, state …
New York counties receive $3.5 million each to replace existing towers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 27, 2015 that 17 counties across New York State have been awarded a total of $50 million in funding. The funding was given in order to pay for projects involving communications equipment and technology upgrades. In most cases the counties will be using part of the money to fund the installation of new towers. Emergency services in …
CommScope’s Airvana acquisition will assist with C-RAN deployments
CommScope, a global provider of connectivity and essential infrastructure solutions for communications networks, has agreed to acquire Airvana, a privately-held leader in small cell solutions for wireless networks. Airvana, headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass., provides award-winning 4G LTE and 3G small cell solutions that enable people to access communications, information and entertainment in the most challenging and high-value environments—offices, public venues …
Verizon sets roadmap to 5G technology in U.S.; field trials to start in 2016
Although an industry consensus identifies that a 5G standard and accompanying technology won’t become publicly available until 2020 or beyond, Verizon Wireless said today that it has partnered with Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Nokia, Qualcomm and Samsung in a 5G Technology Forum to promote faster innovation and bring the technology to trials next year. It has also been reported that the carrier …
Path aligning microwave dishes now takes minutes with new Sunsight Instruments tool
At every CTIA show there are a number of great product introductions that attendees surgically dissect, especially contractors, who want to see if evolving technology will help them to cut down on their installation expenses. Equally as important, however, they want to ensure that it will allow them to avoid return trips. For companies doing microwave path alignment, Sunsight Instruments …
CommScope’s new antenna delivers three beams from a single antenna unit
Wireless network operators have a new, unique antenna option from CommScope to relieve overloaded cell sites and support high concentrations of subscribers in special venues. CommScope expects the Tri-Beam to find major acceptance as a capacity enhancement solution to overloaded macro networks and high-capacity locations.” The innovative Tri-Beam Antenna uses new lens technology to deliver three beams from a single …
NATE Receives U.S. Department of Labor Susan Harwood Training Grant
$140,000 Grant to Develop Curriculum and Provide Training for Communication Tower Industry Workers and Employers The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) to receive a $140,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive …
TIRAP taps into top Verizon talent to complete its Board of Directors’ seats
The Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) has announced that Laurie Gebhardt, Verizon Wireless Director of Network Engineering & Operations Support, has joined its Board of Directors. She fills the final seat in its list of experienced industry thought leaders. Gebhardt will provide board oversight of TIRAP’s communication and liaison with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). In this role, …
After successful fourth satellite launch, network is still stymied by NIMBY protests on earth
Department of Defense officials celebrated this morning’s successful launch of the DoD’s fourth geosynchronous satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla. that will allow the orbiting satellites and relay ground stations to provide secure communications for mobile military forces in the 300 MHz to 3 GHz frequency range; however, protesters weren’t pleased with the launch and have vowed to continue to picket …
Texas climber succumbs to injuries after falling from water tower
Update: September 1, 2015: The employer of the 21-year-old Texas tower technician, Pedro Samuel Salazar, who died yesterday, Orbit Broadband, released the following statement: “We at Orbit are deeply sorrowed by this and our prayers go out to the individual and his family. There is an ongoing investigation and we are working with all those involved. Out of respect for …
New gallery allows contractors and suppliers to easily select their target audience
A new advertising module introduced by Wireless Estimator today makes it easier than ever for suppliers, service companies and contractors to quickly see how they can increase their branding and sales. The innovative and easily viewed gallery highlights all of the marketing offerings that are available on the site. In addition, the interactive design focuses upon the numerous opportunities that …
Sabre and World Tower assist Pilgrim Communications in capturing cell site tenants
Re-engineering, new foundations and Sabre Towers erected by World Tower has set WXLW (AM) up to capture co-location dollars in Indianapolis after they complete replacing their three towers built by Bethlehem Steel in 1948. According to WXLW’s owner, Pilgrim Communications, the array will change from a 5 kW directions to 1kW non-directional. The first new tower, at 150-feet will, will …
American Tower’s CEO unloads 47,000 shares and the 48-hour silly cycle begins
When a corporate insider such as an officer or director buys or sells their company’s publicly-traded stock they’re required to file a Form 4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. American Tower Corporation Chairman, President and CEO James Taiclet did that yesterday when he sold 47,000 shares in a transaction that occurred the day before at a price of $100.99, …
Some techs don’t appreciate the long history and reasons for riding the line CPLs
Riding the line, when done properly, can be the safest method of ascending or descending a tower, but some industry workers continue to flout the current riding the line instruction that took safety stakeholders almost 19 years to get OSHA to agree to a compliance directive (CPL) that made sense. The picture at right, which could pass for a sepia-toned …
Time Warner’s fiber-optic backhaul supports close to 20,000 of the country’s cell towers
Charter Communications’ bid for Timer Warner Cable appears to have little opposition, and the $55 billion deal might be approved by the FCC by the end of the year. Included in the sale are two important industry assets, towers and backhaul. Although Time Warner’s total of 653 structures hasn’t grown considerably over the years, but will be complemented by Charter’s …
