Commentary AT&T recently increased their wireless revenue just south of $1 billion by sneaking in an increased “administrative fee,” a line item squeezed in at the bottom of their monthly bill that will not be noticed by most of their 64.5 million wireless customers since it’s only $1.23 extra a month. In a statement to Fortune after being called out …
With stark differences after 20 years, another powerful towerco will start trading
American Tower, the first major U.S. towerco to go public on July 8, 1998, will have a 20-year head start on China Tower when the world’s largest tower owner starts trading next month on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, but down the road China Tower could become a serious competitor. Other than sharing the same IPO month, an average 5-year lease term and …
Politics and alleged propriety software theft unveiled in lawsuit against American Tower
A small Massachusetts software developer is alleging that through their proprietary analytical tools they identified in proof of concept testing that ATC’s Brazilian subsidiary (ATB) was missing the opportunity to capture millions of dollars’ worth of additional annual cash flow, and according to a complaint filed in Massachusetts U.S. District Court by CellInfo, they said they also found “safety shortcomings, …
Coalition of organizations endorse Communications and Jobs Training Act of 2018 legislation
A diverse coalition of influential communications industry organizations today announced their endorsement of H.R. 5639 – The Communications and Jobs Training Act of 2018.Organizations supporting the legislation include CTIA, Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), Rural Wireless Association (RWA), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Utilities Technology Council (UTC) and …
Industry pride shines as Pat Cipov is selected as Wireless Hall of Fame honoree
Accolades from all quarters of the industry have been coming in for Pat Cipov who was selected by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF) last week as one of its 2018 Wireless Hall of Fame honorees – the most recognized and highest honor acknowledging the leadership, innovation and achievement of each honoree in the wireless industry. In making the announcement, the …
Towerco financial support of wireless workers accelerates with a ‘buck a tower’ sponsors
The Tower Family Foundation (TTF), a 501c-3 non-profit, today recognized the updated support of tower owner/vertical solutions provider companies who are donors to the organization’s “$1 Per Tower” fundraising campaign with towercos Cellcom, Performance Development Group, Ltd. and Vogue Towers joining the inaugural list of donor firms participating in the capital campaign. The “$1 Per Tower” effort involves firms who …
T-Mobile/Sprint say they’re giving a wedding gift to the U.S. of $40 billion
T-Mobile has taken the next step in their merger with Sprint by filing their Public Interest Statement with the FCC emphasizing to regulators that the public will benefit from the merger. In making the announcement, CEO John Legere echoed the ever-popular need to be first with 5G, stating, “If we don’t take decisive, positive action, we risk ceding global leadership …
ATC misjudges industry pushback and pulls back onerous contractor amendment
In a measure to prevent other towercos from building sites near their structures, and obtain some of their tenants with more favorable lease rates, American Tower Corp. informed their contractors late last month that if they assisted in the construction of a macro tower site within one-half mile of one of their existing towers they would be dropped from their …
Verizon exploring legal action against ATC in using contractors as hostages
American Tower Corp.’s demand letter to contractors stating that if they assist in the building of a macro tower site within one-half mile of one of their existing towers that they will no longer be able to do any work for ATC, and possibly be excluded from working for other carriers on an ATC site, has raised the ire of Verizon …
FCC Chairman Pai honors innovator in accessibility communications technology
Recognizing the importance of innovative communications technology designed for people with disabilities, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai yesterday announced the winners of the seventh annual Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman’s AAA). The Chairman’s AAA celebrates outstanding private and public sector ventures as part of the Commission’s continuing effort to facilitate ongoing exchanges among the telecommunications industry, assistive technology companies, …
Tower techs settle ‘drive time’ overtime lawsuit with Illinois contractor for $333,000
A Yorkville, Ill. wireless contractor agreed to pay $333,000 to settle a class action lawsuit by tower technicians who claimed they weren’t paid overtime for the time they spent traveling between job sites. Illinois U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Gilbert gave final approval Tuesday to the settlement between Heights Tower Service, Inc. and 65 employees (listed below), but in the agreement, …
Fund set up for Georgia tech whose arm was severed in an accident
A Waycross, Ga. tower tech was on his way to pick up a new safety climb sleeve Friday afternoon to replace his aging unit when, according to a Georgia State Patrol report, his truck was struck by a tractor with a planting rig implement attached that crumbled the entire driver’s side of the GMC Sierra pickup in Blackshear, and in …
Less ‘headache’ calls championed by NATE’s new dropped object video
When a tool or other object is accidentally dropped by a technician from a tower, the customary bellow to those below is to yell ‘headache’ – the customary warning of a dangerous, possibly deadly situation. Desirous of Aleveiating headache concerns, the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today unveiled a video entitled “Look out Below” that focuses on the risks associated with dropped objects …
D.C. Judge’s AT&T-Time Warner merger approval could bode well for T-Mobile-Sprint deal
AT&T is expected to complete its $85 billion purchase of Time Warner in eight days or less as the nation sees a major transformation of the pay-TV landscape after D.C. federal judge Richard Leon ruled this afternoon rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to block the merger. Within minutes of today’s announcement, AT&T General Counsel David McAtee applauded the …
Foremen getting unique opportunity to help set the creation of certification guidelines
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is reaching out to the industry’s thousands of tower foremen to complete a survey to provide their valuable input to ensure the new NWSA Certified Foreman Examination accurately reflects today’s work environment, regulations, and technology. This new certification for the telecommunications Industry will define a set of criteria to verify that candidates have achieved …
American Tower to competition’s contractors: Our way or the highway
To lower carrier lease rates, AT&T, Verizon and Tillman Infrastructure last year announced a joint agreement to build hundreds of cell towers, some for new macro builds, others for “build-to-relo”. The major towercos quickly and cavalierly dismissed their efforts as non-hazardous to their business model’s health. But last week American Tower Corp. let it be known that they are concerned and …
Settlement of $4.25 million to a first responder’s family after telecom tower collapse
The family of a Nutter Fort, W. Virg. firefighter was awarded a $4.25 million settlement agreed to by the Harrison County Court System yesterday. The resolved lawsuit and details from the defendant’s bankruptcy also bring into question whether better vetting of a contractor could have prevented his death. Michael Garrett was responding to a tower collapse on Feb. 1, 2014 when the …
Canadian who skated on toppling 1,100 foot tower is now charged with murder
A 75-year-old Canadian man who was found guilty of collapsing an 1,100-foot Bell Canada guyed tower in Ottawa in 1987 and had his conviction stayed by Canada’s Supreme Court, is expected to plead not guilty today to a more serious charge – murder. Last Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested James “Jimmy” Wise and charged him with first-degree murder in …
TIRAP elects new leadership group with SBA’s Sams at the helm
The Executive Board of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) announced today that David Sams, Vice President of Risk Management with SBA Communications, was elected Chairperson of the group. Paul Roberts, Vice President of Compliance for American Tower Corp., was elected Vice-Chairperson, and Beau Aero, President and Founder of GME Supply, was elected Secretary. Former Chairman Scott Kisting was …
AT&T’s “Extreme-Weather Drone” ensures faster network recovery and a first responder role
By Art Pregler AT&T Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Director It can see through obstacles, fly through rain, operate in extreme temperatures and communicate in areas without infrastructure. And it took its first flight last week in Bedminster, New Jersey. Meet the newest superhero of AT&T’s Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) Team – “The Extreme-Weather Drone.” This versatile new technology has the …
