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Welder falls 95-feet and dies while working on a U.S. Cellular retrofit project in Kansas

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

A 45-year-old welder fell to his death while working on a tower modification in Le Roy, Kansas on Sunday, according to individuals knowledgeable of the accident. A spokesperson of Blackhawk Tower Communications of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin confirmed that Shane Jenson of Orfordville, Wisconsin was welding a modification on a U.S. Cellular site at about the 95-foot level when his safety …

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Ransomware attack shuts down Sierra Wireless

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Sierra Wireless, a leading IoT solutions provider, today announced that it discovered it was the subject of a ransomware attack on its internal IT systems on March 20, 2021. Once the company learned of the attack, its IT and operations teams immediately implemented measures to counter the attack in accordance with established cybersecurity procedures and policies that were developed in …

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Lack of training kills a high school day laborer climber and his employer claims it was his own fault

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Lakaram Karanjeet was working part-time for Rise & Rise Wireless, Inc. while he was in high school. He died on June 28, 2019 when he fell from this New Jersey 150-foot monopole.  An investigation by Wireless Estimator into a lawsuit brought against multiple defendants exposes a wireless construction contractor that had no safety programs in place, few owned assets and …

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Third strike against small Colorado telco requires it to reimburse the U.S. $6.75 million

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled March 15, 2021 that a rural telecommunications carrier based in Alamosa, Colorado owes the FCC $6.75 million for improperly claimed Universal Service Funds (USF) it received between 2005 and 2010. In 2016, the FCC demanded that Blanca repay the $6,748,280 in funds it received which it was not entitled. Blanca …

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Telecom leaders partner to develop industry-tailored human trafficking prevention training

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Leaders in the telecommunications industry have partnered with 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF), a Sacramento-based nonprofit working to end human trafficking throughout the US. The goal is to educate telecommunications professionals on the signs of human trafficking and train them on how to recognize, notify and report the crime. The partnership was initiated and spearheaded by Kenny Blakeslee, President and CEO …

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Walsh’s confirmation as Secretary of Labor is a big win for unions

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

In a 68 to 29 vote, the U.S. Senate today confirmed Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as the new Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration. As Secretary, Walsh, 53, will also have the power to oversee workplace safety, enforce hourly wages and overtime, recommend new legislation and guide labor statistics collection. Walsh is an advocate of immigrants. In Massachusetts, he …

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NWSA sets dates, location for May Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshop

In Daily News Briefs by Wireless Estimator

The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is encouraging industry employers, trainers and workers to register for the Telecommunications Tower Technician Practical Examiner Accreditation Program (PEAP) Workshop scheduled for May 11-13, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by Petzl America. NWSA-accredited Practical Examiners are NWSA-certified personnel who have been trained and authorized by NWSA to administer the practical examinations for NWSA …

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Plaintiffs settle for $3.2 million in 2018 Missouri tower collapse that killed company owner

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Missouri State University and other defendants have reached a $3.2 million settlement in a 2018 deadly television tower collapse in Fordland, Missouri. The Springfield News-Leader reports the university’s attorney, Rachael Dockery, notified the school’s governing board of a “global settlement” in all the lawsuits filed about the incident. According to court documents, on March 10, 2021, a letter was presented …

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Illinois student is recipient of Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship

In Daily News Briefs by Wireless Estimator

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and Tower Family Foundation today jointly announced that Alex Dodson, a junior civil engineering student from Jasper, Indiana has been named as the 2021 recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. Alex Dodson is at the top of her class academically and excels in …

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Immediate mandatory inspection notice issued for Miller MightEvac and MightyLite self-retracting lifelines

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

If you have been identified as a customer that has purchased certain Miller MightEvac and MightyLite Self-Retracting Lifelines (SRLs) products that were returned for repair work by Honeywell between September 1, 2019 and March 5, 2021, Honeywell has identified a potential issue with reworked brake components that may cause the products to not operate to specification. While there have been …

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PANs, papers and standards made enlightening in virtual Wednesday panel presentation

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM CST, a group of panelists will be conducting Session 2 of the NATE UNITE 2021 Virtual Educational Series titled “Sharing of Knowledge Through Industry Planning Advisory Notices (PAN’s), White Papers, and Standards”. Registration is available here. The panelists conducting this session are Scott Stekr, VP of US Engineering for Perfect Vision, Brandon …

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Summitt Cellular helps NATE top its all-time membership record

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has established a new all-time record of 1,020 member companies, eclipsing the Association’s previous mark of 1,019 members. Summitt Cellular based out of Cleveland, Georgia has the distinction of being the record-breaking company to join the Association, at a time when many trade groups are seeing declines in memberships. “NATE’s …

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FCC initiates proceeding to revoke authority of telecom carriers controlled by Communist China

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

The Federal Communications Commission yesterday took the next step in its efforts to ensure the security of U.S. telecom networks. After issuing show cause orders last year to three telecom companies with ties to the communist regime in China, the FCC determined that those carriers’ responses failed to address the serious national security threats posed by their continued operation in the …

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Ice isn’t nice to century-old Champaign, Illinois self-supporting tower

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

A 175-foot self-supporting tower collapsed Monday afternoon about 2:15 p.m. off of Meridian Drive near North Duncan Road in Champaign, IL. The tower is owned by Alliance Communications and company owner Stu Toft informed Wireless Estimator that the four-legged base sections, 115 feet, are about 100 years old. They originally were on the banks of the Mississippi River and were then relocated to Champaign. …

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Colocations unknown as a sealed deal with American Tower provides DISH with it final site selections

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

American Tower Corporation and DISH Network Corporation announced today that they have entered into a master lease agreement through which DISH may lease space on up to 20,000 American Tower communications sites. Through the agreement, DISH will secure access to American Tower’s extensive U.S. portfolio of communications sites as it deploys its new nationwide 5G network, and American Tower will …

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Bill would invest $94 billion to increase nation’s broadband

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

A bill from a group of House Democrats dedicating over $94 billion to broadband expansion and affordability was unveiled in the House and Senate yesterday, securing support for both internet infrastructure and programs to help disadvantaged Americans afford connectivity. The Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act (LIFT America Act) introduced by all 32 Democratic members of the Energy and Commerce …

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Enertech’s acquisition of Mountain Wireless adds a fifth company to its turnkey services group

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Enertech Holdings LLC, a regional turnkey wireless infrastructures services company, announced the acquisition of Colorado-based Mountain Wireless Construction Inc. Founded in 1997, Mountain Wireless is a full-service provider to the wireless industry and has developed specialized expertise in small cell and DAS installations, a high growth area of wireless telecom expenditures amidst the nationwide 5G rollout. Terms of the transaction …

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Smart money is betting NATE’s 2022 Las Vegas show will be an exhibitor sellout with record-high attendance

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

NATE is excited to announce that NATE UNITE 2022 plans are underway and the sponsor and exhibitor planning guide is available here. The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association’s show will be hosted in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada on February 21-24. Caesars Forum, the latest state-of-the-art conference center, will host the NATE UNITE exhibit hall. The glitz …

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Ganzi’s Digital Colony acquires one million hotspots from Boingo Wireless for $854 bucks apiece

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

Boingo Wireless, Inc., a leading distributed antenna system and Wi-Fi provider launched in 2001, that serves carriers, consumers, property owners and advertisers worldwide, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger to be acquired by an affiliate of Digital Colony Management, LLC in a deal valued at $854 million. Upon completion of the transaction, …