Women of NATE’s (WON) deadline for student scholarships is right around the corner and WON Chairwoman Andy Page Lee of Lee Antenna & Line service is urging the industry to share this deadline with students in your family, your coworkers and your colleagues. “We are very excited to support four women with their educational goals,” said Lee. The WON Education …
Unionization of tower training company provides CWA with a foot in the door they intend to exploit
In the past few months, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has been quietly attempting to unionize wireless contractors and has made inroads with employees of two mid-sized companies, according to sources who have informed Wireless Estimator of the CWA’s efforts. Today, the CWA made its intentions known by spearheading their campaign with a press release announcing that workers at …
Only one tower was damaged during Kentucky tornados: FCC report
According to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System’s (DIRS) report yesterday, only one cell site was out due to damage from the deadly tornadoes that devastated numerous Kentucky communities last weekend, destroying over 1,000 properties, including facilities of two industry manufacturers. Although there were an additional 9 cell sites out, 8 of them due to transport issues and 1 out …
Black & Veatch recognized among ‘Best of the Best’ in Michigan workplace safety, health
Reflecting its unwavering championing of safety protocols, Black & Veatch proudly announces it has received the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program in Construction (MVPPC) STAR Award – the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (MIOSHA) highest honor involving workplace safety. The award, open to all Michigan employers, recognizes companies determined to be the “best of the best” in demonstrating exemplary safety …
DigitalBridge creates first scaled, independent tower company in Iceland through two acquisitions
Boca Raton, FL-based DigitalBridge Group, Inc. announced that funds affiliated with DigitalBridge Investment Management, the firm’s investment management platform, have completed the acquisition of the telecom tower portfolios of Sýn hf. (Sýn) and Nova hf. (“Nova”), two leading Icelandic mobile network operators (“MNOs”), creating ÍslandsTurnar. ÍslandsTurnar is the first independent tower company of scale in Iceland with national coverage to …
World Tower facilities demolished by tornado as neighbor Drake Lighting is mostly spared
President Joe Biden visited Mayfield, KY today, a town that was rendered unrecognizable after tornadoes brought death and destruction to the area over the weekend. Residents affected by the tragic event called for funds for recovery. During a press conference Biden pledged that federal aid would continue to flow and said that the damage was the worst that he had …
Unless you are a tower tech, T-Mobile wants to ensure that no employee is left behind
Commentary – T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert received a round of thanks from his employees and future job applicants when he announced on Friday, “Every single employee at T-Mobile, even our newest team members just starting to build their skill base, should have a competitive wage. So, we have decided to implement a nationwide minimum pay at T-Mobile of at least …
RF signage placement row heads to NJ court after landlord refuses T-Mobile site access
After a 24-year contractual relationship with a Brunswick, NJ building owner, T-Mobile Northeast LLC says in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey that 390 George Street Associates refuses to allow the carrier to perform modifications that are allowed in their lease and is prohibiting T-Mobile access to their rooftop equipment. In their complaint, T-Mobile requests …
Senate confirms FCC Chair Rosenworcel to a new term, the first woman to lead the agency
The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed Jessica Rosenworcel in a 68-31 vote as the first appointed female chairperson of the FCC. Rosenworcel had been acting chairperson since January. Tuesday’s action means the FCC narrowly avoided a Republican majority, which could have happened if Rosenworcel’s current term was allowed to expire at the end of the year. “It is a tremendous honor …
24-year-old Nevada tower tech passes after a 140-foot fall in Washington — 2nd fatality in 3 weeks
Wireless Estimator has confirmed that a 24-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada tower technician, whose goal was to excel in his new career, has passed away after falling from a communications tower in Arlington, WA on Saturday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. Michael Vasquez was a Broken Arrow Communications (Bacom) crew member working on an installation on a Crown Castle monopole when …
Foolish draft petition has a carrier telling NATE to ‘Shut up!’ and the matrix pricing problems will be resolved
Commentary — One carrier’s well-thought-out solution to NATE’s concern regarding untenable contractor matrix pricing that is crippling the nation’s wireless workforce can be capsuled in two words: ‘Shut Up!’ There are no legitimate arguments that matrix or model pricing shouldn’t be used in wireless construction unless it’s a project that requires different disciplines or presents unique labor or material-intensive requirements outside of …
OSHA will be inspecting a dissolved air conditioning company when investigating a Texas tower tech’s death
OSHA has identified the contractor they are investigating following the death of a Texas tower technician, Steven Rankin, 53, after falling from a tower on November 17 in Garrison, TX, as reported yesterday by Wireless Estimator. The inspection information released this morning states that Weiman Air Condition & Electrical, Inc. was the contractor that was managing the Verizon installation project …
A 1099 crew’s 53-year-old tower technician falls to his death from a Verizon tower in Texas
UPDATE: December 2, 2021 — OSHA has released the contractor’s name that the agency will be investigating. Wireless Estimator has been able to confirm today the death of a 53-year-old tower technician in Garrison, TX on November 17. The fatality came to light when tower technician Chris Sanders posted on a Facebook group: Sad day on the tower today! He …
