In mid-November, T-Mobile began contacting construction contractors nationwide to submit their pricing for a proposal in 63 markets to agree with catalog pricing, ranging from a sector frame installation in Arkansas at $692 to $1,196 in California, according to documents viewed by Wireless Estimator. The variables in pricing make sense based on states or locations with higher pricing due to …
Serial FCC violator again flouts Commission’s rules and receives a $1.2 million fine
Sound Around, Inc. of Brooklyn, NY, is again in hot water with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, as it faces a proposed penalty of $1,202,454 for alleged violations of FCC rules. The violations primarily revolve around the company’s marketing of non-compliant radio frequency devices and its repeated failure to comply with Commission orders. The FCC’s investigation revealed that Sound Around marketed …
NATE’s registration opens for PPE for Telecom Workers: Hazard ID, Selection, and Use Training Courses
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that the registration process is officially open for the PPE for Telecom Workers: Hazard ID, Selection, and Use Training Courses that will be facilitated by the Association in 2024. Overall, twelve training courses will be available nationwide to industry employers and their employees through NATE and a Susan Harwood Training Grant (SH-000003-SH3) …
Former Army Ranger officer and distributor executive recruited by GME Supply as its President and COO
GME Supply Company’s (GME) CEO, Caleb Messer, announced that the company has named Ryan Keogh as President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” said Messer. “As our business continues to grow, so does its complexity. Ryan brings tremendous commercial and operational leadership experience to GME. He was the clear choice to join …
Towerco’s ‘synthetic’ leases surface in a 3,100 tower site deal that could be near $2 billion
Under the exploratory teaser name of Project Lighthouse, a U.S.-based towerco is looking to sell a portfolio of 3,100 real estate interests consisting of perpetual easements that might be sold at 25 times the $80 million base rent paid to the buyer, in the potential $2 billion deal, according to two Wireless Estimator sources familiar with the offering. For the …
North Carolina catches up to India’s ongoing homeowner lease scams
Ashe County, N.C. Sheriff B. Phil Howell is reaching out to residents, urging their support and collaboration in addressing a recent potential cell tower scam that has reportedly fleeced money from “many potential victims.” The Asche County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) believes some homeowners may have fallen for this scheme, which may involve sending money for a deed search, cell tower …
TowerCo and Everest acquire 546 towers from Charter, which once had 1,200, lightly eclipsing CTI 525-tower deal
Everest Infrastructure Partners, Inc. (“Everest”) and TowerCo (“TowerCo”) have jointly revealed the acquisition of 546 wireless towers for an undisclosed amount from Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”) to be completed over multiple closings starting this month. The wireless tower assets included in this transaction are located in 37 states throughout the U.S. and collectively represent one of the more significant portfolio …
Louisiana is first state to get full BEAD plan approval and can now get access to funds
The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Louisiana’s Initial Proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Louisiana is the first state to reach this important milestone, which will enable the state to move from the planning phase to the implementation phase for the BEAD program—a major step towards closing the digital divide …
Crown Castle’s surprising about-face on Canonsburg relocation sparks employee confusion
Crown Castle Inc., in a dramatic turnaround, has left its employees in Canonsburg, PA, scratching their heads after abruptly canceling plans to relocate them to the corporate headquarters in Houston, TX. The decision comes following activist investor Elliott Investment Management’s call for changes within the company as CEO Jay Brown prepares to step down in January. Interim CEO Anthony Melone, …
Broadband construction gets a boost withe Peyton Allen Resources partnering with TelForce Group
TelForce Group, a leading provider of staffing solutions in the telecommunications sector, announced its strategic partnership with Peyton Allen Resources, a respected veteran-owned business which provides broadband construction crews. This collaboration will enhance the quality of service in the telecommunications, broadband and construction sectors, combining the strengths of both companies to deliver unparalleled results. Ron Deese, CEO of TelForce Group, …
President Biden expected to sign 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act into law
UPDATE: December 19, 2023 – President Joe Biden signed off today on the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act, as expected. The measure, which the House passed last week, gives the FCC authority for 90 days to issue T-Mobile and other winning bidders the licenses they bought in the 2.5 GHz band auction last year. President Biden is expected to sign the 5G …
In a crowded field of candidates, Banner, Hightower, Paulette and Scott elected to NATE’s Board
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled the official results of the 2024 Board of Directors election today. The Association announced that Randy Scott, CEO/Owner of Texoma Contracting, Inc. in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Aaron Paulette, President of Elevated Services, LLC in Carrollton, Ohio, were re-elected and will retain their respective seats on the NATE Board of Directors. NATE also reported …
OSHA ditches hard hats for helmets, possibly leading to a requirement for all construction workers to adopt their move
With data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealing that head injuries accounted for nearly 6 percent of non-fatal occupational injuries involving time away from work in 2020, OSHA is taking proactive steps to protect its employees. Traditional hard hats, in use since the 1960s, primarily safeguarded the top of a worker’s head but offered limited side impact protection and …
Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown announces retirement amid activist investor pressure to resign
Communications infrastructure provider Crown Castle Inc. is undergoing a significant leadership change as CEO Jay Brown has decided to retire, effective January 16, 2024. The announcement comes amidst pressure from activist investor Elliott Management, which has been advocating for leadership changes and strategic improvements at the company. Brown’s departure follows a series of scathing critiques from Elliott, known for its …
Valmont initiates legal action against Better Metal for patent infringement
Nebraska-based Valmont Industries, Inc. has taken legal action against Tennessee’s Better Metal, LLC, filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee. The lawsuit alleges that Better Metal has violated four of Valmont’s patents through the manufacturing and sale of comparable products. Valmont seeks a jury trial to recover damages resulting from the patent infringements, requesting an …
Wireless Broadband Alliance CEO unveils 10 game-changing Wi-Fi predictions for 2024 and beyond
Following the release of the WBA Annual Industry Report 2024, Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), has revealed ten predictions for 2024 and beyond that he believes will change the way wireless technology is used by communities and businesses across the world, including improved connectivity, efficiencies and new consumer experiences. Based on input from 200 enterprises, governments, …
SEMC’s new 310-pound drop test torso creates a sleeve failure that would have likely been a fatality
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video highlighting the safety sleeves testing events held by the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The video conducts a deep dive into the SEMC’s protocols and procedures that were implemented to test safety sleeves by replicating how they are utilized by technicians …
Thieves find it more profitable in India to steal the entire cell site instead of stripping cable
Thieves normally specialize in stealing batteries or transmission lines at communications sites in the U.S., but in an incident in India, thieves went for the full monty, stealing the entire cell site. The theft occurred last March but wasn’t reported to authorities until last week in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district, where a cell tower, standing at 165 feet and weighing …
Elliott Investment Management turns up the heat on Crown Castle with another scathing critique
Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., on Wednesday submitted a Section 220 demand and accompanying letter to the Crown Castle Board, requesting inspection of the company’s books and records. This request follows the company’s adoption of shareholder-unfriendly amendments to its bylaws that compromise the fundamental tenets of the …
FBA and WIA spotlight TIRAP’s remarkable growth: From one company in 2017 to currently 100 employers
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is celebrating the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and its Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) as it signed an agreement with its 100th industry employer. FBA and other telecommunications companies and industry organizations work with WIA to develop apprenticeship programs accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), including training for a broad range of career paths, including …
