The FCC took another step forward in its effort to develop the best and most accurate broadband maps ever built in the United States. In a note, to understand why requires a bit of history, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “For decades, the Commission produced broadband maps based on census blocks. In practice, this meant that if there was high-speed internet …
QualTek Services files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with hopes that its debt can be cut almost in half
Wireless infrastructure developer QualTek Services warned earlier this month that it would need to obtain alternative sources of capital or otherwise meet its liquidity needs and/or restructure its existing indebtedness through the protections available under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Blue Bell, Pennsylvania company filed for bankruptcy today in the Southern District of Texas, identifying that it had …
First trainees readying up for Ohio’s tower technician Second Chance Re-Entry Progam
Todd Schlekeway, President & CEO of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, praised officials from the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at today’s Second Chance Re-Entry Program event announcement in Dayton, Ohio. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, and AT&T Ohio President Molly Kocour Boyle also addressed attendees at …
Driver is electrocuted while unloading aerial lift for California cell site project
According to authorities, a 37-year-old Fresno, CA, equipment rental delivery driver was electrocuted Wednesday while offloading an aerial lift in Parlier, CA, that would be utilized by a tower crew performing services on a nearby cell tower. Officials say that Jaun Abriz was employed by H&E Equipment Services and struck an electrical wire at about 9:00 a.m. Those responding to …
Towerco execs hint at a future slowdown, but for many wireless contractors the future is now
Last week at WIA’s View From the Top panel session at Connectivity Expo 2023, the top towerco executives hinted that they are aware of a dip in carrier capex and a turn towards fiber, possibly cutting into site builds. Still, they championed the industry and said 5G would be a constant and maybe a ten-year driver, although it would be …
Biden plans to pick NTIA lawyer Anna Gomez for FCC to end agency deadlock: Bloomberg
President Joe Biden plans to select veteran government lawyer and former National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) acting Administrator Anna Gomez to serve on the Federal Communications Commission and give the agency its first Democratic majority of his presidency, according to Bloomberg. Gomez will fill the long-vacant fifth FCC seat. The timing of a formal announcement appeared to be imminent, …
Sadly, the first fatal fall in 2023 took the life of a 33-year-old tower technician in Kansas
Burial services were held today in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, for 33-year-old tower technician Frankie Rivera-Rivera who succumbed from his injuries after falling from a 350-foot tower in Andover, Kansas, on May 9. According to individuals knowledgeable of the incident, Rivera and a co-worker were reportedly performing maintenance services for AT&T on a tower off Zenith Rd., owned by Harmoni …
New TIF white paper examines the regulations and best practices to be obstruction lighting compliant
Since proper marking and lighting of telecommunications infrastructure is critical to support navigable air space, the Telecommunications Industry Foundation (TIF) has published a new TIF white paper, US Regulatory Compliance and Air Navigation Safety. The aim of the white paper, according to TIF, is to provide a summary of U.S. federal regulatory oversight, describe the FAA determination process for constructing …
NATE members Capitol Hill Fly-In event strengthened support by legislators for key industry priorities
Ninety representatives from NATE member companies converged in Washington, D.C., this week to participate in the Association’s 2023 Congressional Fly-In event on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, May 17, NATE members demonstrated their grassroots prowess by participating in approximately 120 individual meetings with Members of Congress and their respective policy staff. During the meetings, NATE members advocated for the industry’s priorities, …
A taste of 5G spectrum offerings is more easily explained using its constituent flavors
By John Paleski Mobile broadband businesses were eager to shell out over $120 billion during FCC auctions to acquire spectrum blocks to roll out 5G. That’s understandable since they needed it to lay the groundwork for fifth-generation wireless services. However, understanding what 5G is and the spectrums used to offer transformational speeds and capabilities that can open the door to …
RWA alerts the FCC to a rip-and-replace carrier that is $5 million over budget and only 15% completed
The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) filed a May 9 New York Times article with the FCC yesterday on the plight of small carriers such as Alabama-based Pine Belt Communications as they wait for Congress to fully fund the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. RWA asked that the article, ‘Rip and Replace’: The Tech Cold War is Upending Wireless Carriers, …
Crown Castle’s Cathy Piche joins WIA Board of Directors, Alex Gellman elected chairman
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) today announced that Cathy Piche, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer – Towers, Crown Castle, has joined WIA’s Board of Directors and Alex Gellman, Vertical Bridge Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, was elected Chair. Piche, who was also elected to serve as Vice-Chair, will replace Crown Castle President & CEO Jay Brown on the Board. …
FCC issues new broadband funding map with corrected data issues
The Office of Economics and Analytics, in conjunction with the Wireline Competition Bureau, has released the Broadband Funding Map. The map and its underlying data can be found here. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) requires the Commission “to establish an online mapping tool to provide a locations overview of the overall geographic footprint of each broadband infrastructure deployment project …
Andrew Seybold, 77, passes, leaving a legacy of improving the nation’s public safety communications
In March, well-known and respected public safety and wireless communications consultant, advocate, and writer Andrew “Andy” Seybold was looking forward to speaking at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) – where critical communications technology professions have always labeled it as a must-attend conference. In an All Things FirstNet article, he said, “I hope to see many of you there. Please …
Tower Climbers Union takes on Verizon over safety, will be at Crown Castle’s May 18 shareholders meeting
Tower technicians with the Tower Climbers Union/CWA rallied yesterday outside Verizon’s shareholder meeting in Salt Lake City, UT, to call out the telecom giant for shirking responsibility and driving worker injuries across an already dangerous industry. Workers held signs that read “Safety First in the Workplace.” Local allies and state union representatives joined them. The rally included approximately 24 protesters, some of them members …
Harmoni Towers announces the appointment of Yannis Macheras as its CEO
Yannis Macheras Harmoni Towers, a portfolio company of Palistar Capital LP, an alternative asset manager focused on mission-critical communications infrastructure, has announced the appointment of Yannis Macheras as chief executive officer of Harmoni, effective immediately. Macheras was previously CEO of Parallel Infrastructure and joined Harmoni in November 2022 when Harmoni acquired Parallel. Macheras is a well-known leader in the telecommunications sector, having held senior roles …
NY AG fines three companies $615K for faked net neutrality comments that swayed the FCC
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced yesterday that her office had secured $615,000 from three companies, LCX, Lead ID, and Ifficient, that supplied millions of fake public comments to influence a 2017 proceeding by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repeal net neutrality rules. Net neutrality prohibits broadband providers from blocking, slowing down, or charging companies to prioritize certain …
Lawsuit filed against owner of Baltimore broadcast tower and its painting contractor over lead paint chips
Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown have filed a lawsuit against Television Tower Inc., the owner of the tower on Baltimore’s Television Hill, and Skyline Tower Painting Inc. for alleged violations of Maryland law that led to lead paint chips raining down on the surrounding communities. The complaint, filed in Baltimore City Circuit …
Verizon and Vertical Bridge agreement creates new profit share model while speeding deployment
Verizon and Vertical Bridge have agreed to build cell towers nationwide to expand Verizon’s 4G and 5G Ultra Wideband services. Vertical Bridge has agreed to construct these towers to-suit with Verizon as the anchor tenant. The towers will be held in an LLC formed by Vertical Bridge in which Verizon has a profits interest. The new towers will add to the …
CWA’s questionable climber injury and death rate data from their survey get a fact checking F from experts
The Communications Workers of America’s (CWA) Tower Climbers Union published the results of a survey designed by tower technicians Thursday with critical findings showing that their members’ safety is being compromised. The press release announcing the study said more than 65% of technicians have been on a job site where someone has been injured and 4% where someone has been killed, a horrific life-shattering …
