The House Communications and Technology Subcommittee this week examined the future of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as its statutory authorization approaches a 2027 sunset, mirroring recent Senate scrutiny of the nationwide public-safety broadband system. Lawmakers framed the hearing as both an oversight review and an opportunity to refine governance, accountability, and long-term investment before reauthorization moves forward. Subcommittee …
Pilot Fiber to acquire carved-out enterprise fiber unit from DigitalBridge-backed ExteNet
New York and New Jersey-based Pilot Fiber has agreed to acquire ExteNet Systems’ enterprise fiber business, a targeted carve-out from the DigitalBridge-backed infrastructure platform, underscoring continued specialization and portfolio reshaping across the digital infrastructure sector. The transaction transfers ExteNet’s metro-focused enterprise fiber assets—built in part through earlier acquisitions of Hudson Fiber Network and Axiom Fiber Network—into Pilot Fiber’s footprint, expanding its …
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty to receive WIA Foundation Wireless Leadership Award in Washington
The WIA Foundation will honor FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty with the second annual Wireless Leadership Award on February 17, 2026, during the Wireless Women’s Leadership Luncheon in Washington, D.C. This event brings together senior policymakers and industry executives to recognize leadership and expand opportunities across the wireless sector. The luncheon, hosted in partnership with the WIA Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum, …
Tower Family Foundation announces 2026 scholarship deadline of May 31
The Tower Family Foundation expanded its scholarship program in 2024, enhancing eligibility criteria to support more students through merit‑based awards. The application period to apply for scholarships for the Fall 2026 semester is officially open through May 31, 2026. The Tower Family Foundation scholarship is open to the broader NATE community, offering a limited number of merit-based scholarships available annually …
Participation invited as Midwest Wireless Summit sets sail for its inaugural launch in Kansas City this August
A new regional gathering aimed at strengthening collaboration across the communications infrastructure ecosystem is preparing for its debut this summer, as organizers advance plans for the inaugural Midwest Wireless Summit, scheduled for August 17 through 19, 2026, in Kansas City. MO. Registration, sponsorships, accommodations, and panel discussions are available here. The event is being developed by members of the Midwest …
Net-90 terms surface as Verizon falls short on multiple commitments to the FCC and infrastructure contractors
Commentary — When Verizon submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission on May 15, 2025, it appeared—on paper—to mark a meaningful shift in how the nation’s largest wireless carrier would treat the contractors responsible for building and maintaining its network. Among the most significant commitments outlined in that filing was Verizon’s agreement to move to 30-day payment terms, a …
New SEMC testing results raise safety concerns over two-person pickoff tower rescues
Two-person pickoff rescues are a core part of tower-climber training. Yet, new testing conducted by the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) suggests that some commonly used backup fall-arrest systems may be relied upon beyond their tested design limits. SEMC Testing Triggered by Concerns Over Trailing Rope Grab Misuse The testing was documented in a recent NATE Climber Connection episode narrated by …
Verizon’s 4Q momentum supports ongoing tower and fiber work, with continued pressure on margins
Verizon’s fourth-quarter earnings, released Friday, delivered more than a financial beat—they offered several signals that matter directly to macro tower owners and the contractors who build, upgrade, and maintain Verizon’s network. Strong subscriber momentum, continued fiber expansion, and steady capital spending point to sustained field activity in 2026, even as the carrier maintains pressure on efficiency and cost control. The …
- Page 2 of 2
- 1
- 2
