Comcast and Charter, both regional cable operators, have announced an agreement to explore potential opportunities for operational cooperation in their respective wireless businesses to accelerate and enhance each company’s ability to participate in the national wireless marketplace.The agreement also forbids each company from making wireless mergers and acquisitions without the other’s consent for one year. The companies, which have each separately …
Lendlease, a global developer, acquires Parallel Infrastructure and its tower portfolio
Lendlease, one of the world’s largest development, property, infrastructure, and construction firms, has announce that it has acquired the Parallel Infrastructure portfolio of telecommunications towers and development positions across the United States, from Florida East Coast Industries. Going forward Lendlease will utilize its integrated business model to further create development opportunities focused on telecommunication infrastructure across the region. Denis Hickey, …
CCA and NATE partner to offer key industry tracks at their conferences
The Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) and the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced a partnership, designed to bring new, exciting content to attendees of both CCA’s 2017 Annual Convention, taking place October 25-27 in Fort Worth, and NATE UNITE 2018, February 19-22 in Nashville. NATE will develop and sponsor a conference track at CCA’s event highlighting infrastructure innovators and opportunities, …
Verizon and Corning agree to $1.05 billion fiber optic deal
Corning will sell up to 12.4 million miles of optical fiber to Verizon each year from 2018 through 2020, with a minimum purchase commitment of $1.05 billion, according to an agreement announced today. In a statement, Verizon said the deal would help it meet its rollout schedule for a fiber-optic network in Boston. The company also views fiber as critical for …
Landa’s mobile towers play a key role in the nation’s missile defense
During the past week when you heard the words “missile defense,” it’s likely your first thoughts dwelled upon the widening concern by the U.S. over the development of a bevy of new missiles by the erratic North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un and the need for America and other countries to protect themselves from incoming missiles. But there’s another …
SBA honors Tilson’s Joshua Broder with veteran small business award
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that Joshua Broder, CEO of Tilson Technology Management, Inc. has been selected to receive the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2017 Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year Award for Maine and New England. “Mr. Broder’s leadership at Tilson perfectly demonstrates the transition of skills learned in the military to use in civilian life,” …
Crown ‘s California fiber miles increase by 1,900 with Wilcon buy
Crown Castle International Corp. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Wilcon Holdings LLC for approximately $600 million from Pamlico Capital and other unit holders of Wilcon. Wilcon is a fiber services provider that owns approximately 1,900 route miles of fiber, primarily in Los Angeles and San Diego. Pro forma for the proposed acquisition, …
WIN’s Arizona meeting will feature Women of NATE, safety initiatives
The National Association of Tower Erector’s (NATE) Wireless Industry Network (WIN) will be hosting a Southwest Regional Meeting on Wed., May 3, 2017 at the Hilton Phoenix Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. The event will focus on key industry safety initiatives and offer tremendous networking and professional development opportunities for attendees. A feature session will be on Women of NATE (WON), presented …
Alaska’s largest telecom company, GCI, is acquired for $1.12 billion
General Communication Inc. (GCI), Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, will be acquired by Liberty Ventures Group, a subsidiary of Colorado-based media conglomerate Liberty Interactive Corp., the company announced in a statement. The $1.12 billion buyout allows GCI to expand its already leading position in Alaska and expand to markets outside the state so the company will continue to have staying power …
AT&T exec Kay Kapoor will head new $15B global organization
Kay Kapoor, who has led AT&T’s federal business for four year, and the company’s successful efforts to secure the multi-billion-dollar FirstNet public safety network contract, will now head the company’s new Global Public Sector (GPS) business unit as its president. AT&T is consolidating its federal, state and local public sector operations into GPS. AT&T’s public sector sales in 2016, consisting …
RFS and International Towers partner to provide turnkey repack solutions
Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), a global designer and manufacturer of cable, antenna and tower systems, has announced a partnership with International Towers Incorporated (ITI), a licensed general contractor with over 30 years of experience supporting the national broadcasting industry. Together, the two companies will offer a turnkey equipment and installation solution which will enable broadcasters preparing for the U.S. broadcast …
TIRAP and NWSA are tied at the hip regarding a safe, qualified workforce
Two key industry organizations are continuing to collaborate to achieve common goals of a safe, skilled and qualified telecommunications workforce. Officials from the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) and the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last year, met recently at the Safety LMS training facility in Austin, Tex., as part of …
Sorley to lead FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Committee
FirstNet said it was pleased to announce, after a thorough search by its Board Chair Sue Swenson, and Board Vice Chair Jeff Johnson, that Tom Sorley has been selected to serve as the new Chair of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). “We extend heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Tom for serving FirstNet and the PSAC, and are excited about the …
NATE spreads its wings with new technology membership category
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced that it is offering a new Technology membership category. The Association made the announcement at the 2017 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, Nev. this week. The NATE Technology membership category is classified for any company whose primary source of revenue is derived from the manufacturing, sales, design and use …
Stung by hundreds of bees, tower technician is on the mend
A tower tech has recovered after being stung by hundreds of bees on March 15 in Las Vegas as he was working on a monopalm, according to authorities. The North Las Vegas Fire Department responded to a tower on Craig Rd. and Ferrell St. where a crew was working on the site and the bees started stinging them. One worker was …
TIA releases its 5G Operator Survey 2017 results highlighting industry challenges
According to a Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) report, within the next two decades, it is predicted that every person, industry, and service provider will be using 5G systems. The paper, an update on TIA’s previous 2015 5G Operator Survey, provides valuable insight into the network operators’ view of the 5G revolution and presents important findings about usage in the near …
Broadcast repack video is truly a must see for all tower techs
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) released a Broadcast Repack safety video during the NATE UNITE 2017 Keynote Luncheon sponsored by T-Mobile. The timely video is the second to debut as part of Volume 2 of the NATE Climber Connection series and coincides with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently concluding the bidding phase of its historic incentive auction, …
Black & Veatch exec Martin Travers joins National Wireless Safety Alliance’s Board
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) has announced that Martin Travers, Group President of Black & Veatch, has joined the organization’s Board of Directors. Travers was nominated and formally appointed to serve in this leadership role during the NWSA Board of Directors meeting held in Fort Worth, Tex. on March 2, 2017. NWSA, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, is a national non-profit …
AT&T still mum on what caused its 14-state 911 outage
The FCC said on Thursday it will investigate why AT&T wireless subscribers in several states could not make emergency 911 calls late Wednesday that spanned at least 14 states. “Every call to 911 must go through,” said Chairman Ajit Pai in a news release. “So when I first learned of yesterday’s outage, I immediately directed FCC staff to contact AT&T …
Expect new help wanted ads from Dish for satellite/washer/dryer repair techs
Today, some Dish Networks’ techs are expected to know how to fix a customer’s slow upload speed as well as their washing machine’s spin cycle speeds. Dish has acknowledged that it is consigning some of its technicians to service Samsung washing machines that were recalled last year with the option that the customer could opt to have a repairman fix …
