FirstNet’s expected announcement today of who was selected to build out the nationwide first responder communications network has been put on hold, according to a recent blog post by FirstNetCEO Mike Poth who said the selection process was taking longer than expected and would extend beyond a Nov. 1 2016 target date. “From the outset, FirstNet set an aggressive schedule for …
Guyed tower collapse was an accidental early decommissioning
A 340-foot tall tower at the West Palm Beach, Fla. city’s water treatment plant crashed to the ground this morning after a worker’s tractor clipped one of its guy wires. Two trucks parked at the Banyan Boulevard plant were crushed but no one was injured and city emergency communications were not interrupted, city officials said. The tractor was moving sludge …
RCom to sell majority ownership of 43,000 towers to Canadian-based Brookfield
India-based Reliance Communications (RCom) has signed an agreement with Canada’s Brookfield Infrastructure group to sell a 54% stake in the company’s tower unit comprised of 43,400 towers for $1.65 billion. American Tower Corporation reportedly had been looking to also acquire RCom’s portfolio. The remaining 49% will be owned by RCom which will continue to be an anchor tenant on the structures. …
‘Cocoon’ allows a 24-hour work day on ESB antenna installation
Empire State Realty Trust has announced another innovation at the Empire State Building (ESB) where a new project is underway to install a new auxiliary Master FM Radio antenna on its famed tower. An innovative, protective construction cocoon at the base of ESB’s antenna tower has avoided impact on day-to-day operations of the building. The cocoon extends the once limited …
Horizontal lifeline energy absorber recall announced by 3M
Wireless Estimator has been notified by 3M Fall Protection (formerly Capital Safety) that there was a production issue with a number of its Zorbit Energy Absorbers that could create a risk of serious injury or death for the user in the event of a fall from height. The Zorbit is used with horizontal lifeline systems. 3M said that although there …
Ham climber gets a pass on death after his wife watches him collapse
Ham radio operator Charles Young, 65, was performing repair work on his tower in Greene County, Mo. when he reportedly became dizzy, lost his grip and was left hanging 40 feet in the air yesterday afternoon for about 50 minutes on what appeared to be a 60-foot tower. Fortunately for Young, his wife saw him slip and called 911, and …
Newest STAR Initiative contractor participants unveiled by NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program for the 2016-2017 year. “Companies involved in the STAR Initiative program have demonstrated that they are the cream of the crop and this year’s participants certainly live up to the high standards NATE has established through …
STAC’s conference/expo registration discount expiring soon
The Structure, Tower and Antenna Council (STAC) has announced that it will host its 2nd annual conference on March 29-30, 2017 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, and its early registration discount will expire on Nov. 18, 2016. Building off the overwhelming success of STAC’s inaugural conference last spring, the STAC 2017 Conference & Exhibition is …
New ANSI/SSE A10.48 standard now available for purchase from NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) A10.48-2016 Standard is now available for purchase on the Association’s website. The A10.48 Standard – Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification and Maintenance of Communications Structures is a game changer for the industry as it has …
New pivoting and swivel RRU mounts provide ease of radio head installs and maintenance
Connect-It Wireless Components, a leading manufacturer and supplier of thousands of site hardware and component products, has introduced its newest industry offerings, pivoting and swivel RRU mounts to keep remote radio heads close to the antennas and allow for easy maintenance and simplified installations with the included mounting arms that swivel the radio heads to a single face. The mount, …
NATE releases safety video on night climbing precautions
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today unveiled a Night Climbing Safety Video as part of the Association’s popular Climber Connection campaign. The video highlights practical safety tips for conducting elevated work at night and includes insightful testimonial footage from a tower climber discussing the extra steps and precautionary measures that must be incorporated at the tower-site when working …
NAB’s Sam Matheny appointed to Wireless Safety Alliance’s Board of Governors
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that Sam Matheny, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), has joined the organization’s Board of Governors. The organization made the announcement from NWSA stakeholder meetings that are being held in Dallas, Texas this week. The NWSA is a national non-profit assessment and certification organization …
Carolinas Wireless Association cancels its meeting in Charlotte over riot concerns
Due to the riots in Charlotte, N.C., the Carolinas Wireless Association (CWA) postponed its event schedule for this evening at the Whitewater Center. Although the meeting location is approximately 15 miles from downtown Charlotte, organizers were concerned that their membership could be in danger if riots continued this evening in protest of the killing of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by …
Pittsburg communications confab focused upon industry safety issues
Safety officials from carriers, tower owners, regulators and training companies converged in Pittsburg, Pa. last week at the 2016 Environmental, Health & Safety Communications Panel (EHSCP) symposium hosted this year by Crown Castle. A wide variety of topics related directly to the communications industry were presenting during the well-attended sessions. A panel discussion on the upcoming Washington State Standard, was …
Univision deal adds 66 broadcast towers to Vertical Bridge’s portfolio
Vertical Bridge, one of the largest private owners and managers of wireless communications infrastructure in the U.S, today announced that it has signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) to manage a portfolio of 66 premium broadcast towers in key markets located across the United States. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. Vertical Bridge’s portfolio …
Verizon Exec Laurie Gebhardt joins National Wireless Safety Alliance Board of Governors
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that Laurie Gebhardt, Director – Network Engineering and Operations at Verizon Wireless, has joined the organization’s Board of Governors. The NWSA’s leadership made the announcement at the 2016 CTIA Super Mobility Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. The NWSA is a national non-profit assessment and certification organization that has been established to provide …
Firefighters provide a successful heat-related rescue of tower tech
A tower tech was rescued by the Berwick, Louisiana Fire Department Wednesday afternoon after they received a report that he was suffering from heat exhaustion on top of a 100-foot self support tower at the Jesse Fontenot Boat Landing. Authorities said Gary Leger, 39, of Patterson, was overcome by the high temperatures and when he was unable to descent the tower …
Cell tower copper thief drowns in the Savannah River while trying to elude police
Rather than risking jail time, a Georgia man tried to elude police and drowned after he allegedly stole copper from a cell tower in South Carolina The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about 7 a.m. on Monday about a suspicious vehicle near the cell tower off of Purrysburg Rd. in Hardeeville. Sheriff’s officers spotted 31-year-old Maurice …
Monopole is totaled in Utah after a welding crew ignites it
Update: September 2, 2016 – According to West Valley City Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Fox, the monopole fire was caused by a tower crew that had been welding on the structure. He said the tower was stabilized last night, but high winds created difficulties for the crew trying to dismantle it. Firefighters with the Unified Fire Authority extinguished a cell tower …
NATE unveils RF and antenna identification safety video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a RF & Antenna Identification Safety Video as part of the Association’s 2016 Climber Connection campaign. The video outlines the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) guidelines for maximum permissible RF exposure limits in both controlled and uncontrolled environments. The segment also features testimonial footage of a tower technician discussing the thermal and …
