A tower tech fell to his death from a communications tower in Australia today, according to a local news report that stated he was 43-years-old and died after falling off of a structure near Adelaide River around 4:00 p.m., but offered no additional information. The worker’s death accents what appears to be a safer environment throughout the world for tower …
Counterfeit RF training certificates join other tower tech false credentials
Counterfeit certificates have been a frequent headache for many of the industry’s fall protection trainers for many years due to high resolution printers and a few tower technicians’ Photoshop skills. In at least two climber fatalities, cards found in the deceased’s wallets were not identified as being accurate by the issuer. False radio frequency safety training certificates have also surfaced, …
Lawmakers’ FirstNet probe could unveil little more than the RFP’s deadlines
Lawmakers have scheduled a hearing on Feb. 2, 2016 that is expected to shed a little more light on FirstNet’s progress following the issuance on Jan. 14, 2016 of a request for proposal (RFP) for the public safety broadband network for first responders. However, some industry observers believe that little will be gleaned since the presentations will be well-scripted and …
NWSA subject matter experts continue their tower technician certification program efforts in Texas
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) convened its distinguished group of leading subject matter experts this week to continue the assessment and certification development process for the Telecommunications Tower Technician I (TTTI) and Telecommunications Tower Technician II (TTTII) programs. The intensive NWSA task force meetings occurred over a three-day period and were hosted by AT&T at the AT&T Center for …
Tower company executives’ ears will be on Sprint’s conference call tomorrow
Sprint moved its quarterly analysts’ earnings call to tomorrow morning in what some analysts believe is an apparent move to ease the concerns of investors after an article on a tech website said that the carrier was going to move its base stations from American Tower and Crown Castle sites to government properties “which costs much less”. The carrier had …
NATE releases PPE inspection safety video as part of Climber Connection campaign
‘When in doubt, take it out!’ The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Inspection Safety Video as part of the Association’s 2016 Climber Connection campaign. The video highlights practical safety tips for industry workers to follow when inspecting the required PPE associated with working at heights on a communications towers. The video includes …
Northeast Wireless Safety Summit presentations announced for Feb. 4, 2016 event
HPC Wireless Services, a wireless telecommunications platform company servicing the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, has announced the agenda for their 2nd Annual Northeast Wireless Safety Summit (NEWSS), taking place from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2016 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Tarrytown, N.Y. The NEWSS program includes panels, keynotes and demonstrations addressing the safety issues and …
Cortel and TowerCom Technologies picked up by newly-formed J5 Infrastructure Partners
Under the direction of a new CEO, two well-established wireless services companies will expand their deployment services in the Western U.S. with an infusion of cash from two equity investors. Ridgemont Equity Partners and SR Capital Advisors announced Friday that their newly formed company, J5 Infrastructure Partners, includes the talent and assets of Cortel, Inc. of San Diego, Calif., and …
AT&T will be throwing its hat in the ring for a FirstNet build-out
AT&T says that it’s attracted to bidding for the FirstNet contract — the federal government’s plan for a nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. Verizon has been widely considered a solid front-runner in the project. The request for proposals is expected this month on a project that could cost $20-$30 billion. At that time it will become known whether …
Bankrupt PCS carrier says FCC illegally re-auctioned its licenses
Bankrupt Alpine PCS, a successful bidder in two California spectrum deals in a 1996 Federal Communications C-Block auction, has filed a $21 million lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, against the FCC that alleges the agency breached a written and oral contract when it found the Michigan-based carrier in default of payment for its licenses and re-auctioned them. …
Slim’s Telesites towerco spinoff is off to a rocky start
Telesites SAB, a spinoff from Carlos Slim’s America Movil SAB, has a majority of analysts recommending selling the shares. The wireless-tower company started trading in Mexico this week and after its debut on Monday when there appeared to be market interest, it proceeded to drop yesterday 2.9 percent to 11.99 pesos ($.70). Mexico City-based Telesites, created to manage the operator’s …
NATE’s 2016 educational campaign will also be tough on social media nonsense
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a video trailer promoting its upcoming 2016 Climber Connection marketing campaign that will combat climbers on social media whose dangerous activities set poor examples for an industry with tens of thousands of technicians who work safely. Equally as important, it will highlight safe work practices. The Climber Connection campaign was developed …
Former PCIA chief and wireless pioneer Jay Kitchen passes at age 70
Emmett Benjamin “Jay” Kitchen, 70, one of the industry’s first and most respected advocates for a wireless America, passed away on Dec. 13, 2015 after battling Parkinson’s disease for 16 years. When Kitchen took over leadership of the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) in 1994, he hit the ground running and put the organization structure in place to help win …
Kathrein offers ‘Street Connect’ for wireless densification in high traffic locations
LTE antenna provider Kathrein has introduced an innovative solution for wireless densification in cities. In collaboration with Swisscom, Switzerland’s leading telecom provider, Kathrein developed “Kathrein Street Connect”, an in-ground antenna system that enhances mobile capacity at hotspots with high data traffic. Following a trial period in Bern, Switzerland, the antenna will be deployed in selected cities in early 2016. According to Swisscom, …
Safety LMS’s new leadership greatly expands its tower training methods and locations
Safety LMS, a tower construction safety training company headquartered in Austin, Tex., has announced it has expanded its capabilities with a new leadership team and additional locations for training. Under new ownership, 39-year tower industry safety expert John Paul (JP) Jones has taken over as President of Safety LMS with 25-year industry veteran Jimmy Hurt as Vice President and Director …
Harbinger’s LightSquared loses appeal after $1.9 billion lawsuit is tossed
The Second Circuit in New York on Monday upheld a decision by the Manhattan federal court in February dismissing Harbinger Capital Partners LLC’s $1.9 billion suit claiming three GPS makers hid market information and drove its startup LightSquared Inc. into bankruptcy. The court said it found a lack of a relationship between the companies, Garmin, Trimble and Deere and the …
GME Supply’s new Atlanta location showcases its multi-million-dollar expansion
GME Supply Co has announced the opening of its newest facility in a strategic location in Atlanta, Ga. With this multi-million dollar expansion, the company has added an additional 30,000 square feet of stocked warehouse space, all with the aim to better serve its wireless infrastructure customers in the Southeast. The Atlanta facility features the company’s unique “Safety Experience Zone,” where …
Indiana’s tallest building picks Subcarrier Communications to manage its rooftop assets
Subcarrier Communications has been selected to provide rooftop management services for the Chase Tower in Indianapolis, Ind., expanding their building rooftop management portfolio. The team leaders for this transaction were Operations Manager Greg Weger, and VP of Engineering Bill Cordell from Subcarrier’s Houston Office. The iconic Monument Circle building opened in 1990. At 830 feet, it’s the 47thth tallest building …
CTI jumps back into tower ownership with a 120 structure deal with Vyve Broadband
Massachusetts-based CTI Towers, Inc., a wireless tower operating company in which Comcast Ventures is majority owner, has jumped back into the tower space following their announcement today that it has acquired 120 communication towers from Vyve Broadband, a Rye Brook, N.Y.-headquartered mid-sized MSO with towers in Okla., Kan., Ark., and Wyo. The deal, expected to close by year-end, will provide …
Future 5G networks to open up opportunities for new industries and verticals
The latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report provides insight into the future of 5G networks, including a forecast of 150 million 5G mobile subscriptions by 2021. The US, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and China are predicted to lead with the first, and fastest, 5G subscription uptake. 5G will connect new types of devices, enabling new use cases related to …
