Similar to water, electricity and sewer in terms of importance to homeowners, the White House has declared that broadband Internet is also a “core utility,” in a 40-page report published by the Broadband Opportunity Council, which was created by President Barack Obama. “Broadband has steadily shifted from an optional amenity to a core utility for households, businesses and community institutions,” …
Small cells to be given extreme test during high Pope visit traffic
Crown Castle International’s devout Catholics might be praying to St. Vincent Ferrer, patron saint of builders, that their small cell network will support the data tsunami expected on Sept. 26-27, 2015 along the historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, stretching from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to Logan Square, during Pope Francis’s inaugural visit where more than one million people are expected …
Former tech and his wife arrested after multi-state battery theft spree
A husband and wife team from Gilbert, Ariz. that caused millions of dollars in losses to carriers as well as a seven-hour service disruption in Cincinnati, Ohio, were caught after a ping from a cell tower eventually brought them down because Cincinnati police had been tracking their phone. Police say that Rachael and Michael Cowan went on a battery stealing spree …
FBI investigating a string of fiber cuts; AT&T posts $250,000 reward
AT&T said yesterday that the company is offering up to $250,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for fiber vandalism across Alameda County in California. AT&T spokesman Jim Greer said vandals cut fiber in two different manholes about 10:30 p.m. Monday at Altamont Pass and Carroll Road in Livermore, causing Internet service to go out. …
PCIA urges California’s governor to sign bill that would alleviate site delays
PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association has urged Governor Jerry Brown to sign California Assembly Bill 57, which will help alleviate delay in applications to site new wireless facilities and renew permits for existing wireless facilities. In the letter, Adelstein noted, “For example, in San Diego, a PCIA member reports that applications for conditional use permit renewals at four separate …
Epidemiologist: Banning Wi-Fi in schools based on cancer is “cuckoo”
Dr. Geoffrey Kabat, an epidemiologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in response to a question regarding what he thought about movements to ban Wi-Fi in schools with a view toward exercising the “precautionary principle,” told the McGill Reporter he thinks those efforts are misplaced. “Based on my reading of the evidence, this whole movement is cuckoo. These exposures …
Key analyst likes Crown Castle, but sees American Tower with less acquisition exposure
Morningstar analyst Michael Hodel has provided an excellent overview of the industry’s three publicly-traded companies, American Tower Corp., Crown Castle International, and SBA Communications. Whereas there are almost daily yawn-inducing recommendations from analysts, Hodel’s insight and extensive analysis is worth the read. Although Hodel has previously said that his favorite amongst the towercos is Crown Castle, because he thinks it …
To be 5G, or not to be, that is the question seeking answers at Super Mobility 2015
In advance of any standardized next-generation network, it is expected that carriers will be following Verizon’s lead and will be jumping on the faux 5G bandwagon. But the proclamations will be steeped in marketing since there are no clear paths to which technologies 5G will include. Tom Keathley, AT&T’s senior vice president of network and product planning, said at Fierce Wireless’ breakfast panel …
FCC denies review of a site fencing violation and obstruction lighting charge
The FCC recently denied two tower owners’ requests to review their forfeiture orders and let stand their fines totaling $16,600. Following a petition for reconsideration by Alaska Integrated Media, Inc., licensee of Station KOAN, Anchorage, the FCC said it found no basis for them to review the fine of $5,600 for failing to enclose the station’s tower within an effective …
FCC Commissioner Pai says Title ll has depressed broadband investment
While FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler was pumping next March’s incentive auction of 600 Mhz wireless spectrum at CTIA Super Mobility 2015, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai was deflating Wheeler’s belief that imposing Title II regulations on broadband were good for the nation, stating that Wheeler had dismissed arguments that classifying broadband as a common carrier service would depress investment, but data is …
India High Court: Use your landline if you don’t want cell towers installed
In a rather unorthodox response to a petition by residents alleging that a cell tower was being constructed in their neighborhood in violation of a local recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee, India’s Delhi High Court dismissed their plea and basically said that residents of Vasant Kunj should stop using their cell phones and revert back to using landlines, and then, …
“Perfect” cell tower battery theft thwarted by neighboring camera system
A Michigan man who reportedly was employed in the industry at some point, or possibly still is, might shortly find his next employment on a prison work detail as soon as he is arrested for stealing batteries from cell site cabinets. Warren authorities say they expect to arrest the man targeting cell towers in Macomb County. He was caught on …
American Tower reportedly picking up an additional 41,000 towers in India
American Tower Corporation is reportedly ready to ink a deal to acquire a majority stake in Indian tower operator Viom Networks, which will expand it’s portfolio there by approximately 41,000 towers. If the agreement is signed, according to the Economic Times, it will be the largest tower acquisition ever made by a US-based tower consolidator. Viom has another 1,000 towers …
Presbyterians: 1; Evangelicals: 0 in Verizon’s cell tower search in Nebraska
Southern Heights Presbyterian Church members’ dream of a having a bell tower on their church property in Lincoln, Ne. came true when a 67-foot brick structure housing cell antenna was constructed recently along with the base station, and the electronic digital carillon bells will soon be in place with crosses covering the opening on each side. The community liked it, …
Indiana looking for firm to manage its 300 cell towers on park land
Indiana is working on plans to design and build Indiana’s first new inn at a state park in more than seven decades, and Gov. Mike Pence has said the lodge will be paid for solely by the leasing of untapped capacity of more than 300 cell towers on DNR land. None of that cell capacity has been leased yet, state …
New York counties receive $3.5 million each to replace existing towers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 27, 2015 that 17 counties across New York State have been awarded a total of $50 million in funding. The funding was given in order to pay for projects involving communications equipment and technology upgrades. In most cases the counties will be using part of the money to fund the installation of new towers. Emergency services in …
CommScope’s Airvana acquisition will assist with C-RAN deployments
CommScope, a global provider of connectivity and essential infrastructure solutions for communications networks, has agreed to acquire Airvana, a privately-held leader in small cell solutions for wireless networks. Airvana, headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass., provides award-winning 4G LTE and 3G small cell solutions that enable people to access communications, information and entertainment in the most challenging and high-value environments—offices, public venues …
Sabre and World Tower assist Pilgrim Communications in capturing cell site tenants
Re-engineering, new foundations and Sabre Towers erected by World Tower has set WXLW (AM) up to capture co-location dollars in Indianapolis after they complete replacing their three towers built by Bethlehem Steel in 1948. According to WXLW’s owner, Pilgrim Communications, the array will change from a 5 kW directions to 1kW non-directional. The first new tower, at 150-feet will, will …
