A searing and thoroughly sourced white paper from an anonymous industry insider warns that the nation’s tower and wireless infrastructure sectors are on the verge of collapse, hollowed out by unchecked consolidation, one-sided contracting practices, and the commoditization of a skilled workforce – a strategy that is fast becoming a tragedy for the men and women that build and maintain …
Golden State, gilded rates: Fixed high cell tower property lease outlays challenge industry norms
The City of Fullerton, California, has signed a significant lease agreement with Phoenix Tower International to construct a monopine cellular tower at 2470 West Pioneer Avenue. The deal, valued at approximately $893,000 over the initial ten-year period, will generate an annual revenue of $74,450.98 for the city’s general fund, with a four percent escalation rate applied yearly. The city is …
Canada mourns loss of tower tech in New Brunswick—but remains a global leader in elevated work safety
Canada’s telecom industry is mourning the loss of a 25-year-old tower technician who tragically died while working on a cellular tower in Riverview, New Brunswick, on Monday. Despite the heartbreaking incident, safety records show that Canada remains one of the safest countries in the world for elevated workers in the wireless infrastructure sector. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, …
Both defendants plead guilty in Oklahoma tower sabotage that caused $500K in damage
Two Choctaw County, OK residents who toppled a 500-foot broadcast tower in Hugo, OK in a brazen copper theft scheme last year have pleaded guilty in federal court, nearly 15 months after the incident cut off a local radio station and triggered a multi-agency investigation. Candice Marie Logan, 34, and Matthew Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty with identical pleas to Interstate …
Kari Carlson recognized by the Tower Family Foundation with its coveted Guardian Award
Kari Carlson, CEO of Tower Systems Inc. and founding Board Member of the Tower Family Foundation, was recently recognized as one of the three people who stepped up to launch the Tower Family Foundation. Carlson served as the first Secretary and Treasurer of the organization. From the initial concept through the following six years, Kari served as a Board Member …
BEAD prevailing wage confusion in Pennsylvania puts wireless infrastructure contractors at risk
Pennsylvania’s project-specific prevailing wage system is under increased scrutiny as broadband providers, contractors, and lawmakers raise concerns that the state’s complex wage determination process makes it harder to expand broadband efficiently in rural areas. Unlike most states that establish geographic prevailing wage rates, Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) determines wage classifications on a per-project basis—often after the project …
Senator Kennedy says wireless giants are running a ‘Goat Rodeo of Greed’ at contractors’ expense; investigations by DOJ and FCC urged
WASHINGTON — At a tense hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship yesterday, CEOs of the nation’s top wireless carriers faced sharp criticism over alleged collusion and the use of fixed matrix pricing—practices that lawmakers say are driving contractors, suppliers, and key players in the telecom supply chain into financial ruin, with many forced to shut …
‘Always Advancing’ – A new tagline Inspired by NATE members who keep America connected
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced the launch of its new tagline today, “Always Advancing,” signaling the organization’s ongoing commitment to supporting the telecommunications ecosystem and the prominent role its member companies play to enable connectivity around the globe. The new tagline reflects NATE’s dedication to continuously improving member experiences and driving innovation within the tower erection and telecommunications …
Tower tech shot while on Verizon tower, Air Force members involved in accidental target practice incident
A tower tech working on a Verizon cell tower was shot in the thigh Thursday evening while three U.S. Air Force members were engaged in target practice on federal land outside Guernsey, according to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 7:30 p.m. to the area near Warm Springs Trace, Wyoming, after receiving reports of a shooting, Sheriff David …
NWSA launches its new specialty exam: Advanced Rigging Concepts
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is proud to announce the launch of its newest specialty certification exam, Advanced Rigging Concepts, available beginning Monday, April 7, 2025. This advanced certification is designed to assure certificate holders, employers, carriers, and tower owners that lifting operations on-site are executed safely and effectively. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication when modifications are …
‘Apocalyptic’ ice storm takes out 630-foot broadcast tower in East Jordan, Michigan
Macdonald Garber Broadcasting’s CHR station, 106 KHQ (105.9 WKHQ-FM) in Charlevoix, Michigan, experienced a significant disruption when its 630-foot tower collapsed Sunday evening in East Jordan. The collapse resulted from what is being described as an “apocalyptic” ice storm that brought multiple days of heavy sleet and freezing rain to the region, leading to substantial ice accumulation. This severe weather …
Industry and labor coalition warns T-Mobile–UScellular merger could trigger rural tower shutdowns
A broad coalition of industry groups, public interest organizations, and a national labor union is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take a hard look at the proposed multibillion-dollar acquisition of UScellular by T-Mobile, warning that the deal could harm rural connectivity, suppress competition, and undermine decades of federally subsidized infrastructure development. In a detailed filing submitted to the …
Crown Castle ousts CEO Steven Moskowitz amid strategic overhaul and $8.4 billion fiber and DAS asset sale
Crown Castle Inc. shares slipped almost 4% yesterday following the abrupt termination of CEO Steven Moskowitz earlier this week. He held the top job for less than a year. The decision surprised the industry as the wireless infrastructure giant underwent a major strategic shift, including the $8.5 billion divestiture of its small cells and fiber solutions businesses. The company did …
FCC Chair Carr threatens to block media mergers over DEI policies, raising industry alarm
The Federal Communications Commission is prepared to block mergers and acquisitions involving media and telecommunications companies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies deemed “invidious,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced Friday in an interview with Bloomberg News. Carr’s remarks sent shockwaves through the communications sector, as he directly referenced high-profile deals now under threat, including Paramount Global’s proposed merger …
Pole attachment delays threaten $52 billion in federal broadband expansion funds
A newly released report from The Pew Charitable Trusts sheds light on a major obstacle slowing the expansion of high-speed internet in the United States: the complicated and costly process of attaching broadband infrastructure to utility poles. The report, which examines the challenges facing federally funded broadband projects, warns that delays and rising costs tied to pole attachments could undermine …
Murphy Tower Service announces leadership transition amid continued growth with McGuire at the helm
Murphy Tower Service, a leader in wireless and wireline infrastructure service, has announced a key leadership transition. Co-owner Patrick Murphy will step down as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately and transition into the role of Chief Operating Officer. Sam McGuire, current CEO of the parent company FieldSync, Inc., has been named the new CEO of Murphy Tower Service. This transition …
DigitalBridge continues to face market woes as stock hits new lows and European director departs
In late 2021, when it was announced that Matt Evans was hired as Digital Bridge Group, Inc.’s Managing Director Head of Europe, he said, “I am excited to be joining the DigitalBridge team at such a pivotal time.” According to Bloomberg, he is leaving DigitalBridge at a pivotal time as the company tries to shore up its flagging stock value. …
Starks resigns from the FCC, paving the way for Republican control under Chairman Carr
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has announced his intention to resign this Spring, cutting short his term that was set to expire in 2027. His departure could have significant implications for the balance of power within the FCC, potentially giving Chairman Brendan Carr a temporary Republican majority. In a letter to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader …
Evan Feinman departs BEAD program, warning of ‘deeply negative outcomes’ from favoring satellites
The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is at a crossroads following the departure of its director, Evan Feinman. In a farewell email to staff (available below), Feinman issued a stark warning that proposed shifts in the program’s direction—moving away from fiber broadband infrastructure in favor of satellite-based alternatives—could result in “deeply negative outcomes” for rural America. …
Dan McVaugh joins Tower Family Foundation Board; Leadership team of Tracy, Blakeslee and Murphy announced
The Tower Family Foundation has announced the newest appointment to the non-profit organization’s leadership team. Dan McVaugh, Senior Advisor of Cathedral Consulting, has been appointed to serve on the Tower Family Foundation’s Board of Directors. McVaugh joins the slate of industry executives devoted to the Foundation’s mission of providing financial support and scholarships to industry workers and their families during …
