Thieves normally specialize in stealing batteries or transmission lines at communications sites in the U.S., but in an incident in India, thieves went for the full monty, stealing the entire cell site. The theft occurred last March but wasn’t reported to authorities until last week in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district, where a cell tower, standing at 165 feet and weighing …
Elliott Investment Management turns up the heat on Crown Castle with another scathing critique
Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., on Wednesday submitted a Section 220 demand and accompanying letter to the Crown Castle Board, requesting inspection of the company’s books and records. This request follows the company’s adoption of shareholder-unfriendly amendments to its bylaws that compromise the fundamental tenets of the …
FBA and WIA spotlight TIRAP’s remarkable growth: From one company in 2017 to currently 100 employers
The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) is celebrating the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and its Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) as it signed an agreement with its 100th industry employer. FBA and other telecommunications companies and industry organizations work with WIA to develop apprenticeship programs accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), including training for a broad range of career paths, including …
Ohio fire chief and captain killed when their manlift being used for tower maintenance overturns
According to a press statement issued by the Fayette County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), on Saturday at 11:05 a.m., their department’s 911 center received a call of an overturned mechanical lift with injuries at the Concord-Green Fire Department along Route 62 and Locust Street in the village of Staunton. First responders identified the victims in the overturned lift as Concord-Green …
Crown Castle CEO Jay Brown must go, says Elliott Investment Management, after investing $2 billion
Elliott Investment Management L.P., which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., released a letter and presentation today detailing its perspectives on the company’s history of underperformance and calling for significant changes. One of those adjustments is for the Board of Directors to immediately provide an interim CEO to replace Jay Brown, who has held that position …
Unable to unionize tower crews, CWA tells Arizona it wants broadband ‘done right’ but the state is a step ahead of them
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) appears to have been unable to negotiate their first Tower Climbers Union collective bargaining agreement with QualTek Wireless after QualTek closed their wireless Henderson, Nevada office that employed eight eligible tower technicians, the majority voting to join the union in May of 2022. With dozens of offices operating throughout the nation, QualTek would have been …
Thanks for an industry that exemplifies the spirit of giving
Climbing towards two decades, Wireless Estimator has been privileged to reach your computer screen or smartphone daily, providing information and advocacy to an industry we proudly serve. For that, we are thankful. More importantly, we are thankful for those men and women who don’t look for thanks – our country’s volunteers, the spirited folks who genuinely make this industry great. Unfortunately, recognizing everyone …
NWSA sunsetting practical exams at the end of 2023 to benefit technicians and employers
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that as of January 1, 2024, the organization will cease conducting TTT1 and TTT2 practical examinations in favor of enhanced written-only testing through online remote proctoring. In keeping with NWSA’s objective to continuously improve the fairness, validity, and reliability of its trade certification process, the NWSA Boards of Governors and Directors, following …
Washington TV anchors find a tower rescue of two of their employees to be a laughable event
Earlier this week, after a small elevator on a 662-foot self-supporting broadcast tower owned by NBC4 in Washington, DC malfunctioned and two employees were unable to return to the ground in Tenleytown where they were stuck at about the 350-foot level, a DC Fire and EMS team provided a rope rescue to bring the men to safety. The rescuers’ professionalism …
Failing financials forces iHeartMedia to sell its towers to Vertical Bridge and Salem Media to sell its property
iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest owner of AM and FM properties, released its Q3 results last week, and its consolidated revenue decreased $35.9 million or 3.6% during the three months ended September 30, 2023. Analysts expected a higher amount, but the primary reason for the improvement was a one-time income injection: $45.3 million in cash proceeds from the sale of 122 …
Biden administration releases plan to grow more spectrum, but it’s light on details
The Biden Administration released a National Spectrum Strategy identifying more than 2,700 megahertz of airwaves to study for innovative new uses by the private sector and federal agencies. President Biden also released the Presidential memorandum on Modernizing the United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy, which will promote a trustworthy, predictable, and evidenced-based process for ensuring spectrum serves its highest and …
An excellent way to support many of the nation’s veterans is to listen to their story and fly Old Glory
Veterans Day, every November 11th, honors all Americans who have served our country in war or peace. It is a day set aside to thank the living veterans for their service and sacrifice made to a grateful nation. It is a day of remembrance with parades, services, ceremonies, and, most of all, to honor all those who have served our …
Delusional ‘Postmaster General’ serial coax thief Douglas Lee arrested again in North Carolina
In August, Yadkin County NC Sheriff’s Office investigators received a report that someone had climbed a tower in East Bend and cut off several hundred feet of coaxial cable that would likely be sold to a scrap metal firm. In October, another Yadkin County theft of copper cable was reported in Yadkinville. Detectives, with the assistance of AT&T Mobility Services, …
Big policy decisions loom over the future of America’s wireless networks, says WIA CEO Halley
By Patrick Halley, President and CEO, WIA – Wireless Infrastructure Association Access to broadband – fixed and mobile – is table stakes for participation in today’s Internet-driven economy. Hence the billions of dollars coming out of Washington to connect every unserved home in America. That’s good news for consumers who remain on the other side of the digital divide. Beyond a …
Dish Network stock dives following its CEO’s resignation, financial woes, and a steep drop in subscribers
Dish Network Corporation stock swung to a loss again this morning to $3.47 from yesterday’s close of $3.51, a severe loss from $17.16 where it traded last November. Dish reported a Q3 2023 loss of 26 cents per share on November 6, a surprise to Wall Street. Dish finished the quarter with 8.84 million pay TV subscribers, down from 8.904 …
Comcast slapped with a $19 million verdict for a fatal crash caused by one of its techs in Georgia
Slips, trips, and falls are the most common causes of injuries or deaths on construction sites, and technicians are constantly reminded of that danger in tailgate sessions, stand-downs, and training. However, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in every primary industry, and one of the critical factors, according to multiple studies said, human error was the primary …
NTIA issues waiver for BEAD program’s excessive financial requirements
NTIA released a conditional waiver of the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program’s letter of credit (LOC) requirement yesterday. In September, hundreds of individuals and groups urged the agency to remove the requirement, citing potential limitations on small providers’ participation. With the waiver, subgrantees may receive an LOC from any U.S. credit union that is National Credit Union Administration-insured …
After an excellent Q3 financial report by DigitalBridge, the stock unexpectedly falls off a cliff
When American Tower Corporation (ATC)) released its Q3 earnings report on October 26, 2023, analysts were pleased with the company, beating its earnings per share of $1.26 by 11.51%. The company also had a surprise increase in revenue of 2.10% at $2.82 billion. Although ATC cautioned that its 2024 expectations might be slightly lower since annual 5G investments by U.S. …
Two more telecoms receive rip and replace extensions, one says it has problems paying its contractors
The FCC has extended the deadline for two more companies to rip and replace Huawei and ZTE Chinese-made network equipment in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. Both companies said the lack of funding was their primary concern, causing one company to delay contractor payments. However, last week, the Biden administration asked Congress for an additional $3.1 billion to “fully …
Petzl Astro Bod Fast, Sit Fast and Canyon Guide harnesses quarantined and should be inspected
Following the detection of a defect on the metal D gated ventral attachment point of a harness, Petzl is requesting that all customers quarantine and inspect the ASTRO BOD FAST, ASTRO SIT FAST and CANYON GUIDE harnesses. The company said due to the risk of unintentional opening of this attachment point, which could result in an injury or life-threatening situation, …
