As of yesterday, Hurricane Helene has damaged broadcast stations in a five-state area hit by the devastating Category 4 hurricane at landfall that has killed 128 people across six states. In Georgia, there are 2 TV stations out of service. FM radio stations are also off the air, including 1 in Florida. Georgia had an unheard-of number of storm management …
Vertical Bridge and Verizon seal a $3.3B deal for 6,339 towers, the largest buy in almost a decade
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vertical Bridge today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Vertical Bridge to obtain the exclusive rights to lease, operate and manage 6,339 wireless communications towers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. from subsidiaries of Verizon for approximately $3.3 billion, including certain commercial benefits. The transaction is structured as a …
Unprecedented outage: No hurricane has knocked out more cell sites than Category 4 Helene
Hurricane Helene has severely disrupted cell phone communications across the affected regions, particularly in Western North Carolina. The storm caused widespread power outages, flooding, and infrastructure damage, which led to the shutdown of numerous cell towers and fiber optic lines. As a result, large portions of the region were left without any cell service, cutting off communication for many residents. …
A Phoenix Rising: Catherine Piche soars back to Crown Castle in previous COO role as Kavanaugh retires
Crown Castle Inc. has announced the upcoming retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer–Towers, Michael J. Kavanagh, effective October 28, 2024. Kavanagh, who has held various leadership roles during his 14-year tenure, will remain in an advisory capacity through the end of the year. Catherine Piche will take over as EVP and COO–Towers. Piche, who previously served as …
Lawsuit alleges Crown Castle tower skirts historic site rules, delays Las Vegas Huntridge Theater restoration
A lawsuit filed on September 20, 2024, in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, by Brass Monkey, LLC, the owner of the 80-year-old Huntridge Theater, against Crown Castle Inc. and AT&T Wireless Services threatens to delay the long-anticipated renovation of the historic landmark in downtown Las Vegas. The lawsuit alleges that a cell tower at the back …
Cell tower evidence is convincing factor in denying bail for Ryan Routh in attempted Trump assassination
Ryan Routh, the would-be assassin who targeted former President Donald Trump, was tracked by authorities using cell tower data. This information revealed that Routh was surveilling the area and plotting the assassination, according to a document in support of detaining Routh until his trial. It convinced a federal judge today that Routh should be held without bail pending trial. The …
AT&T to reel in 107,000 pounds of lead cables from Lake Tahoe
AT&T has agreed to remove approximately 107,000 pounds of lead cables that have been submerged in Lake Tahoe for decades as part of a settlement announced last week. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) in 2021, which claimed that the cables were leaching toxic lead into the lake, posing risks to the environment …
Dish Network pushes for an extended deadline on its 5G rollout
In a formal request submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), DISH Network’s Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs, Jeffrey H. Blum, has sought an extension of the company’s deadline to complete its 5G wireless network buildout. This request follows a similar filing by EchoStar Corporation on September 17, approved today, which addresses the need for more time …
Beyond Telecom: Goodman Networks’ defrocked Frinzi reinvents himself in the arms trade
James Frinzi’s journey through the business world, from lobbying for the defense minister of Indonesia and officials in Qatar, has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, marked by his rapid ascent as CEO of Goodman Networks, allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and corporate misconduct, and a dramatic downfall that stripped him of his ill-gained assets and pushed him to explore …
Tower Family Foundation appoints Pete Hagstrom and Steve Ouzts to its endowment committee
The Tower Family Foundation announced today that Pete Hagstrom, Vice President of Procurement at Viking Maintenance, Inc., and Steve Ouzts, founder and principal broker at Tower Advisors, LLC, have been appointed to serve on the Foundation’s Endowment Committee. The Tower Family Foundation made the announcement at the 2024 Kentucky Wireless Association Golf Tournament hosted today in Louisville, Kentucky. “The Tower …
Luxury lifestyles, no bars: America’s wealthiest town in Texas blocks cell tower, Vertical Bridge lawsuit alleges
If you reside in Westlake, Texas, you’re part of the wealthiest community in the state, where the average home sells for nearly $5 million, and the mean household income soars to $508,000. In this exclusive enclave, dandelions dare not blemish the meticulously manicured lawns; luxury is the norm. However, even in a town that Forbes once named the most affluent …
T-Mobile’s overtime calculation practices challenged in class action lawsuit initiated by Florida technician
T-Mobile USA, Inc., is facing a collective action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleging Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. The lawsuit, initiated by plaintiff Olvin Gomez from Palm Beach County, Florida, represents himself and similarly situated employees and claims that T-Mobile failed to calculate and pay the correct overtime rates …
In mixed ruling, Ninth Circuit invalidates FCC’s concealment provision, citing procedural missteps
On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals three-judge panel for the Ninth Circuit issued a mixed ruling in a case brought by several California cities and organizations against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding its 2020 Ruling that clarified regulations for modifying wireless communication facilities.” The ruling is a response to a 2020 FCC clarification of its existing rules …
AT&T workers end strike, but work-life balance concerns remain unresolved for field technicians
AT&T wireline workers across the Southeast have long expressed dissatisfaction with harsh working conditions and unfair pay. Concerns over heavy workloads, long hours, and insufficient compensation drove thousands of Communications Workers of America (CWA) union members to strike, bringing the company’s operations to a standstill for nearly a month. The strike, which ended yesterday, highlighted significant worker grievances, particularly among …
Verizon’s nearly $2 billion severance charge sparks speculation of tower sale as financial pressures mount
According to a regulatory filing, Verizon expects to incur a severance charge between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024. This is part of a voluntary separation program the company announced in June, targeting select U.S.-based management staff. As a result of the program, approximately 4,800 eligible employees are expected to leave Verizon by the end …
FCC to ISPs: Broadband data dodgeball will cost you $15K a pop
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued Notices of Apparent Liability (NAL) to nine internet service providers for failing to provide critical data on broadband coverage. The companies face penalties for not complying with federal data reporting requirements, marking the first instance of such enforcement actions. The companies under scrutiny include National Telecom, LLC, Centex Web Access, Particle Communications Wholesale, …
American Tower exits India market in $2.3 billion deal as it cuts its global portfolio by one third
American Tower Corporation (ATC) has officially exited the Indian telecom tower market, completing a $2.2 billion deal with a Brookfield-led consortium. This marks a significant shift in India’s telecommunications landscape. The consortium, which includes Brookfield Asset Management, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), and GIC, has acquired approximately 76,000 telecom towers from American Tower. The buyer, Data Infrastructure Trust …
Tower Family Foundation: A decade of delivering financial support to affected industry workers and their families
The Tower Family Foundation officially celebrates its 10-year anniversary today as a 501c-3 non-profit organization supporting the industry’s workforce and their families. The Foundation officially launched during a reception and press conference that was held on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at CTIA’s “Super Mobility Week” in Las Vegas, Nevada. The impetus behind the Tower Family Foundation occurred when representatives of …
Lather, rinse, fraud: FCC Ponzi cell tower scammer Merced-Torres can’t stop repeating himself
A man previously convicted for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar cellular tower investment fraud, after serving years in jail, once again has found himself behind bars. Miguel Merced-Torres, 57, who served six years in prison for his role in a $14.2 million Ponzi scheme, has admitted to carrying out a near-identical scam, defrauding unsuspecting investors while still under supervised release. His second …
‘Bible of Safety’ updated: NATE’s new video explores key changes to A10.48-2023 standard
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a safety video highlighting the revised ANSI/ASSP A10.48-2023 standard. The standard—Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification, and Maintenance of Communications Structures—serves as the industry’s playbook and provides comprehensive safety guidance for the entire tower construction, service, and maintenance activities. The video includes informative, back-and-forth dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley …
