NATE UNITE 2019’s Keynote luncheon yesterday in Grapevine, Tex. began with a heart-warming Climber Connection video, entitled “Tower Family Foundation: A Helping Hand” that highlighted the incredible impact the foundation plays in providing financial resources and scholarships to industry workers and families in the aftermath of a work-related accident or fatality. It presented the touching personal story of how the …
Commissioner Carr ‘preaches to the choir’ at NATE UNITE 2019 keynote address
During his keynote address about 5G at NATE UNITE 2019, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said he felt like he was “preaching to the choir” since no group knows more about those topics than the National Association of Tower Erectors. “The work that tower crews do every day — from building new cell sites to maintaining 2,000 foot towers — is not easy. And that’s particularly true …
NATE’s new Chairman has a vested interest in ensuring that women also succeed in contracting
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Board of Directors today elected Jimmy Miller of MillerCo, Inc. in Gulfport, Miss. to lead the association as its Chairman. Also elected to leadership roles were Vice-Chairman, John Paul Jones of Tower & Turbine and Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Dougherty, of Millennia Contracting, Inc. Miller has been active in NATE as a voting member for …
Miller, Jones and Dougherty elected to lead NATE’s Board of Directors
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that Board of Directors’ members Jimmy Miller, John Paul (JP) Jones and Kevin Dougherty were elected to serve on the Association’s Executive Committee for the upcoming year. The Association made the announcement on the first day of the NATE UNITE 2019 Conference and Trade Show in Grapevine, Tex. Jimmy Miller, President and …
Contractor survey uncovers some startling financial statistics that could trigger a 5G train wreck
In their drive to lower capex as they roll out 5G, carriers have created a troubling national Achille’s heel – a contractor base that has many companies swimming in debt with serious cash flow problems, according to results of an extensive nationwide survey taken by Wireless Estimator. The wireless contractor survey that was completed last quarter by 263 vetted companies, clearly indicates that …
Comments on contractor roadblocks set up by carriers that will derail America’s 5G race
Deeply concerned about the unsustainable state of wireless contracting, company executives provided 328 optional comments in Wireless Estimator’s extensive survey that was unveiled today. Armed with anonymity, it’s not possible to verify the accuracy of their statements. But it’s clear that their comments, in most cases, were well-thought-out summaries of the difficulties they are facing as carrier capex cuts, extended …
Carriers either ignore or are unaware of contractors’ higher than average truck roll expenses
Wireless contractors can’t be profitable with the hourly rates set by carriers and turfing contractors in many markets or the rates that they have to use to successfully win a bid, according to company executives who registered their concerns in an extensive nation-wide survey taken by Wireless Estimator that will be released this week. “They treat us like we’re a …
High climbing tower techs bear the brunt of Artic blasts
A Georgia tower tech might be cursing the bone-chilling 26° temperature he’s working in this morning in Atlanta. At the same time, a Fargo, ND tower climber might be pleased with this morning’s weather report of -19° for most of the day in an environment that can see extreme cold temperatures of -70° as it was earlier this morning in Grand Fork. …
NWSA launches Tower Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty certification programs
New nationwide portable certification programs provide career progression pathways for industry workers The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today the official launch of the Telecommunications Tower Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty Certification programs. These programs were developed by the NWSA’s Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty Task Force that is comprised of subject matter experts from all aspects …
Services set for Feb. 2, 2019 for American Tower founder Steven Dodge
UPDATE: January 28, 2019 – Services have been announced for American Tower founder Steven Dodge who passed away Jan. 17, 2019 following a bicycle accident. Dodge is survived by wife of 44 years Anne Dodge (Bonita Springs, FL), sons Tom Dodge (Manchester, MA), Ben Dodge (Cohasset, MA), daughter Kristen Dodge (Kinderhook, NY), five grandchildren, and brothers Lowell Dodge (Boulder, CO), …
Night climbing requirements could be “putting profits ahead of tower technicians’ lives”
“It’s obvious, carriers are simply putting profits ahead of tower technicians’ lives,” said a Texas-based contractor’s safety manager last week, deploring requirements by some carriers to perform maintenance work during nighttime hours to keep subscriber service interruptions at a minimum. He was one of many company owners and safety professionals Wireless Estimator spoke with after there was a groundswell of concern following …
AT&T lays out its strategy for 5G for America’s 15 million businesses
Businesses are leading the 5G revolution, and AT&T is going to give its business customers a full 5G toolbox. They state that they are the first carrier to publicly lay out what they’re making available to help businesses get the most out of this technology. America’s 15 million businesses increasingly look to technology to drive outcomes, but their needs range drastically …
Tower technician dies during a South Dakota nighttime climb
UPDATE: January 18, 2019 – According to two individuals that are familiar with Andrew Psomas’ fall from a tower on Jan. 10 that took his life, the three-man tower crew he was assigned to was performing tiger team warranty work for AT&T on the 190-foot self-supporting tower. Psomas was reportedly at the 150-foot level when he fell. It is not …
FCC Chairman Pai and Commissioner Carr to deliver keynote addresses at NATE UNITE 2019
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr are confirmed to deliver keynote addresses at the NATE UNITE 2019 Conference in Grapevine, Tex. taking place Feb. 4-7, 2019 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. The event is widely regarded as the premier and most comprehensive educational event and …
‘Disruptive’ Vertical Bridge celebrates tremendous growth with 266,000 sites in just four years
Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC, the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States, today announced that it has grown its portfolio to 266,000 owned, master-leased and right-to-master sites. The company, which is entering its fifth year of operations, also announced that it has built more than 500 macro towers for U.S. telecommunications carriers to date, with …
FCC given green light to start enforcing its new small cell regs on Monday
At the eleventh hour, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit yesterday denied a motion to stay the enforcement of the FCC’s September 27, 2018 Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order led by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. The new federal siting rules for small cells became effective Jan. 14, 2019, according to the order. A group of cities led by …
Fraudulent PPE check scam is targeting the nation’s wireless construction workers
A tag-team of con artists representing that they are HR generalists from a Texas-based leading installation contractor, have been targeting job seekers for at least two months with a scam cloaked with a degree of believability because of their industry knowledge and their employment of a new twist as to why they’re willing to send the applicant a check for …
World’s first 5G data call using 2.5 GHz and Massive MIMO made by Sprint in San Diego
Sprint has announced it has reached a significant milestone on its path towards launching mobile 5G service beginning in the first half of this year. Together with Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, the companies this week completed the world’s first over-the-air 5G data transmission using 2.5 GHz and Massive MIMO on Sprint’s live commercial network, …
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint seek to make amends over location breach leads Fast Forward Friday
Article Media AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint seek to make amends over location breach Fierce Wireless Telecom Tech Companies: Shutdown threatens 5G rollout B+C Construction of Verizon cell tower causing angst in Colorado Gunnison Country Times Crown Castle emails contradict former Palo Alto IT chief’s small cell involvement Daily Post Testing Times Square on its busiest night RCR Wireless News Pumping up …
NATE announces free 2019 Advanced Rigging Principles Training dates and locations
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) has announded the dates and locations for the 2019 Advanced Rigging Principles Training sessions. Twelve (Advanced Rigging Principles Courses will be hosted nationwide in 2019 and will be offered free of charge to industry employees and employers due to a Susan Harwood Training Grant (SH-05018-SH8) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. …
