Update: Nov. 7, 2017 – Services for Clarence “Cory” Hale, 48, of West Fork, Ark. who passed away Nov. 2, will be held Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale, Ark. Visitation will be Nov. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. He was born April 9, 1969 to Kenneth Don Hale and Lana …
CommScope’s AT&T antenna orders is first real sign of FirstNet’s deployment
In March, Barclays said that AT&T could start deploying the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as early as June, but the announcement was one of many short-lived guesstimates. However, according to CommScope, they have received antenna orders from AT&T for FirstNet. In a Nov. 1 earnings call with analysts, Mark A. Olson, EVP & CFO of CommScope Holding Company said, …
Either there’s a shortage of COWs in Puerto Rico or FCC data
In order for Americans to experience a total solar eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21 and record it on their cell phones, carriers rolled out dozens of Cell on Wheels and Cell on Light Trucks for the two-minute event, but can’t seem to provide Puerto Rico with any more than 14 COWs and COLTs, according to FCC data, as …
FirstNet gets passing grades on progress; AT&T stresses the need for one core
House subcommittee on communications and technology members seemed satisfied with the progress of FirstNet and its contractor AT&T during a hearing this morning. Chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, committee members appeared to accept that there should be only one core for the nationwide Public-safety broadband network (NPSBN). Verizon and others have lobbied for additional public safety network cores that would …
FedEx Ground’s safety chief is President Trump’s pick to lead OSHA
Scott A. Mugno, vice president for Safety, Sustainability and Vehicle Maintenance at FedEx Ground in Pittsburgh, Pa., has been nominated by President Trump to be assistant secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Whereas the former chief of OSHA, David Michaels, came from academia, Mugno comes from a safety-centric organization that has more than 100,000 fleet vehicles and more …
Media is hoodwinked on ‘new’ federal Crown Castle siting lawsuit
A press conference was held Thursday morning in front of the Nassau County, N.Y. Supreme Court building announcing that a lawsuit has been filed by several Long Island homeowners challenging what they believe is Crown Castle’s installation of hundreds of unregulated and untested wireless facilities. Broadcast, print and digital media were there and sucked up the staged presentation with CBS2’s …
No injuries reported in Nebraska broadcast tower collapse
No one was injured this morning about 8 a.m. when a 500-foot broadcast tower collapsed in Lincoln, Neb. at 4100 Industrial Ave. The cause of the collapse is unknown, but two witnesses told Channel 8 Eyewitness News they heard a couple of popping noises and the tower just fell. Several TV stations broadcast from the structure and it also has …
Towercos headed for some stiff competition with formation of Lendlease Towers
When Lendlease recently entered the U.S. tower market in May with its purchase of Parallel Infrastructure’s 450 towers, it is likely that major tower operators viewed the acquisition as a missed opportunity and another competitive thorn in their rosy future, and possibly shrugged off Lendlease Americas CEO Denis Hickey’s statement that he would expand those holdings. True to his promise, …
Wireless Infrastructure Show morphs in May into an exciting CONNECT (X) expo
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) today announced the creation of a ground-breaking new conference and trade show dedicated to the rapidly evolving telecommunications ecosystem. Over three action-packed days, attendees will experience cutting-edge discussions, workshops and keynote speeches from leaders across multiple industries – from wireless infrastructure and automotive to smart cities and commercial real estate. The Connectivity Expo — known …
Kay Kapoor resigns after six months of heading AT&T’s $15 billion business unit
Confirmed reports are stating that Kay Kapoor, the head of AT&T Global Public Sector, has resigned. The news took many industry observers by surprise since Kapoor, who had led AT&T’s federal business for four years, and the company’s successful efforts to secure the multi-billion-dollar FirstNet public safety network contract, was appointed to her key corporate position in April. AT&T appointed …
Violent Florida contractor charged in $16 million DOD bribery and kickback conspiracy
Oct. 12, 2017 – Update and Correction: Timothy Donelson, who was arrested on Oct. 4 for participating in a bribery and kickback conspiracy was employed by Level 3 Communications, according to his LinkedIn page, during the period when he allegedly co-conspired with three other individuals who are charged with the issuance of almost $16 million in fraudulent invoices. Donelson’s arrest record identified that …
Indiana’s FirstNet opt-in hits the 50% mark of states coming on board
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced today his decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community. The move puts Indiana as the 25th state to opt-in to the FirstNet system, bringing advanced tools to help Indiana’s first responders save lives and protect communities. “Indiana’s first responders need fast, accurate information to keep Hoosiers safe,” Gov. …
NATE’s STAR Initiative participants represent the gold standard for safety and quality
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program for the 2017-2018 year. The NATE STAR Initiative is currently entering its seventh year and is the Association’s signature program designed to help companies operate safely and recognize tower contractors, owners and carriers who voluntarily adhere to …
Tata closing its doors will take a nice chunk out of American Tower’s income
In response to press reports that Tata Group is going to close down its India-based Tata Teleservices Ltd. (TTL), American Tower Corporation (ATC) today announced that the carrier accounted for approximately $80 million, or 5% of the REIT’s consolidated property revenues, including approximately $32 million of pass-through revenue. In addition, TTL accounted for approximately $40 million in gross margin for …
Towercos use the power of the plug and courts to get lease bills paid
While the Empire State Building Realty Trust (ESRT) used the New York Supreme Court this week to win its lawsuit against radio station Pacifica WBAL for unpaid tower rent of $1.8 million plus attorney’s fees, towercos in India owed millions of dollars by Reliance Communications are cutting the carrier’s power to force them to ante up unpaid lease payments that …
Copyright accusations fly as Washington adopts its extensive telecom safety standard
The State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) adopted their Safety Standards for Telecommunications, Chapter 296-32, on Monday with a Jan. 1, 2018 effective date for the comprehensive 106 pages of rules. Industry associations had challenged some of the major inclusions, but the final version released yesterday saw mostly definition changes, and clarity revisions that do not require …
Court says broadcasting couple owes millions on their TV and radio stations sale
The Eleventh Circuit yesterday upheld a 2015 U.S. Tax Court decision finding a Florida couple liable for at least a quarter of $79 million in unpaid taxes and interest from the sale of their Wisconsin TV and radio stations using a Midco transaction where the buyer resold the assets of Shockley Communication Corp.’s (SCC) stock. The court said it was …
FCC votes to give $77 million for telecom in PR; Governor’s outages differ from FCC
Update: Oct. 4, 2017 – The FCC unanimously voted today to immediately provide carriers with up to seven-months’ worth of support from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, which helps lower the cost of deploying service in areas that are costly to serve. Any funds advanced under today’s action can be used to repair telecommunications infrastructure and restore service to customers …
Lack of on-site generators, COWs, contributes to Puerto Rico’s still horrendous cell service
After Hurricane Maria’s catastrophic devastation of Puerto Rico’s cell sites, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai directed his staff last week to reach out to American Tower, SBA Communications and Crown Castle “to see how we can work together to address Puerto Rico’s communications needs,” However, according to over a dozen industry professionals interviewed by Wireless Estimator, the answers are already known …
Engineer sentenced to 8 years for billing over $400K for missing equipment, 6 tower climbs
A former radio engineer has been sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing approximately $400,000 from the College of DuPage Illinois-owned FM station WDCB. John Valenta, 68, of Wheaton, appeared in court Friday, where DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan handed down the sentence. Valenta pleaded guilty to theft over $100,000 as part of a plea agreement on Feb. 28. …
