Trade groups GSMA and CTIA are teaming up to bring a global event to San Francisco next year that will not rival the highest attended wireless ecosystem trade show in the world, Mobile World Congress, but will surely be a key event for North America. The new conference announcement is triggering conversation as to whether wireless infrastructure exhibitors and attendees …
TIRAP releases new job safety video exploring standards for tower work
Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) Board Chairman Scott Kisting today encouraged members of the wireless infrastructure industry to watch a new online video that focusses on the ANSI/TIA 1019-A standard for telecommunications towers. The ANSI/TIA 1019-A standard provides construction considerations and loading requirements for telecommunications structures under construction related to antenna supporting structures and antennas. The standard addresses the …
New drone regulations need clarification as the industry scratches its head
The Federal Aviation Administration made it a lot easier today for a lot of wireless infrastructure companies to operate drones for mapping, safety and other purposes by easing restrictions on commercial drone use with its long-awaited Part 107 ruling. However, because the tower infrastructure industry is unique with its structures going as high as 2,000 feet, the regulations need clarification …
Vertical Bridge uses 1,500 tower sites to close on $321 million in funding
Vertical Bridge, the largest private owner and manager of wireless communication infrastructure in the U.S., today announced it has closed on a $321 million asset-backed securities offering led by Deutsche Bank Securities and Barclays. The issuance, which is secured by more than 1,500 Vertical Bridge tower sites across the U.S., gives the company additional flexibility to continue its real estate …
FCC chief wants to quit studying 5G and roll it out now with spectrum trifecta
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler announced today his proposal for the FCC to free up a huge swath of airwaves for a new generation of faster wireless systems that could support remote surgery, guide cars, and control electricity grids. “And that’s damn important,” said Wheeler in his speech before the National Press Club which is available below, “because it …
How wireless development practices can be faster, smarter, better and more agile
By Guest Columnist Charlie Kennamer The wireless industry is experiencing a pace of change that is unprecedented in its history. These changes are putting increasing pressure on network providers to deliver wireless infrastructure that does not simply keep pace with customer demand, but provides a competitive advantage. The pressures on wireless providers are no secret: more and more devices that …
US Cellular gets a wrist slap for violating FCC environmental rules
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notified United States Cellular Corporation (USCC) last Thursday that it had failed to comply with the Commission’s regulations regarding the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other federal statutes when it constructed a tower in Harvey, Ill., and New Buffalo, Mich, in 2007 and 2008. The agency said the carrier did not file …
“Simply trying to make a living,” couple is arrested for cell site copper thefts
Bossier Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a Texas couple in early April for stealing copper from cell phone tower sites in Bossier Parish, La., but the case continues as charges are pending from neighboring parishes, and detectives are working with five other counties in Okla. regarding the same crimes involving this duo. According to a department press release, Charles Krupnik, 51, …
A deceased Alabama tower technician’s family is struggling to bring him home
An Alabama tower technician was killed Saturday when the company vehicle he was a passenger in crashed into another vehicle that was towing a semi-trailer on I-10 in Hudspeth County, Tex. Adding to the tragedy, his family doesn’t have the funds to bring him home. Department of Public Safety officials said that 37-year-old Kenny Roach was driving on I-10 West …
Veteran tower climber, helping ham radio operators, succumbs after a fall in Arizona
Update: June 12, 2016 – Andrew Milton ‘Milt’ Jensen, 73, who died when he fell from a tower located on Mount Lemmon in Pima County, Ariz. on Thursday while volunteering his services to an amateur radio club, had been climbing professionally for a number of years and had safety training, according to a family member who announced services today that …
Safety and engineering icon Ernie Jones receives TIA’s first CEO Award
On Tuesday evening during the Telecommunications Industry Association’s VIP Dinner in Dallas, Tex., TIA CEO Scott Belcher presented the organization’s first TIA CEO Award to an industry leader who wasn’t in attendance, but was in the indelible and kind memories as well as the hearts of an overflow group of friends and associates who gave a long standing ovation to …
Sprint’s small cell deployment snags seen related to permitting difficulties
Sprint’s plans to deploy up to 70,000 small cells throughout the country have hit a number of permitting roadblocks, according to an article by Ryan Knutson of The Wall Street Journal published Tuesday that indicates that the Overland Park, Kan.-company is struggling to roll out its small cell densification network project. Sprint’s primary contractor for the turnkey installations is Mobilitie …
Dycom picks up Goodman Networks assets for $107.5 million
Dycom Industries, Inc. and Goodman Networks Incorporated have announced that they have entered into an agreement that will have Dycom acquiring certain assets from Goodman used in their current wireless network deployment and wireline businesses for approximately $107.5 million in cash. Both companies informed Wireless Estimator that they would not be identifying what those assets are, other than that the acquired …
Rescued tech is in a two-week coma as his employer and OSHA wait to see if it is work-related
UPDATE: June 2, 2016 – OSHA said today that they have thoroughly reviewed the incident that resulted in a 38-year-old Tennessee tower technician lapsing into a prolonged coma after being rescued two weeks ago off of a cell tower in Bethany, Mo., and have closed their investigation after finding that the incident was not work-related. OSHA Kansas City, Mo. Area …
The Glass Half Full: Rats live longer with cell phone RF radiation
After the preliminary findings of a $25 million National Toxicology Program (NTP) cell phone radiofrequency radiation study on rats were released last Thursday, conversationalists at Memorial Day picnics, whose endless knowledge base is fragilely built on headlines, most likely had their fellow guests wondering if they should hold their phone at arm’s length while texting their children at the other …
Company offering cell, drone and other jammers is fined $35 million
Although it might not be able to collect it, the Federal Communications Commission issued a $34.9 million fine forfeiture order yesterday against C.T.S. Technology, a Chinese electronics manufacturer and online retailer, for marketing and selling signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers. So-called “jammers” are radio frequency transmitters that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with wireless communications, such as cellphone calls, …
Kentucky fall claims the life of a West Virginia tower technician
Update: May 25, 2016 – The tower technician who died yesterday had been working on a project installing a 310-foot self-supporting tower for Appalachian Wireless. The Federal Communications Commission’s database identifies a construction completion date of May 25, 2016. Appalachian Wireless has built a number of towers recently. In March, they built one in Mud Creek, Ky. and in April, …
PCIA is history, as trade group changes to Wireless Infrastructure Association – WIA
At the PCIA show this morning, in a move to better represent its growing membership, PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association, announced the 67-year-old national trade association has changed its name to the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of WIA, made the announcement during his opening remarks at the annual Wireless Infrastructure Show, which brings together …
Georgia tech’s death underscores the fragility of life on the road
The known dangers to the nation’s road-warrior technicians are numerous, especially when they’re swelled by working aloft, but the recent death of a Conley, Ga. man underscores the fragility of life on the road and has his fellow crew members, family and friends shaking their heads in disbelief. Derreset “Dezzy” Brown, 51, had been working for TowerComm of Raleigh, N.C. …
OSHA is readying new RF, fall protection and hoist standards
Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had known that fall protection in the wireless construction industry has either been used improperly or inconsistently due to the high fatality rate of tower climbers, after analyzing the responses to their 38 questions on tower safety published last April, the agency has decided that it will be moving forward with revising their standards …
