Satellite company Ligado Networks is seeking up to $39 billion in compensation from the U.S. government for spectrum rights it claims were unfairly denied, alleging that the Pentagon and Commerce Department used a false pretext of GPS interference to deny its use of wireless spectrum licenses. In its Hail Mary attempt to stay solvent as bankruptcy looms for Ligado, and …
Telecoms get rip and replace extension, but China-controlled equipment may be with us past 2024
The FCC has granted five telecom companies’ requests for additional time to “rip and replace” Chinese-manufactured equipment due to a shortfall of funding, supply chain issues, and workforce shortages due to factors beyond their control. The agency agreed to delay their deadlines, extending them all into 2024 with the following new dates: WorldCell, May 20, 2024; Mediacom, January 15, 2024; …
Four innovators inducted into prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame
Approximately 300 attendees honored four individuals last night at a sold-out event. The honored guests joined the 76 wireless industry pioneers and innovators inducted into the prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame in Washington, DC. The event, hosted by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF), a nonprofit organization that has honored the hall of fame members for over fifteen years, celebrated Meredith …
Four honorees will be inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame tonight: Baker, Gellman, Whitacre and Mechaley
Tonight’s 2023 Wireless History Foundation’s (WHF) Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Washington, DC, is sold out. Still, thanks to The Grampion podcast, available here on YouTube, viewers can get a sneak preview of the event and the history of the WHF from Wireless History Foundation Executive Director Jenifer Snyder. Inductees this year are Meredith Attwell Baker, President and CEO of …
Following a tech’s death, the industry unites for best practices for wire mesh grips in new NATE advisory
After a 32-year-old tower technician passed away last December in Texas and Wireless Estimator identified that a hybrid cable hoisting grip failure might have caused the fatality, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association engaged a Hoisting Grip Task Team to examine the use of wire mesh grips (WMG), and they provided initial guidance. Those subject matter experts within the industry, …
Ohio tower technician succumbs from injuries following a 250-foot fall during an AT&T installation
Services have been announced for Darren Bishop, 28, of Proctorville, OH, who passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023, after falling approximately 250 feet off a 300-foot guyed tower in Huntsburg Township, OH. According to individuals knowledgeable of the incident, Bishop, employed by Overland Contracting, had been working on an AT&T overlay project managed by Black & Veatch when he …
Heard through the Grapevine women, NATE’s WON summit was a huge success
Women of NATE (WON) held their third successful annual Women’s Leadership Summit on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in Grapevine, Texas. The summit was a massive success due to the support, enthusiasm, and participation of over 30 sponsors and 150 attendees. The event was a day of professional and personal education, development, networking, and community-building, with an opportunity to explore leadership, …
TechDash Telecom shutters its doors, swelling unemployment, but some companies are still hiring
After Fredericksburg, TX, TechDash Telecom ran out of cash when investment funding fell through, and they were aware that one of their lenders would be shortly filing a lawsuit since a note for $4,000,000 had matured, and the company was in default for nonpayment, the turnkey infrastructure company closed its doors on September 11, 2023, according to information obtained by …
‘Real world’ lanyard testing video shows concerns that will be detailed in upcoming NATE SEMC white paper
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video today highlighting a recent fall arrest lanyard testing event that the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) held at the University of Dayton Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. The #ClimberConnection video conducts a deep dive into SEMC’s protocols and procedures that were implemented to test fall arrest lanyards by replicating how they …
BEAD funding will go to lions and tigers and bears, oh my! – Senator Ted Cruz’s investigation
Led by Senator Ted Cruz, Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee released a scathing report Friday that identifies that the Biden administration’s $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program duplicates a number of other subsidy programs and is a shell game for funding “beachfront communities, mountain wedding venues, and mansions.” They also called out the administration’s BEAD rules that exclude …
Rewards offered for a copper stripper’s arrest and recovery of a Hydradyne hoist
Two cash rewards have been offered, one leading to the arrest of an individual who stripped a Subcarrier Communications tower of copper and another for information that will lead to recovering a single drum winch and trailer. Last week, Tad Pepmeier was at a gas station in Monroe City, Indiana, close to where he lives, and noticed a tower climber …
Thirteen distinguished and dedicated wireless leaders to be honored by the Radio Club of America
The Radio Club of America has announced this year’s award recipients, as well as its incoming class of 2023 Fellows. Since 1935, RCA has recognized major contributors to wireless communications. This year, 13 awards are being presented, and eight RCA members are being elevated to Fellow status. The 2023 awards and Fellows ceremonies will be held at the RCA Awards Banquet in …
Crown Castle’s Federal Sales Director says he was fired in retaliation for whistleblowing
A US District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, on August 23, 2023, denied Crown Castle USA, Inc.’s request to dismiss a whistleblower’s complaint for failure to make a claim, and the company is now required to answer Matthew Foosaner’s amended complaint by September 15, 2023. Foosaner alleges one count of retaliation against Crown Castle according to the …
Breakaway pole requirement is just one of several ‘misapplied standards’ in Verizon’s New Jersey lawsuit
Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit on September 7, 2023, against Monmouth County in New Jersey federal court, alleging the County wrongly rejected its applications to provide small cell site structures along the Borough of Belmar’s boardwalk based upon misapplied standards that were not supported by substantial evidence. Verizon said that it initiated a discussion with Belmar approximately five years ago …
AT&T CEO says not to worry, but new Verizon lead cable lawsuit tackles climbers’ future harm
AT&T’s CEO John Stankey said yesterday at a technology conference that tests conducted at several sites where the carrier has abandoned lead-clad cables have shown no risks of a public health crisis. His statement comes shortly after AT&T and Verizon investors filed similar securities fraud lawsuits after The Wall Street Journal published articles exposing that toxic cables are still in …
Comtrain and SafetyLMS’s partnering will provide a powerhouse of curriculum and training
Comtrain USA, a training organization with a rich history in the telecommunications industry has joined the parent company of SafetyLMS, a top training provider in industries including telecom with a particular focus on tower safety. Comtrain, a brand synonymous with training in the wireless tower industry, offers courses in tower and safety rescue, rigging, operating capstan hoists and ascenders and …
Deadlock at the FCC ends with the confirmation of Anna Gomez
The Senate voted today, 55-43, to confirm Democrat Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, breaking the deadlock at the agency that has lasted for over two years. Gomez’s confirmation comes after an extended battle to confirm Biden’s initial pick for the commissioner seat, Gigi Sohn. NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association lauded the confirmation. “NATE and our over 1,140 …
Passionate about tower safety, CITCA offers TATE training at no cost to stop human trafficking
CITCA has announced that the company has partnered with the TATE Initiative (Telecommunications Against Trafficking & Exploitation) to begin implementing their RAN (Recognize And Notify) certification training into their climbing, rescue, and rigging programs. The certification program only takes about 30 minutes to complete and is available at no charge. You can easily take the training course on the CITCA website, available …
Company’s ploy to build Dish and other crews with 105 foreign tower techs has its VISA requests rejected
H2-B TOWER TECH FAILURES IN 2023 – In addition to Vastek, Inc. being denied its request for 105 tower technicians, in 2023, four other companies were unsuccessful in using the VISA program: Pioneer Communications Group, 21 tower techs, Santa Barbara, CA; Atlas United Corp., 40 tower techs, Birmingham AL; Yupana, Inc, 70 tower techs, Benicia, CA; and Sirtecom USA, LLC, 40 …
Midco sells its towers and is sold on Sioux Falls as its new headquarters
Midco announced that it sold its tower portfolio to K2Towers. The companies did not reveal the amount of the transaction nor how many towers were in the agreement. However, according to Midcontinent Communications’ registrations with the FCC, the company has 33 structures. In a statement, Midco said the sale further solidifies the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional broadband services to …
