UPDATE: March 24, 2016 – Summit Tower Construction co-owner Allan Hadfield said today that although he welcomed the dismissal by a Waynesboro, Virginia Judge of six Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) citations based upon a judicial filing technicality, following a 2013 fatality, he and his attorneys were prepared to show that his employee’s death was caused by an equipment …
New site projections see a modest increase in 2016 for the tower industry
In RBC Capital Markets’ latest network and site leasing update, analysts Jonathan Atkin, Bryan Hyun and Bora Lee are projecting a modest improvement in leasing in the second half of 2016 from 2015 with Verizon and T-Mobile remaining the most active carriers. Their report said that AT&T’s site additions should remain below the 1,000 mark at approximately 600. They expect …
Employee sets up shell companies to defraud his company with fictitious Georgia cell tower builds
Execs’ eyes were glued to $700 million in contracts A 57-year-old Anderson, S.C. man stole upwards of $450,000 from his cell site developer employer as well as the hearts and money of women throughout the country through the use of elaborate schemes using fictitious front companies, resumes and statements that he was a former high-ranking military veteran. The District of …
Tower tech survey plays a vital role in developing future certification requirements
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that it is conducting a Job Task Analysis (JTA) of telecommunication tower technicians to ensure that NWSA’s technician exams reflect today’s work environment, regulations, and technology. The JTA survey is a required part of the process to ensure the NWSA’s programs achieve ANSI ISO 17024 accreditation, which is the premier accreditation for personnel …
Popular analyst’s tower sector downgrade will be tested in coming weeks
Commentary It almost appears that journalists have keyboard reader software on Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche’s computer since as soon as she writes something – even a knee-jerk observation – it instantly appears in the media as unchallenged sacred telecom guidance. So it was no surprise when Fritzsche downgraded the tower sector on Friday that it would be picked up …
American Tower’s CEO isn’t struggling after not receiving a raise in many years
James D. Taiclet, Jr., Chairman of the Board and CEO of American Tower Corp. (ATC), hasn’t received a raise again with his $1.1 million salary for 2016, but it is likely he is not complaining since his compensation committee takes care of him with handsome perks – and perhaps, rightfully so. Although his salary hasn’t increased in at least three years, …
Tower tech training program assists ex-offenders in putting their lives back together
Last month’s inaugural class of eight graduates of the Wireless Field Engineer Training Program, a collaboration between the Safer Foundation, a Chicago, Ill. non-profit organization helping criminals with records to become employed, and a Chicago cell site development contractor, MTM Technologies, are fully charged for their new career, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. Although MTM’s managing director, …
Digital Bridge seen as top contender in $2 billion Saudi Arabia Mobily deal
During a panel discussion last week during NATE UNITE 2016 in New Orleans, La., Robert Paige, Senior Vice President of M&A for Vertical Bridge, the cell tower leasing arm of Digital Bridge LLC, said that more than adequate capital is available for the industry to expand, stating that the amount was seen as “mind boggling”. And if a Bloomberg Business …
Big numbers released for NATE UNITE 2016’s Big Easy conference and exposition
Record-breaking numbers of 1,614 attendees and 137 exhibitors in New Orleans last week during the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) annual conference gave credence to the impact NATE has upon providing excellent educational sessions – from safety to business development – and the show’s ability to network the industry with member companies and their suppliers. A number of event …
NATE panel on 5G ponders future of tower climbers
The ‘5G and Other Emerging Technologies’ session at last week’s NATE UNITE 2016 Conference discussed the next generation of wireless, what it will be used for and how it will impact companies employing tower technicians. The session featured John Celentano, wireless infrastructure consultant with Skyline Marketing Group, and J. Sharpe Smith, editor with the AGL Media Group. Celentano described the …
A bright future predicted for wireless work by leading industry experts at NATE UNITE 2016
As three leading industry experts gazed into their crystal balls Tuesday during their NATE UNITE 2016 presentation, “The Future of the Wireless Industry,” their consensus indicated a robust build program that could last for more than a decade. However, Clayton Funk of Media Venture Partners, Christopher Fisher, Cuddy & Feder LLP; and Robert Paige, Vertical Bridge, cautioned National Association of …
NWSA outlines its excellent worker certification progress and other key developments
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) convened its 28-member Board of Governors yesterday in New Orleans, La. to discuss key action items and activities related to the organization’s worker certification program development process. The NWSA Board of Governors consists of representatives from a broad cross-section of the industry and are tasked with developing policy and overseeing the activities of the various …
Saints’ Sean Payton’s motivational keynote message enthuses NATE attendees
Sean Payton, Super Bowl winning head coach of the New Orleans Saints NFL football team, delivered the keynote address during today’s luncheon at the NATE UNITE 2016 Conference in New Orleans, La. Payton became the 10th full-time coach in New Orleans Saints history in 2006 and was named AP NFL Coach of the Year that same year. In 2009, Coach …
Hayden and Mueller recognized for their many years of dedication to serving NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) honored Kevin Hayden, President of Hayden Tower Service, Inc. in Topeka, Kan and Diane Mueller, Sales Representative for Primus Electronics in Shorewood, Ill. during an Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at NATE UNITE 2016 in New Orleans, La. Hayden was honored as the recipient of the Bill Carlson Lifetime Service Award. This prestigious award …
NATE and Tower Family Foundation Announce the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship
University of Evansville Civil Engineering Scholarship to honor Jones’ legacy as a sructural engineer, industry icon The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) and the Tower Family Foundation today announced the official establishment of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. The official announcement, honoring the legacy of the late Ernie Jones, …
Jim Tracy to take over leadership of National Association of Tower Erectors
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that Board of Directors’ members Jim Tracy, Jim Miller and Kari Carlson 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 2016 Conference and Exposition in New Orleans, La. Jim Tracy of Legacy Telecommunications, …
First climber death in 2016 reported in Iowa after tech falls from Hamilton County tower
The Hamilton County Iowa Sherriff’s Department has confirmed that a 28-year-old tower technician fell to his death yesterday at approximately 4:45 p.m. from a cell tower. The man has been identified as Stefan Watermann who was employed by Tri-State Tower of Marion, Ia. A spokesperson said that Watermann lived in Anamosa, Iowa. The investigation is underway into finding the cause. …
Fall protection equipment malfunctions result in serious injuries for Texas climber
A 26-year-old tower climber is expected to be in intensive care for another ten days after he fell from a guyed tower in Rosenberg, Tex. when his personal fall protection equipment failed after he slipped from a brace on a climbing face as he was descending after a day’s work on an LTE project for AT&T. Wesley Scott, who had …
Crew and subcontracting requirements could change with proposed OSHA/FCC best practices
If the best practices (BPs) being developed by the Federal Communications Commission and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration are implemented nation-wide, it is likely that the industry will see a marked improvement in fatality and injury counts. It will also assist in reducing the number of companies in the industry that provide lower bids because they’re not burdened by …
In order to ensure continued growth, AT&T gets ready to test employees and 5G
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is pushing his employees to take five to 10 hours of courses to remain current with industry technology and trends or risk being passed over for promotion. “There is a need to retool yourself, and you should not expect to stop,” Stephenson said in an interview Friday with The New York Times. In a corporate education …
