An AM tower array that was designated to be an emergency broadcast station in the event of nuclear war, collapsed yesterday evening in Moore, Okla. after tornadoes ripped through the area, causing what the National Weather Service believes to be the first tornado fatality in 2015 in Sand Springs. Two of the square KOKC Blaw-Knox 327-foot towers constructed in 1947 …
Safety group begins branding its approaching skills-based training efforts
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) unveiled the organization’s official logo during a presentation last week at the 2015 International Wireless Communications Expo in Las Vegas, Nev. The NWSA is a non-profit assessment and certification organization that is being created to serve as the governance entity of the Wireless Industry Safety Task Force’s National Wireless Skills-Based Training Standard. The mission …
200-plus tower deal floats Vertical Bridge to 5th largest U.S. tower owner
CiG Wireless Corp., a leading owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure in the U.S. has announced the signing of an agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC, a wireless communication towers company. Vertical Bridge is acquiring the company’s tower assets, including a geographically diverse group of more than 200 tower sites, in a transaction …
New tower standard expected in 2016, ANSI/TIA-322 participation invited
Following ANSI/TIA-222-G’s introduction in 2006, and after four addenda, the national structural standard for communications and small wind turbine support structures will see Revision H being introduced next year, according to a TR-14 Engineering Committee report. Changes being assessed in Rev H The committee is reviewing issues for Revision H which is expected to be completed by Spring 2016. Areas …
With low visual impact, RFS has antennas hiding in plain sight
Radio Frequency Systems, a global wireless and broadcast infrastructure specialist, has announced its new AllClear transparent antenna product line. It is necessary to limit the visual impact of antennas as much as possible to reduce the difficulty of acquiring new sites and renew existing leases. The AllClear product line was specifically developed to meet this need for RFS customers worldwide …
Sabre acquires long-established FWT to expand its structures sector
Sabre Industries, Inc. and FWT, LLC have announced that they have completed a strategic business combination. Based in Alvarado, Tex., Sabre is a leading producer of highly engineered structures used for electricity transmission and distribution and wireless telecommunication, offering a complete range of engineered towers, poles, and related services. FWT is a Fort Worth, Tex.-based manufacturer of steel structures for …
AT&T kayos its 40,000 small cell build-out in half
AT&T’s 40,000 small cell deployments projected to be completed by the end of 2015 took a sharp cut in the carrier’s network plans since its goal may now be 20,000, about half the original number. The company said its March 2014 acquisition of Leap Wireless required it to reconsider those plans. “Small cells remain a key part of our advanced …
Climbing higher for techs will not be possible in Google’s grand plan
Although Google is currently developing wireless service plans that will prohibit tower technicians from climbing to maintain the transceivers – because they’ll be at an elevation between 23,000 and 65,000 feet in the stratosphere – this week’s announcement that the company intends to offer MVNO wireless connectivity to customers in the U.S. will also exclude techs from working on Google-owned …
NATE unveils epic 20th anniversary commemorative video
As part of the National Association of Tower Erectors’ 20th Anniversary Celebration festivities, the Association has unveiled a commemorative video highlighting NATE’s 20 years in the industry. The video includes exclusive interviews with NATE’s original founding fathers, historical photos of communications structures and breathtaking aerial views of tower technicians working on communications towers. It’s not surprising to find unsafe climbing …
Competitive spirit can be cutthroat in leasehold ground wars of towercos
Although the nation’s major tower owners present a public face of spirited friendly competition and collective initiatives to ensure worker safety, when it comes to protecting their interests it can be a no holds barred battle between them to keep their most valuable assets, their long-term leases. One clash got so nasty that the counter-complainant wanted a leasehold aggregator’s executives …
TSC Tower Specialists launches new EF&I division
TSC Tower Specialists has announced the expansion of their service offerings to include a new engineer, furnish and install division to complement their turnkey wireless services. TSC, founded in 2006, can now offer their clients quicker closeouts, ease of budgets, purchase and change orders and superior quality. With a team of over 40 cross-trained, certified engineers, the team can eliminate additional …
Founding members, exhibitors honored at NATE UNITE 2015
At the National Association of Tower Erectors’ annual convention in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. last week the organization recognized its 20-year founding members and exhibitors during the event’s most successful show which saw a record crowd of almost 1,700 attendees. Pictured at right, NATE Chairwoman Pat Cipov recognizes the trade group’s first single sheet newsletter, being held by Paul Light, …
Sarah Palin’s topics ran from ‘wimps’ to net neutrality at NATE confab
Former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s keynote speech at NATE UNITE 2015 on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. provided a folksy and entertaining 36-minute reprieve from industry-related discussions that have highlighted what is being identified as the organization’s largest and most energized conference in the trade group’s 20-year history. As expected, Palin lampooned President Obama …
Oil painting brings in $10,000 for Tower Family Foundation at NATE auction
An original oil painting by award-winning artist Joanne Shellan from Seattle, WA, was auctioned off last night in spirited bidding that topped out at $10,000 at the Tower Family Foundation auction at NATE UNITE 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The painting, entitled “Almost Home,” depicts a silhouetted tower climber descending the last section of a tower as the sun sets …
Doty, Reski honored at NATE’s largest conference in 20 years
The National Association of Tower Erectors today honored Don Doty, Vice President of Operations at Velocitel, Inc. in Cedar Hill, Tex. and Kevin Reski, President of Great Plains Towers in West Fargo, N.D., during the Founding Member Luncheon at NATE UNITE 2015 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The conference, which began yesterday, has topped attendance records for the premiere event …
NWSA is final component for issuance of national training certifications
Although it might be eight to 12 months or more before tower techs or foremen will be able to proudly show their training and skill-set certification card, an announcement today by the leadership of the Wireless Industry Safety Task Force identified that certification in the future will be a reality and will enhance tower safety, reduce workplace risk, improve quality, …
Former Verizon executive Mitrovich named PCIA Vice President
Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association announced that former Verizon executive Marissa Mitrovich will join the association as Vice President of Program Development. In this newly-created role, Mitrovich will lead PCIA’s new business activities and project initiatives, including training and education. “We are so fortunate to land an executive of Marissa’s caliber to direct …
Safety climb system failure seriously injures tower tech in 50-foot fall
A Kentucky tower climber who had been in an induced coma for the past 10 days had additional surgery yesterday, and this morning for the first time was able to talk, but he is unable to remember his traumatic fall off of an Ohio tower that required him to be airlifted to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown to be treated for …
Velocitel picks up FDH to expand its national footprint
Velocitel, Inc., a wireless network services company, has acquired the assets of FDH, an engineering and construction company. “This acquisition expands the footprint of Velocitel into new areas that are part of our growth strategy. FDH is one of the most respected engineering companies in the field, with a deep breadth of knowledge in civil and water, geotechnical, and structural …
Over 29,000 tower climbers identified in extensive wireless workforce survey
According to a comprehensive study released today by WirelessEstimator.com identifying how many wireless technicians routinely work on elevated structures in the course of their employment, the number of tower climbers has dramatically increased to over 29,000 workers, almost triple from the last available analysis undertaken in 2006 by Wireless Estimator which put the total of tower technicians at approximately 9,800. …
