Dish Network has signed a master lease agreement (MLA) with U.S. Cellular for access to the regional wireless network operator’s 4,270 owned towers. The carrier, the fifth largest tower owner in the U.S., made the announcement in its Q1, 2021 earnings conference call on Friday. President and CEO Laurent Therivel said in the past the company would reserve a pretty …
CCA: FCC is poised to misspend up to $1 billion of rural funds in wealthy, densely populated areas
In a study filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) asked the Commission to reconsider awarding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I grants to wealthy, densely populated areas that already have access to broadband, and instead direct support to genuinely unserved communities. In a statement, CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “Pervasive errors in …
Political disputes over a Broward County, FL tower site has endangered residents’ lives for years
Broward County, FL Commissioners had been criticized for not moving faster to replace the county’s old and overloaded communications system that reached capacity in 2001 — a network that was crippled during the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shooting in 2017 and the Parkland school shooting the following year that killed 14 students and three staff members. In June of 2017, …
If you invested a few grand in these towercos at their low, here’s what you would have made today
Crown Castle (CCI NYSE), American Tower (AMT NYSE) and SBA Communications’ (SBAC NASDAQ) stocks turned lower again this morning after tumbling yesterday. Down $5.21 at 10:30 p.m. today, yesterday, SBAC lost $1.76, closing at $296.90. AMT closed at $248.88 yesterday losing $3.42. This morning the stock was down $4.01. Yesterday’s loss for CCI was $3.80 when the stock closed yesterday …
Tower Systems rebrands with ‘We Rise’ as U.S. legislators and industry executives recognize its founder
Tower Systems, a Watertown, SD-based international tower solutions company, hosted U.S. Senator John Thune, U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and stakeholders representing NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, Lake Area Technical College, municipalities and business for a Rebrand Launch & Ribbon Cutting Event yesterday. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the hard working people who …
WIA announces Connect (X) 2021 move to Orlando’s Hyatt Regency in October
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced that the dates for Connect (X) 2021 will shift from August 3-6 to October 4-7, 2021. The event, originally scheduled to be in Boston, will now be held in Orlando, FL at the Hyatt Regency. “WIA made this decision based on our commitment to deliver an exceptional and safe in-person event in 2021,” said WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein. “We expect this change of date and …
Nation’s associations band together to honor tower tower techs on Wednesday’s ‘appreciation’ day
Industry leaders praise essential contributions of tower Technician workforce to global connectivity and 5G economy NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a commemoration declaring tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the fifth consecutive year, a day has been set aside by NATE and the industry in order to pay tribute to the important work that communications …
Broadband trade groups sue NY over $15 internet mandate. Gov. Cuomo says, ‘Bring it on’
Trade groups representing internet service providers sued the state of New York on Friday, alleging that a new mandate requiring ISPs to offer low-income internet plans capped at $15 each signed two weeks ago oversteps the state’s regulation authority. The lawsuit was filed by industry associations including the New York State Telecommunications Association, CTIA- The Wireless Association, ACA Connects – …
Ericsson launches three-sector radio for efficient site upgrades and capacity boost
Ericsson is launching Radio 6626, a unique three-sector dual-band radio to help communications service providers (CSPs) increase their Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) 5G frequency capacity, even as their site towers already have 2G, 3G and 4G radios. The latest addition to Ericsson’s radio portfolio provides multi-standard and multi-band coverage while lowering costs and reducing footprint – up to 50 percent …
New construction cut out of FCC’s proposed $7.17 billion student broadband program
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday laid out the proposed rules for the Emergency Connectivity fund that excludes new network construction from a $7.17 billion program meant to help students get and stay online as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, planning to limit purchases to laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hot spots. New phones were also excluded in the fund …
Arc flash test failure has Miller/Honeywell issuing mandatory stop use of harness 850KQC/S/MBK
Honeywell issued the following Warning – Mandatory Stop Use of Miller/Honeywell Harness At Honeywell, our mission is to be the global leader in personal protective equipment with innovative solutions that protect and save lives. In line with our commitment to our mission statement, we are writing to inform you that Harness 850KQC/S/MBK failed an Arc Flash ASTM F887 test that is part …
President Biden’s prime-time joint address to Congress provided little time for broadband
If you didn’t have an additional 70 minutes to spare last evening to watch President Biden’s fist-bumping prime-time joint address to Congress to discover how his leadership and administration’s actions will alter the industry, it can be summed up in one sentence: The internet was a science breakthrough, America needs high speed internet, wind turbine blades should be built in …
Tower Family Foundation touts a successful launch of its 2021 fundraising campaign to aid industry workers
Companies and individuals have welcomed the opportunity to offer support to the Foundation that assists industry workers and their families in their time of need The Tower Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, today announced the 2021, first quarter donors and pledges. Thanks to the philanthropic contributions received from industry stakeholders, over $263,000 was raised in Quarter 1. The Foundation’s Endowment Committee, …
New Mexico expected to fund blimp broadband study for rural internet
Alphabet Inc.’s Project Loon’s stratosphere balloons received a kick start in 2017 when the company was selected to assist Puerto Rico in providing internet service after Hurricane Maria devastated the island’s cell phone service. However, four years later Alphabet shut down Loon after determining the business is not commercially viable and they couldn’t “get the costs low enough to build …
Senate Commerce Committee passes Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee passed the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act today, legislation to address the shortage of trained workers necessary to fill next-generation jobs in the telecommunications industry in communities through the country. The Bill, S. 163, introduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Gary Peters (D-MI) heads to the full …
Lower satellites will provide SpaceX with higher broadband reach thanks to the FCC
The FCC on Tuesday voted to approve a SpaceX plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower earth orbit than planned as part of its push to offer space-based broadband internet. Elon Musk’s SpaceX had asked the FCC for approval to fly 2,824 satellites at a lower orbit as part of the plan to provide high-speed broadband internet services …
Police err on the side of caution in investigating SBA cell tower power failure in NY
WKTV of Utica, New York broke the story Sunday morning that was picked up by area and industry media that police were investigating damage to a cell phone tower on Mohawk Valley Community College property, causing an event that was taking place on campus to be moved to another location. One report stated that the tower was set on fire. …
Former FCC Chair Pai joins private equity firm Searchlight as its TMT rainmaker
Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (Searchlight), a leading global private investment firm, announced the appointment of Ajit Pai, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission as its 13th partner and a prospective board member of a number of Searchlight’s existing investments in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors. Searchlight’s U.S.-based TMT investment companies include Consolidated Communications, Global Eagle, Hemisphere Media …
FCC knows the check won’t be in the mail after fining Tele Circuit $4.1M for cramming and slamming
The Federal Communications Commission has fined Norcross, GA-based Tele Circuit Network Corporation $4,145,000 for switching consumers from their preferred carrier to Tele Circuit without permission and adding unauthorized charges to consumers’ bills. Their actions specifically harmed elderly and infirm consumers who, in some cases, were left without telephone service for extended periods while the company refused to reinstate service until …
Dish enlists Amazon to help build its 5G network, to launch in Las Vegas
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) has announced that DISH Network Corporation (DISH) selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider and will construct its 5G network on AWS, part of a strategic collaboration agreement under which both companies will work to transform how organizations and customers, including AWS and Amazon, order and consume 5G services or create their own private 5G networks. DISH is deploying …
