A trailblazing class of pioneers was inducted into the prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame Thursday night. The event, hosted by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF), a nonprofit organization that has honored the hall of fame members for the past decade, celebrated Pat Riordan, Mark Crosby, Jim Tracy and Ari Fitzgerald. “We were so happy to highlight the accomplishments of the Hall of …
Lindsey Graham is leading the charge to remove Gigi Sohn’s FCC nomination for Commissioner
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is holding a nomination hearing to examine the nomination of FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (D), but it appears that Republicans have been initially successful in blocking President Joe Biden’s other FCC Commissioner nominee, Gigi Sohn (D), who will not appear with Rosenworcel, according to the committee’s agenda. GOP committee members, Sen. Roger Wicker …
Inflation delivers another gut punch to wireless contractors as it reaches a 31-year high
Consumer prices surged at the fastest pace in more than three decades in October as fuel costs accelerated, supply chains remained under pressure and construction materials and steel prices moved higher — bad news for economic policymakers at the Federal Reserve and for the Biden White House. Even worse news for wireless contractors who are locked into Tier 1 companies’ …
Another great way to support Veterans every day is to reach out and hire one
Veterans Day every November 11th honors all Americans who have served our country in war or peace. It is a day set aside to thank the living veterans for their service and sacrifice made to a grateful nation. It is a day of remembrance with parades, services, ceremonies, and most of all to honor all those who have served our …
It was anticipated, but now there’s proof that NWSA Certification dramatically reduces safety incidents
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that due to the collaboration of all sectors of the telecommunications industry, there has been a dramatic three-to-one decrease in tower crew-related safety issues and accidents when NWSA trade certified technicians are present on jobsites. This major safety improvement is the result of countless hours donated by volunteers representing the broadest-ever consortium …
Pelosi’s on again, off again historic infrastructure bill passes with NATE and WIA applauding broadband funding
After months of frustrating attempts to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally achieved success with the support of 13 Republican House members on Friday night. The bill, which received 19 GOP votes in the Senate, was dissociated from the broader social spending package known as Build Back Better “Tonight, we took a monumental step forward as a …
Tower crews in companies with over 100 employees could be exempt in OSHA’s new vaccine mandate rule
Update: November 6, 2021 – A federal appeals court in Louisiana has blocked President Biden’s latest COVID-19 vaccination mandate, giving the government until Monday afternoon to submit a response. An emergency stay, issued Saturday from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, prevents the White House from requiring all full and part-time workers at private-sector companies with …
Verizon, AT&T delay 5G C-band rollout to address FAA airplane safety concerns
The FAA said it has deep concerns about the potential impact to aviation safety resulting from interference to radar altimeter performance from 5G network operations in the C-band. Radar altimeters are used on planes and helicopters for multiple critical safety functions, including landing when visibility is low, anti-collision warnings and systems that warn pilots when they inadvertently get too low. …
Vertical Bridge’s execs donate over $1.1 million to the Tower Family Foundation and Warriors4Wireless
Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC , the largest privately owned and operated communications infrastructure company in the United States, announced that its executive team has donated over $1.1 million from their personal funds to Warriors4Wireless and the Tower Family Foundation. The donations were made in support of the work that these non-profit organizations do to help veterans enter the telecommunications industry and to support the …
John S. Hanna Sr., industry pioneer and mentor to many, passes at 83
John S. Hanna, Sr., 83, who along with his wife Louise established Tower & Communications Services, Inc. of Florence, SC in 1970, passed away on October 31, 2021, leaving the industry with fond memories of a man who dedicated his life to his family, friends and the many wireless workers who learned their craft from him and expanded their horizons with …
FCC is considering a DJI drone ban that would take a tool out of the contractor’s toolbox and not replace it
The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to boot China Telecom Americas off of U.S. networks, finding that the service provider could not quash concerns that it’s beholden to surveillance requests from the Chinese government. The decision means China Telecom Americas must now discontinue U.S. services within 60 days, ending its authorization for the past 20 years to operate in the …
Rivet concern has DBI-SALA issuing a stop use and inspection notice on self-retracting-lifeline
3M Fall Protection has issued a Stop Use Alert on specific versions of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ Self Retracting Lifeline with Anchor Hook. 3M Fall Protection has identified a very low potential for the lifeline to be assembled with an unformed top swivel eye rivet, but an improperly formed rivet may become displaced from the top swivel eye. An unformed rivet may …
Biden finally nominates Rosenworcel as permanent FCC Chair and Sohn for a Commission seat
After 10 months of waiting, President Joe Biden today nominated Acting FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the agency permanently. He also nominated former FCC official Gigi Sohn, a longtime consumer advocate, to the open Democratic seat on the Commission. During the Obama years she was then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s counselor, a role in which she advocated for strong net …
NATE announces the STAR Initiative participating companies for 2021-2022 program year
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program for the 2021-2022 year. NATE has proudly accepted 176 participating companies in this year’s STAR Initiative program.The STAR Initiative will be entering its twelfth program year in 2021-2022. Since its inception, the program’s site safety audits and program …
Verizon appears to be requiring all contractors’ employees to be vaxxed by January 1, 2022
Beginning January 1, 2022, all persons entering any Verizon premises in the U.S. where Verizon employees are present must be either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or approved by their employer for a legally-recognized accommodation. “This includes all supplier personnel (and applicable subcontractor personnel) who are accessing Verizon U.S. premises where Verizon employees are present. Verizon suppliers are required to confirm …
Dish’s new deployment software might benefit contractors
Dish Network Corporation has selected NEXSYS-ONE for end-to-end, cloud-based network deployment software solutions to manage Dish’s nationwide 5G network build. In a press release, Dish said “NEXSYS-ONE’s unique platform supports Dish’s network deployment with speed and agility, allowing for seamless integration of project, inventory and financial management.” Dish said the software has modules that support project management, procurement, asset management, …
Contractors rebelling against ‘take it or leave it’ matrix pricing that could easily endanger carriers’ 5G builds
In 1999 when The Matrix opened in theatres, carriers and towercos began utilizing matrix pricing to project CapEx budgets for macro sites, while still allowing acceptable margins and opportunities for contractors to continue to be successful. Fast forward 22 years. The Matrix Resurrections sequel will hit the big screens this December and it is expected to be hugely profitable, unlike …
Dish is good for a decade, but all eyes should be peeled on the infrastructure bill and industry workforce
Connect (X)’s The View From the Top, a panel discussion with the nation’s four largest tower companies’ executives, narrated by Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein, had one overriding message this morning, 5G is just starting and the platform’s deployment cycle is likely to provide another decade of robust industry growth in all sectors. “The outlook is …
Veterans and tower techs will benefit from $3.2 million raised by T-Mobile and wireless industry companies
T-Mobile recently announced a staggering $1.4 million distribution to be shared equally by the Tower Family Foundation (TFF) and Warriors4Wireless (W4W) following the 8th Annual T-Mobile Golf Tournament. With 47 corporate sponsors supporting the event, the two benefactor organizations have now received more than $3.2 million from the annual fundraiser. “The T-Mobile Tournament achieves at least two results each year,” …
Valmont Telecom’s turnkey small cell structures simplified in its expansive ‘SimpleCell’ catalog
Wherever people congregate, including downtown districts, university campuses, commercial properties, sports venues, and transportations hubs, it’s likely that they will be communicating with a Bourbon, Bristol, Clinton, Empire, Stanton or possibly a Fremont. No, they are not the newest offerings in smart phones, they are Valmont Telecom’s small cell structures that fit effortlessly into any community’s requirements for an esthetically …
