Although exceptional physical condition is a requisite for being a tower tech due to many challenging circumstances, this weekend’s second annual Tough Tower competitors were judged upon their proficiency in complex rescue, simple rescue, full install, lighting install, level lift, maneuvering, punch items, and JLG/azimuths. Seven teams of two technicians competed in the North Jackson, Ohio, event on Saturday. In …
Old Wires, New Wealth: How telecom companies are turning copper into cash
In the evolving telecommunications landscape, a new gold rush is emerging—not for the precious yellow metal, but for an equally valuable commodity: recycled copper. AT&T Inc., BT Group Plc, Orange SA, and their global peers are gearing up to tap into a lucrative new revenue stream by harvesting their old copper wiring. This initiative is more complex than unearthing and …
CommScope acquires Casa Systems’ cable business amid Casa’s bankruptcy proceedings
CommScope, a global leader in network connectivity, has emerged as the highest and best bidder to acquire Casa Systems, Inc.’s cable business assets. The acquisition agreement, finalized on May 29, 2024, involves a purchase price of $45.1 million and is set to conclude Casa Systems’ ongoing bankruptcy saga. The transaction, executed under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, will be …
Five fiber cuts near Florida’s Lion Country Safari resulted in a lawsuit filed by Crown Castle
Near the renowned Lion Country Safari in South Florida, Crown Castle Fiber LLC (Crown Castle) has laid miles of crucial fiber optic cables along the bustling State Road 80. A lawsuit recently filed in the Southern District of Florida reveals a disturbing pattern — underground utility contractor DP Development, LLC (DPD) has not only caused significant damage but has done …
U.S. Cellular to retain tower operations amidst $4.4 billion acquisition by T-Mobile
In a strategic move within the telecom industry, T-Mobile has announced an agreement to purchase U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations and select spectrum assets for $4.4 billion. This deal, which combines cash and up to $2 billion of assumed debt, is a significant step in T-Mobile’s ongoing expansion strategy, bolstering its position in the market following its recent acquisition of Mint …
Judge throws out Vertical Bridge’s trade secret lawsuit against Everest Infrastructure in Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC and its subsidiaries against Everest Infrastructure Partners, Inc. The lawsuit, which included allegations of trade secret misappropriation, violations of the Lanham Act, and other claims, was dismissed without prejudice by Judge W. Scott Hardy. Vertical Bridge initially filed the …
Copper Clowns: Faux AT&T workers’ scheme fizzles out at Minnesota WISP’s tower site
Two men from Minnesota unsuccessfully posed as AT&T employees and burglarized a communications tower site outside Little Falls in pursuit of valuable copper wiring. Although the theft was carefully planned, the suspects failed to list on their arrest hazard analysis to be aware of any surveillance cameras. Charged with burglary, possessing burglary tools, and illicit drug possession in Morrison County …
With 5G at 50% completion, NTIA is jump-starting 6G deployment with questions on a range of issues
At last week’s Connect X in Atlanta, panelists in multiple sessions estimated that 5G had been rolled out across approximately 50% of America. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wants to jump-start 6G deployment. It requests public comments to guide executive branch policies on the next generation of wireless communications technology development. As industry, governmental, academic, and civil …
Vertical Bridge kicks broadcast squatter off its towers after running up $2 million in unpaid leaseback payments
A Texas-based radio station network has been kicked off Vertical Bridge’s towers for ignoring its rent payments for years, forcing the company to take nine stations silent. In February 2018, Vertical Bridge, REIT Inc. purchased 43 towers and the underlying property from High Plains Radio Network, LLC of Texas (HPRN). The purchase price was not published but was likely $16 …
Industry leaders at Connect X foresee massive growth for indoor 5G networks
The wireless industry is abuzz with anticipation for the potential of bringing 5G technology indoors. This technology promises faster and more reliable connections, lower latency, and the ability to connect a massive number of devices simultaneously. During the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) View From the Top session on Thursday at Connect X, moderated by Patrick Halley, President and CEO of …
Tower tech, a healthy climber and MMA fighter, suddenly passes while on a Verizon modification project
Tower tech Shane Magee, 28, was a picture of health, physically fit from climbing towers and frequently exercising and training as a competitive mixed martial arts fighter. Sadly, he suddenly died while performing a routine installation in Pennsylvania. On Monday, he and a coworker ascended a 450-foot American Tower Corp. guyed tower in Reynoldsville, a small community of approximately 2,000 …
Analyst Craig Moffett predicts Dish Network could face bankruptcy within six months
Craig Moffett, a senior managing director at MoffettNathanson, has issued a stark forecast for Dish Network, predicting potential bankruptcy within the next four to six months. This marks his first specific timeline following three years of warnings about the company’s financial health. The prediction followed EchoStar’s first-quarter earnings announcement on May 8, where the financial strain on Dish Network, despite …
Rexel and Talley: A merger poised to accelerate wireless and datacom innovations across America
Talley Inc., established in 1983 by John R. and Elizabeth J. Talley, has grown from a small, family-operated business in Santa Fe Springs, California, into a dominant force in the U.S. wireless infrastructure industry. Talley Inc. is set to be acquired by Rexel as a testament to its success, marking a significant milestone in its history. This acquisition highlights Talley’s prominence as …
Forget the filters: In earnings call Viavi CEO Khaykin delivers a dose of harsh reality about infrastructure builds
In a refreshing twist from the typical earnings call script, Viavi Solutions Inc.’s President and CEO, Oleg Khaykin, left analysts and investors buzzing with straightforward commentary during Thursday’s Q3 FY24 earnings discussion. Departing from the usually reserved tone of such calls, Khaykin’s blunt assertion, “Money talks and bullshit walks,” underscored his frustration with the prevailing cautious spending behaviors among Tier …
Celebrating connectivity, NATE announces Tower Technician Appreciation Day
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has officially declared Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. This annual event, now in its eighth year, is dedicated to recognizing the essential role of tower technicians who maintain and enhance communication infrastructures, thereby ensuring connectivity across the United States and globally. On this day, NATE calls on member companies and other stakeholders …
New rule in effect on independent contractor classification will have a profound impact on broadband
A new rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to classify whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor became effective March 11, 2024, and a random sampling of four smaller-sized wireless contractors found that three of them needed to be made aware of the rule. A fourth said he did know there were significant changes, but …
Maui Files lawsuit against Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Spectrum Mobile over failed alerts during deadly fires
Maui County has launched a lawsuit against several major wireless service providers, accusing them of failing to notify emergency management officials of network outages during the devastating wildfires on August 8, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 101 people. The lawsuit was filed in Maui Circuit Court and details how the alleged communication failures hindered evacuation efforts …
Trey Pitts, EH&S manager at T-Mobile and Mike Young, CEO at ANCO, join NWSA’s Board of Governors
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that Trey Pitts, EH&S Program Manager at T-Mobile, and Mike Young, President & CEO at ANCO, have been appointed to the organization’s Board of Governors. In their new roles as a Board member, Pitts and Young will join representatives from a broad cross-section of the industry tasked with developing policy and overseeing …
Legal disciplinary strategies being offered for employees who disregard safety obligations in live NATE webinar
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 11:00 AM EDT, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Fisher Phillips Partner will conduct a live NATE webinar titled, “Managing Safety Risk Takers: Management and Legal Disciplinary Strategies for Employees who Disregard Safety Obligations.” Without a disciplinary component as part of your enforcement policy for legal discipline of employees who disregard safety obligations, the possibility of effectively using …
FCC targets AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for illegal data sharing, fining them $200 million
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has imposed fines totaling nearly $200 million on leading U.S. wireless carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for unlawfully sharing customer location data without proper consent and adequately protecting this sensitive information. The fines stem from the carriers’ practices of selling access to this data to aggregators, who subsequently resold it to third-party service providers, …
