According to the FCC’s most current broadcast stations statistics, the nation saw an addition of 3,511 broadcast stations added to its ranks during the past 10 years, with the total number of commercially licensed UHF stations seeing a gain of 210 as VHF commercial stations saw a loss of 215. In addition, there are 167 fewer AM radio stations, but FM stations …
Two deals add 1,100 towers to Phoenix Tower International’s portfolio
Boca Raton, Fla.-based Phoenix Tower International (PTI) announced that it has reached an agreement with Uniti Group to acquire the ownership rights relating to over 500 wireless communication tower sites located across Mexico, Colombia and Nicaragua. Terms of the transaction remain confidential between the parties. The amount of the sale was approximately $100 million. Speaking about the transaction, PTI CEO, …
Women of NATE leaders featured in the latest FCC podcast
With the broadcast repack in full swing and the race to 5G heating up, tower work is essential to getting those efforts across the finish line. Demand for tower crews is sky high—whether it’s working a 50-foot cell tower or a 2,000-foot broadcast tower. And it’s easy to take for granted when our cell phones and televisions work, but it’s …
Some DBI-SALA self-rescue devices have issues, 3M is requesting visual inspection
3M Fall Protection has identified a manufacturing issue within a limited number of 3M™ DBISALA® Self-Rescue devices manufactured prior to December 2018. There have been no reports of injuries or accidents associated with this issue. The fall-arrest performance of the Self Rescue is not affected by this issue but it may impact the self-rescue function of the unit. The manufacturing …
Former broadband advisory head and Quintillion CEO, pleads guilty to bilking investors of $250 million
Elizabeth Ann Pierce, the former CEO of telecommunications company Quintillion based in Anchorage, Alaska, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s pick to head the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, pled guilty Monday in Manhattan federal court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to use forged guaranteed revenue contracts fraudulently to induce investors to pony up more …
As the nation’s robo cops, the FCC moves forward with plans to end spoofed calls
The FCC today released an extensive report on the robocall problem in America, a key concern of consumers. “No consumer wants to be bombarded by spoofed robocalls—they’re a waste of time at best and a scam at worst,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “As this report makes clear, we’re steadfastly focused on addressing this serious problem. “There’s no easy or single answer, …
Three industry leaders appointed to Tower Family Foundation positions to assist continued growth
The Tower Family Foundation announced today three appointments to the non-profit organization’s leadership structure, individuals who are committed to ensuring that the Foundation continues to expand its ability to serve wireless workers and their families when there is a work site injury or fatality. A recent Climber Connection video highlights how an injured tower technician and his wife were overwhelmed by the Foundation’s assistance. …
American Broadband Initiative report identifies 24 million without access, 80% in rural communities
Expanding America’s broadband connectivity is critical to the nation’s economy, and a top priority for President Trump and the Department of Commerce. Yesterday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) joined with their partners in government to announce the publication of the American Broadband Initiative (ABI), a comprehensive effort to stimulate increased private sector investment in broadband. “NTIA is proud to share …
ExteNet sues Crown and NY DOT over shot clock violation, wants Crown’s contract revoked
In a be careful what you wish for reality incident, a subsidiary of Crown Castle is being sued for violating an FCC’s shot clock deadline as set forth by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, an action that carriers, Crown Castle and other vertical realtors petitioned the FCC to adopt. ExteNet Systems, Inc. filed its complaint on Monday against …
All-time record attendance at NATE UNITE 2019 announced as Association ramps up for Raleigh
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that last week’s NATE UNITE 2019 Conference in Grapevine, Tex. reached record-setting heights. The Association announced that 2,059 individuals registered to attend the conference. This total eclipses the organization’s all-time conference registered attendee total in its 24-year history, exceeding the previous attendance record of 1,856 from NATE UNITE 2018 in Nashville, …
Payment terms and the development of large contractors were hot NATE UNITE 2019 topics
Two of the hottest topics at NATE UNITE 2019 in Grapevine, Tex. last week were contractor payment terms and the possibility that an upsurge in the establishment of large contractors could be injurious to the industry mainstay of smaller companies. Wireless Estimator’s recently published results of an extensive contractor survey, was frequently discussed amongst NATE’s members and the Association’s directors …
FCC admits to and fixes ASR flaw that allowed 40-plus illegal tower ownership changes
The FCC will enact a new procedure for reporting tower ownership changes in their Antenna Structure Registration System (ASR) on Feb. 14, 2019 to reduce the risk of unauthorized changes being made. The new process was propelled after the FCC found, as reported exclusively by Wireless Estimator, that in early 2016, a Wisconsin wireless contractor discovered a flaw in the ASR …
Industry giants CommScope and Ericsson capture FCC Commissioner Carr’s attention during Texas tours
Before Commissioner Brendan Carr provided his Monday evening keynote address at the National Association of Tower Erectors’ annual convention, NATE UNITE 2019, in Grapevine, Tex., CommScope gave him a Cook’s tour of their sprawling 10-acre manufacturing facility in Euless where he learned from engineers, product executives and other company officials of their ability to provide vertically integrated wireless products from …
NATE pays homage to Coleman and Moore for their many years of dedicated service
O’Brien, Aero and Ruedlinger awarded Chairman’s Coin; Tracy and Miller recognized for years of service on the NATE Board of Directors NATE honored Jim Coleman, National Tower Safety Manager at AT&T in Birmingham, Alabama and Pat Moore, Operations Team at Stainless in Cedar Park, Texas during the Awards Luncheon at NATE UNITE 2019 in Grapevine, Texas on Wednesday. FCC Chairman …
FCC Chief champions the need for the industry to build out 5G, complete repack
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai gave a keynote speech yesterday afternoon to a packed room of attendees at the National Association of Tower Erectors annual convention, NATE UNITE 2019 in Grapevine, Tex. The Chairman’s remarks were: It’s great to be with you this afternoon. And it’s great to be at the massive Gaylord Hotel. I guess you have to go big to …
NATE TFF video tugs at the heart strings as Willie Robertson provides comic relief
NATE UNITE 2019’s Keynote luncheon yesterday in Grapevine, Tex. began with a heart-warming Climber Connection video, entitled “Tower Family Foundation: A Helping Hand” that highlighted the incredible impact the foundation plays in providing financial resources and scholarships to industry workers and families in the aftermath of a work-related accident or fatality. It presented the touching personal story of how the …
Commissioner Carr ‘preaches to the choir’ at NATE UNITE 2019 keynote address
During his keynote address about 5G at NATE UNITE 2019, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said he felt like he was “preaching to the choir” since no group knows more about those topics than the National Association of Tower Erectors. “The work that tower crews do every day — from building new cell sites to maintaining 2,000 foot towers — is not easy. And that’s particularly true …
NATE’s new Chairman has a vested interest in ensuring that women also succeed in contracting
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Board of Directors today elected Jimmy Miller of MillerCo, Inc. in Gulfport, Miss. to lead the association as its Chairman. Also elected to leadership roles were Vice-Chairman, John Paul Jones of Tower & Turbine and Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Dougherty, of Millennia Contracting, Inc. Miller has been active in NATE as a voting member for …
Miller, Jones and Dougherty elected to lead NATE’s Board of Directors
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that Board of Directors’ members Jimmy Miller, John Paul (JP) Jones and Kevin Dougherty 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 2019 Conference and Trade Show in Grapevine, Tex. Jimmy Miller, President and …
Preventing ‘rampant’ safety credentials fraud is a passion of QRedentials’ founder Clifford Wilcox
In a Frontline/ProPublica investigation in 2012 exploring the high fatality rate of tower techs, many hours of footage didn’t make the 30-minute Frontline broadcast. One such interview segment was with Wireless Estimator editor Craig Lekutis who was asked if he would be surprised to find out that a deceased worker had counterfeit training certificates in his wallet, had no training, …
