American Tower Corporation (ATC) informed the FCC on Monday that their phased approach to transition TV stations to new channels, with an ambitious completion deadline of 39 months, should take into consideration same phase tower assignments, complicated sites, the availability of tower crews, and the assumption that Canadian crews may not be available to assist in the repacking efforts following the spectrum …
WIA explores crucial role municipalities will play in efficient deployment of networks
Wireless carriers and wireless infrastructure providers need “common-sense regulations and predictable timetables” in order to deliver new mobile services such as 5G to cities and towns across the country, according to a new report published by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). The white paper – titled “Unleashing the Economic Benefits of Mobile Broadband Expansion” — explains how municipalities would benefit …
Crown Castle picks up FPL FiberNet for $1.5 billion, adding another 11,500 route miles
Crown Castle International Corp. announced this morning that it has entered into an agreement to acquire FPL FiberNet Holdings, LLC and certain other subsidiaries of NextEra Energy, Inc for approximately $1.5 billion in cash. FiberNet is a fiber services provider that owns or has rights to approximately 11,500 route miles of fiber installed and under construction in Florida and Texas, …
CenturyLink’s $25 billion deal to buy Level 3 puts it at #2 behind AT&T
CenturyLink on Monday announced that it would buy Level 3 Communications for approximately $25 billion, a move that will allow one of the country’s largest providers of data, voice and video transmission for large enterprises to continue to be competitive with AT&T and Verizon. The deal will make Century Link the second largest provider to business in the U.S., behind …
Tower arsonist thought radio wave head problems would be solved following bombing
After an arsonist attempted to knock out more than a dozen broadcast towers on Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, N.M on Oct. 2, 2016 with gallon-sized Molotov cocktails, a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson informed Wireless Estimator that they had identified a suspect, but would not release his name. On Oct. 18, 2016 they arrested 53-year-old Brian Dorais of Madrid for …
Investors shrug off Fool’s American Tower ‘big risk’ report
Last Wednesday, an article in The Motley Fool cautioned investors about a proposed Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) change that would be a huge risk to American Tower’s business model, and the author implored the nation’s second largest tower owner to take immediate steps to alert Wall Street as to how they were going to address that concern. As of …
Time Warner deal could affect AT&T’s wireless network capex/build-out
In discussing AT&T’s deal to acquire Time Warner for $85 billion, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in a conference call yesterday morning, “We’re convinced this combination of Time Warner and AT&T is a perfect match for both companies.” In a canned statement, Stephenson said, “We intend to give customers unmatched choice, quality, value and experiences that will define the future …
NATE’s new WIN program will serve the wireless landscape with 60 ambassadors and liaisons
A national and international who’s who of 60 industry movers and shakers will be chaperoning the success of the Wireless Industry Network (WIN), a coast-to-coast grassroots program designed to promote the National Association of Tower Erectors’ (NATE) regional, state and local efforts, support existing state and national wireless organizations and facilitate communication between all stakeholders in the wireless industry. NATE …
Tallest, shortest, oldest and longest employed tower techs to be featured
Wireless Estimator is seeking out ‘tall tower workers’ – not the folks with boots on high steel, but tower technicians who are truly ‘tall’ in height – to publish a feature article about the tallest one in the U.S. or Canada. In addition to The tallest tower climber, Wireless Estimator is also in quest of locating: The shortest tower climber …
Survivor of horrific TV tower collapse killing seven shares his story after 45 years
On Sept. 7, 1971 in Shoreview, Minn., 32-year-old top tower hand Don Barnard’s supervisor asked him to handle some matters on the ground and he did not climb on that fateful day to assist his 20-year-old brother, Wayne, and five other members of the tall tower crew as they began to lift a section for the 1,280-foot tower’s candelabra platform. …
Drones helped Verizon’s network to stay afloat following Matthew
Verizon is using drones to help with cell site inspections from the air in North Carolina and South Carolina to survey areas impacted by severe flooding from Hurricane Matthew. The quadcopter used for the inspections is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) operated by Measure UAS Inc., to inspect cell sites in difficult to reach locations and share vital information on any damaged equipment. …
Arsonist identified who tried to blow up New Mexico towers
Authorities are closer to arresting a suspected arsonist, who attempted to knock out more than a dozen broadcast towers on Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, N.M. earlier this month with many gallon-sized Molotov cocktails. Numerous local and federal government agencies are co-located on the structures or maintain their own towers. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspect and has …
AT&T and Verizon lead nation in 2015 capex, but tightened it in 2016
According to recent data from the Progressive Policy Institute, AT&T and Verizon outspent every other non-financial company in the nation in domestic capital expenditures in 2015. AT&T totaled $18.7 billion versus Verizon’s $16.5 billion. Noticeably absent from the bottom of the top 25 list were T-Mobile and Sprint, with Freeport-McMoRan at $3.4 billion, just behind General Electric at $3.5 billion. …
Newest STAR Initiative contractor participants unveiled by NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program for the 2016-2017 year. “Companies involved in the STAR Initiative program have demonstrated that they are the cream of the crop and this year’s participants certainly live up to the high standards NATE has established through …
STAC’s conference/expo registration discount expiring soon
The Structure, Tower and Antenna Council (STAC) has announced that it will host its 2nd annual conference on March 29-30, 2017 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, and its early registration discount will expire on Nov. 18, 2016. Building off the overwhelming success of STAC’s inaugural conference last spring, the STAC 2017 Conference & Exhibition is …
New ANSI/SSE A10.48 standard now available for purchase from NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) A10.48-2016 Standard is now available for purchase on the Association’s website. The A10.48 Standard – Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification and Maintenance of Communications Structures is a game changer for the industry as it has …
CommScope’s construction group reportedly sold to BlueStream
According to a number of knowledgeable sources, CommScope’s construction group is reportedly being sold to wireless turnkey solutions provider BlueStream, headquartered in Fairbuilt, Minn. The deal is expected to close by the end of the month. A key element of the agreement was reportedly getting a major CommScope client to accept the construction group’s acquisition. It is not known how …
Reports of Russia using its cell towers to stretch its defense system might be a stretch
In his rallies and presidential debates, Donald Trump said that he has a way of defeating ISIS and putting Russian President Vladimir Putin in his place. But the real estate mogul says he’s not releasing any further information because he wants to unleash his measures secretly. However, it appears that Russia, which normally keeps its defense system initiatives and actions close …
Carriers and their contractor teams carry on proudly following Hurricane Matthew
Although damages from Hurricane Matthew along the east coast are still being assessed, the report on how carriers managed wireless communications with hardened sites and cell site service by the nation’s wireless contractors is in – and they are getting high marks. While there were a sporadic reports of outages on downdetector.com, service has been generally excellent in the effected …
Verizon sets path forward for Airborne LTE Operations
The Internet of Things (IoT) is taking flight at Verizon. The company has announced its strategy to drive innovation and wide-spread adoption for in-flight wireless connectivity through its Airborne LTE Operations (ALO) initiative. Two years in the making, Verizon’s plan includes: The successful completion of technical trials in various locations across the country using a combination of unmanned and manned aircraft …
