In a concerted effort to protect competition and consumers in the wireless market, a coalition of US Senators, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), has written a letter to Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Jessica …
Verizon said to be readying a sale of up to 6,000 of its cell towers
New York-based Verizon is reportedly exploring options to sell thousands of its mobile network towers in the US, reported Bloomberg today. According to sources familiar with the matter, the telecom giant has hired advisers to gauge interest from potential buyers for a package of roughly 5,000 to 6,000 towers. This move could potentially bring in more than $3 billion; though …
FCC Commissioner Carr condemns $42 billion BEAD’s delays with construction possibly detained until 2026
In testimony before Tuesday’s House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr sharply criticized the Biden Administration’s handling of the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Carr’s testimony highlighted significant delays and inefficiencies in the program, which aims to expand high-speed internet access across the United States.| Carr began by highlighting the program’s failure …
Hackers stole records of almost all of AT&T’s customers’ calls
In a significant cybersecurity incident, telecommunications giant AT&T announced on Friday that a cyberattack exposed data from “nearly all” of its customers. The compromised data was downloaded to a third-party cloud platform, marking a severe breach for the company. “We have taken steps to close off the illegal access point,” AT&T said in a statement. The company confirmed it is …
Ericsson faces class action lawsuit by tower techs for unpaid wages stemming from meal break deductions
Ericsson, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The lawsuit, initiated by tower technicians Ryan Brewer and Kenneth Wiles on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, accuses Ericsson of failing to pay appropriate wages and overtime to its hourly tower technicians across the United States. According …
Two California counties wanted $25.5 million for student towers; FCC denies holey Trinity application review
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released an order denying the Trinity County Connectivity Consortium’s request for $25.5 million in funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) to construct 16 wireless towers in Trinity and Humboldt County, California. In reviewing their previous denial, the FCC found that the application was flawed, full of holes, and did not meet the eligibility …
T-Mobile may be first in line to take advantage of SCOTUS’s Chevron decision to vacate an $80 million FCC fine
On February 27, unaware that the following day, the US Supreme Court would decide to limit the broad regulatory authority of federal agencies such as the FCC, T-Mobile USA, Inc. filed a petition for review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, contesting a substantial forfeiture order issued by the agency. The outcome of …
Moderators and Trump squandered a golden opportunity to address America’s infrastructure logjams
Before Thursday’s presidential debate in Atlanta, President Joe Biden’s senior aids spent a week at Camp David holding mock debates, informing the press that America was going to see a “fully charged” Joe Biden who would strike a strong contrast with Donald Trump and prove that he was addressing America’s most pressing issues. Detractors questioned if Biden had elevated energy …
U.S. Supreme Court’s decision could boot the FCC’s ability to issue fines for telecommunications violations
Yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in SEC v. Jarkesy could significantly alter the landscape of FCC enforcement actions. This ruling, which was passed with a 6-3 majority, could prompt extensive litigation for federal agencies, including the FCC, fundamentally changing how these agencies issue penalties and fines. Current FCC enforcement process Currently, the FCC issues a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) and …
The country’s mayors are demanding that Congress should kill a broadband bill that cuts through red tape
During the U.S. Conference of Mayors held this past weekend, city leaders strongly opposed the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2023 (H.R. 3557), urging Congress to reconsider the bill. The mayors emphasized their unwavering determination to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and maintain local authority over public rights-of-way (ROW). Key Concerns: Local Authority Erosion: Mayors argue that H.R. 3557 …
California denies AT&T’s request to reduce OpEx by ripping out landline service to almost 600,000 households
Despite AT&T’s request to discontinue this less profitable service, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has made a significant ruling mandating that the carrier continue providing landline services in California. This decision will undoubtedly shape the company’s future operations in the state. The CPUC’s decision ensures that AT&T remains a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) in areas where it is …
Musk and Carr tag team against the Biden administration’s inability to dish out BEAD funding until 2025
Elon Musk and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr have publicly criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The $42.45 billion initiative, designed to provide high-speed internet to unserved and underserved areas, has yet to make significant progress in its implementation, leading to frustration and backlash from prominent figures and policymakers. An article …
Spending an enlightening nine minutes with rope expert Loui McCurley could easily save climbers’ lives
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has unveiled a crucial new video focusing on the importance of safety ropes in the communications tower industry. Featuring an engaging dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley and Loui McCurley, CEO of NATE member company Beal-PMI, Inc., the video covers vital topics such as the types of safety ropes currently in use, the materials they are …
NTIA approves BEAD proposals for New Hampshire, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon and Puerto Rico
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initial proposal volumes two for Illinois, Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Puerto Rico, advancing efforts to close the digital divide. This approval grants these states and territory access to over $3 billion in funding aimed at providing affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service to all …
Dish adds another cut to the possibility of the contracting industry’s ‘death by a thousand cuts’
In a recent legal battle, Dish Wireless Inc. emerged victorious against Crown Castle USA Inc., with a Denver jury ruling on April 11, 2024, that Dish did not violate the 30-year master lease agreement between the two companies. The dispute centered around Dish’s use of an additional three feet of space on cell tower sites, which Crown Castle claimed should …
American Tower is gaveled a $4 million award: Court says yes, tenant’s wallet says no
In a recent decision from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a motion for default judgment in favor of American Tower Corp. against TPT SpeedConnect LLC (TPT), a subsidiary of TPT Global Tech, Inc (TPTG). The court’s ruling, issued on June 11, 2024, orders TPT to pay a sum of almost …
Verizon takes gloves off in battle against AT&T’s FirstNet over $14 billion 4.9 GHz band management gift
Verizon is no longer letting proxies speak for it in the ongoing debate over AT&T’s FirstNet proposal to become the national manager of the 4.9 GHz public safety band. In a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Verizon has made its stance clear: the proposal would disrupt the public safety spectrum marketplace and undermine local public safety control. …
Crown Castle announces significant job cuts amid industry uncertainty
Crown Castle USA Inc. has announced it will cut 10% of its workforce and close certain offices as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and refocus its capital expenditures. The telecommunications infrastructure company detailed these measures while outlining its strategic review and plans for the future. Capital Expenditure Reductions Crown Castle stated it would lower its capital expenditures …
Relying on CWA’s flawed survey, Minnesota now requires prevailing wages and training in broadband construction
A newly signed bill in Minnesota, endorsed by Governor Tim Walz, prioritizes fair labor practices in broadband network construction. When distributing broadband funding, the Minnesota Broadband Office must now favor applicants who pay prevailing wages and offer comprehensive benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and training opportunities. Several broadband providers across Minnesota unsuccessfully urged state lawmakers to drop Article 10 …
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 …
