Missouri State University and other defendants have reached a $3.2 million settlement in a 2018 deadly television tower collapse in Fordland, Missouri. The Springfield News-Leader reports the university’s attorney, Rachael Dockery, notified the school’s governing board of a “global settlement” in all the lawsuits filed about the incident. According to court documents, on March 10, 2021, a letter was presented …
Family of man killed in Missouri TV tower collapse sues structure’s owner and design engineer
The family of the owner of a tall tower erection company killed when a 1,891-foot TV tower collapsed near Fordland, Missouri in 2018 has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Missouri State University Board of Governors (MSU) and South Carolina-based Tower Consultants, Inc. (TCI) who contracted with MSU to retrofit their structure as part of the FCC’s repacking effort. Steve Lemay, …
Exclusive interview with FCC Commissioner Carr addresses industry issues and our 5G future
Wireless Estimator Publisher Craig Lekutis and National Association of Tower Erectors Executive Director Todd Schlekeway recently conducted an exclusive interview with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr in late December. In this extensive feature article, Commissioner Carr discusses the FCC’s role in paving the way for a 5G future, the nation’s networks’ resiliency, and restoration lessons learned, the importance of industry workforce development initiatives …
‘Early warning signs’ point to tower crew shortages delaying next nine repack phases
Since 2015, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has been informing the FCC that a shortage of qualified tower crews and other concerns will prevent many broadcasters from meeting the ambitious repack window. They were correct, according to Curtis LeGeyt, NAB Executive V.P. of Government Relations, who testified during a House Communications and Technology hearing yesterday. He said, “early warning signs …
FCC wants input on tower and other costs to be incurred by repacking
The FCC released their “catalog of potential expenses and estimated costs” yesterday for LPTV stations and TV translator facilities, and for FM radio stations, expected to be incurred as a result of broadcaster repacking, and is asking for public comments. “While we believe the catalog is relatively comprehensive, it does not cover every possible expense for every situation, nor is it …
T-Mobile and CBS-owned WLNY-TV complete early NYC spectrum repack
T-Mobile and CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation, completed the accelerated repack of WLNY-TV’s 600 MHz spectrum on portions of Long Island and the surrounding area that extends into Brooklyn and Queens. WLNY moved to its new spectrum frequency earlier this month, more than a year sooner than the August 2019 FCC deadline. This agreement enables T-Mobile to …
Profitable range of reimbursable repacking costs offered contractors, engineers, suppliers
Full power and Class A Broadcasters that have been reassigned to new channels must submit their reimbursement estimates for their repacking costs by July 12 using a form released Thursday by the FCC. The stations must include engineering, legal, equipment, installation, and other costs reasonably incurred to complete a required channel change. And for those participants in the repacking efforts, …
RFS and International Towers partner to provide turnkey repack solutions
Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), a global designer and manufacturer of cable, antenna and tower systems, has announced a partnership with International Towers Incorporated (ITI), a licensed general contractor with over 30 years of experience supporting the national broadcasting industry. Together, the two companies will offer a turnkey equipment and installation solution which will enable broadcasters preparing for the U.S. broadcast …
Broadcast repack video is truly a must see for all tower techs
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) released a Broadcast Repack safety video during the NATE UNITE 2017 Keynote Luncheon sponsored by T-Mobile. The timely video is the second to debut as part of Volume 2 of the NATE Climber Connection series and coincides with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently concluding the bidding phase of its historic incentive auction, …
NAB says FCC’s 39-month deadline has painted agency into corners
The National Association of Broadcasts (NAB) said Friday that it is in agreement with the FCC’s phased approach to transition TV stations to new channels following the incentive auction which will begin again today to clear 108 megahertz of spectrum. However, NAB said, “Unfortunately, while there is much promise in the proposed scheduling plan, the Commission’s continued insistence that the …
As FCC auction goes into second stage Sept. 13, NAB questions ‘spectrum crisis’
The Federal Communications Commission is moving to a second stage of the 600 MHz spectrum auction, and with a lower clearing target, after the most recent bidding by wireless carriers fell far short of the first-stage target goal of $88.4 billion, raising just $22.4 billion. The next round will begin on September 13 with the FCC setting a to-be-determined lower …
ERI and T-Mobile deal for crews and facilities puts 39-month repack deadline closer to being met
A partnership between Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) and T-Mobile will give the Indiana antenna manufacturer the ability to ramp up materials and accelerate antenna production capacity by 800% before the end of the year in anticipation of the end of the FCC broadcast incentive auctions. ERI said it will begin production of antennas, and installation crews will be available immediately after …
FCC chief says his agency is allowing a flexible repacking deadline
At yesterday’s House Communications Subcommittee’s Federal Communications Commission oversight hearing, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, along with his fellow commissioners, said that the FCC would not force broadcasters off the air who missed the 39-month repacking deadline for moving to new channels. Wheeler said that the deadline was not a “drop off the edge of the table” situation, since there was …
