Due to NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association’s advocacy, carriers have established reporting hotlines for unsafe and uncertified crews and companies, but using them comes with risks, and not all hotlines are created equal. It would be foolish to think that the three major carriers — at the infrastructure build management level — are unaware of the flagrant workforce abuses …
Carriers made promises to the FCC, but contractors are still waiting to be made whole
For the first time in recent memory, contractors working on America’s wireless infrastructure have commitments from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. These agreements address pricing, payment terms, audit practices, and the use of unlicensed crews that industry leaders say have long suppressed wages and undercut legitimate businesses. Although they are not binding, the agreements, secured over fourteen months by NATE: The …
Industry leader Dave Mayo joins Ontivity’s Board at a time of accelerated expansion of 250 crews
Ontivity, a leading national provider of digital infrastructure services, with more than 700 professionals and 250 field crews, today announced the appointment of Dave Mayo to its Board of Directors. The company said his appointment comes at an exciting time in the company’s evolution as it enters the next phase of national expansion. Many of the company’s executives are attending …
From gold medal grit to Iron Cowboy guts: NATE’s keynote speaker momentum builds
NATE is once again betting that powerful stories of grit and perseverance resonate with the tower workforce — and if last year’s hockey hero set the tone, this year’s keynote speaker is prepared to push the concept of endurance even further. The world-renowned ultra-endurance athlete James Lawrence — better known globally as the Iron Cowboy — will deliver the keynote address …
Meet many of the NATE volunteer committee members who power the association from the inside
Most attendees at NATE UNITE 2026 this week will see the education sessions, the packed exhibit hall, and the high-profile speakers. What many don’t see are the men and women working quietly behind the scenes all year long. They are typically humble about their contributions — and that’s part of their culture — but their impact on the telecommunications infrastructure …
At NATE UNITE 2026, one Las Vegas climber’s calling embodies the industry’s enduring spirit
When the doors open this morning at NATE UNITE 2026 in Las Vegas, the crowd will span generations — from first-time 18-year-old tower technicians eager to soak up safety training and new ideas, to seasoned executives guiding the nation’s largest tower portfolios. And somewhere among the thousands of attendees, moving with the quiet familiarity of someone who’s seen it all …
From contractor grumblings to “Rumble on the Tower,” NATE UNITE 2026 packs a full agenda
From addressing contractor grumblings over workforce, compliance, and pricing pressures to a new event, “Rumble on the Tower,” NATE UNITE 2026 this week is delivering one of its most wide-ranging programs in recent memory, blending hard-edge operational education with a growing emphasis on workforce wellness, safety, and community support. Their show guide is available here. Set at Caesars Forum, the …
NATE locks in 2026 executive team, re-upping Drouin, Scott and Young
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today announced that Board of Directors members Victor Drouin, Randy Scott, and Mike Young have been selected by their peers to serve on the Association’s Executive Committee for the upcoming year. The announcement was made on the opening day of the NATE UNITE 2026 Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Victor Drouin, …
Beyond wall thickness: What ANDREW will explain at NATE UNITE 2026 for optimal performance
One of the more technical discussions scheduled for NATE UNITE 2026 will focus on a structural detail that is often simplified in telecom construction: the relationship between wall thickness, material grade, and real-world performance. During the session “Beyond the Wall: Understanding Material Grades for Optimal Performance” on Monday, February 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in rooms 204-206, ANDREW …
NATE UNITE 2026 promises innovation and networking for the nation’s infrastructure companies
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association will host its annual NATE UNITE show in Las Vegas from February 23 to 26, bringing together communications infrastructure contractors, climbers, and suppliers for what organizers promise will be the event’s biggest year yet. Amanda Stegall, chair of NATE’s trade show committee, and Stephanie McCall, Director of Events and Marketing, outlined key highlights during …
Contractors are under pressure—and a new peer-to-peer model will be introduced at NATE UNITE 2026
Wireless infrastructure contracting companies are operating in one of the most difficult environments the sector has faced in decades. Matrix pricing, extended payment terms, margin compression, workforce instability, and increasingly rigid carrier and tower-owner requirements have left many privately held contractors squeezed from all sides. What makes these pressures more acute is that most owners and executives are confronting them …
