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Tower Systems, a Watertown, SD-based international tower solutions company, hosted U.S. Senator John Thune, U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and stakeholders representing NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, Lake Area Technical College, municipalities and business for a Rebrand Launch & Ribbon Cutting Event yesterday. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the hard working people who …
Nation’s associations band together to honor tower tower techs on Wednesday’s ‘appreciation’ day
Industry leaders praise essential contributions of tower Technician workforce to global connectivity and 5G economy NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a commemoration declaring tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the fifth consecutive year, a day has been set aside by NATE and the industry in order to pay tribute to the important work that communications …
Tower Family Foundation touts a successful launch of its 2021 fundraising campaign to aid industry workers
Companies and individuals have welcomed the opportunity to offer support to the Foundation that assists industry workers and their families in their time of need The Tower Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, today announced the 2021, first quarter donors and pledges. Thanks to the philanthropic contributions received from industry stakeholders, over $263,000 was raised in Quarter 1. The Foundation’s Endowment Committee, …
Senate Commerce Committee passes Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee passed the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act today, legislation to address the shortage of trained workers necessary to fill next-generation jobs in the telecommunications industry in communities through the country. The Bill, S. 163, introduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Gary Peters (D-MI) heads to the full …
Dish enlists Amazon to help build its 5G network, to launch in Las Vegas
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) has announced that DISH Network Corporation (DISH) selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider and will construct its 5G network on AWS, part of a strategic collaboration agreement under which both companies will work to transform how organizations and customers, including AWS and Amazon, order and consume 5G services or create their own private 5G networks. DISH is deploying …
Telecom leaders partner to develop industry-tailored human trafficking prevention training
Leaders in the telecommunications industry have partnered with 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF), a Sacramento-based nonprofit working to end human trafficking throughout the US. The goal is to educate telecommunications professionals on the signs of human trafficking and train them on how to recognize, notify and report the crime. The partnership was initiated and spearheaded by Kenny Blakeslee, President and CEO …
Illinois student is recipient of Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and Tower Family Foundation today jointly announced that Alex Dodson, a junior civil engineering student from Jasper, Indiana has been named as the 2021 recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. Alex Dodson is at the top of her class academically and excels in …
PANs, papers and standards made enlightening in virtual Wednesday panel presentation
On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM CST, a group of panelists will be conducting Session 2 of the NATE UNITE 2021 Virtual Educational Series titled “Sharing of Knowledge Through Industry Planning Advisory Notices (PAN’s), White Papers, and Standards”. Registration is available here. The panelists conducting this session are Scott Stekr, VP of US Engineering for Perfect Vision, Brandon …
Summitt Cellular helps NATE top its all-time membership record
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has established a new all-time record of 1,020 member companies, eclipsing the Association’s previous mark of 1,019 members. Summitt Cellular based out of Cleveland, Georgia has the distinction of being the record-breaking company to join the Association, at a time when many trade groups are seeing declines in memberships. “NATE’s …
Smart money is betting NATE’s 2022 Las Vegas show will be an exhibitor sellout with record-high attendance
NATE is excited to announce that NATE UNITE 2022 plans are underway and the sponsor and exhibitor planning guide is available here. The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association’s show will be hosted in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada on February 21-24. Caesars Forum, the latest state-of-the-art conference center, will host the NATE UNITE exhibit hall. The glitz …
Tracy, Drouin, Lekutis to lead Tower Family Foundation as it aids wireless workers, their families
The Tower Family Foundation announced today that Board of Directors’ members Jim Tracy, Victor Drouin and Craig Lekutis were appointed by their peers to serve on the non-profit organization’s Executive Committee for the 2021-2022 term. Jim Tracy, Founder and CEO of the Legacy Family of Companies in Gig Harbor, Washington, was appointed to serve as the President of the Board …
Twenty-eight broadband-related bills to close digital divide introduced by Republicans
Today, House Energy & Commerce Committee Republicans introduced 28 broadband-related bills to help close the digital divide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, through their Boosting Broadband Connectivity Agenda. The group said this legislative package aims to promote new infrastructure deployment; promote competition and consumer choice; modernize environmental or historical preservation reviews or barriers; and promote the deployment of broadband on federal lands. …
Women of NATE announces 2021 education scholarship recipients
Women of NATE (WON) is pleased to announce that seven outstanding recipients have been selected to receive 2021 WON Education Scholarships. The scholarship was designed to encourage and inspire more women to enter the tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. Scholarship recipients will each receive $1,000, which will go directly to the college/educational institution to be utilized …
‘Disgustingly stupid’ videos yanked following obvious safety violations
As Vice Chairman of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, John Paul (JP) Jones is proud of the many top safety individuals and subject matter experts in the past 25 years who have taken a cottage industry with minimal safety standards and elevating it to a profession that supports the nation’s communications infrastructure with safety as its highest priority. Having …
Legislation reintroduced to address the telecommunications workforce shortage
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today reintroduced the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act, legislation to address the shortage of trained workers necessary to fill next-generation jobs in the telecommunications industry in communities throughout the country. NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors …
Telecom industry unites behind call for broadband workforce development to White House, Congress
A coalition of ten leading organizations representing a broad cross-section of the telecommunications industry today sent a joint letter to the White House and Congress urging support for broadband-related job skills development as part of any infrastructure legislation. The associations included the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), INCOMPAS, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, NTCA-The Rural …
NATE requests COVID-19 vaccination priority status for industry’s technician workforce
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has sent letters to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Governors Association to request that the telecom industry’s technicians be accorded priority status in the COVID-19 vaccination hierarchy the CDC has recommended and that states are now tasked with distributing. The NATE letters make …
Cord cutter Cooper’s memoir is a stunning tale of cell phone history and the next chapter – artificial intelligence
One of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Inventors in History, Martin Cooper, shares an insider’s story of the cell phone, how it changed the world—and a view of where it’s headed in his new book released today, Cutting the Cord: The Cell Phone Has Transformed Humanity. While at Motorola in the 1970s, wireless communications pioneer Cooper invented the first handheld mobile …
Pai and Loebsack honored by NATE for their untiring efforts in advancing broadband initiatives
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Congressman Dave Loebsack, U.S. Representative for the 3rd District of Iowa, are the recipients of the 2020 NATE Regulatory and Legislative Champion Awards respectively. Chairman Pai was honored with the 2020 NATE Regulatory Champion Award. During his tenure, he has played a leading role shaping policies that …
OSHA, NATE and the FCC ink long-sought strategic safety partnership
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a national strategic partnership with NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve worker safety in the communications tower erection industry. The goal of the three-year partnership is to eliminate worker injuries and fatalities while performing wireless and telecommunications, tower erection …
