NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released the Safety Equipment Manufacturers Committee (SEMC) Guide for Wire Rope Safety Climbs on Antenna Supporting Structures – 2020 consensus document. This 15-page, manufacturer consensus document is intended to address use of a wire rope safety climb/system in the telecommunications industry. This resource is only intended to apply to structures that are …
FCC moves closer to creating a $9 billion rural 5G fund a reality, contractors to benefit
The Federal Communications Commission today adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on establishing the 5G Fund for Rural America. 5G represents the next leap in mobile wireless technology, bringing significantly increased speeds, reduced latency, and better security than 4G LTE networks, and enabling cutting-edge applications and technologies benefitting consumers, businesses, precision agriculture, education, and healthcare. A FCC staff report on …
Dr. Frock to lead NATE’s workforce development initiatives
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced that the organization has entered into a professional consulting services agreement with Gemma Frock, PhD from GKF Consulting Services. In her consulting role, Dr. Frock will be tasked with implementing the year one objectives outlined in the Telecommunications Industry Workforce Strategic Plan which she drafted on behalf of NATE. Her focus will include meeting …
NATE shows raptors on towers a danger to techs in newly released “Birds of Prey” video
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a video titled “Birds of Prey” focused on the topic of raptors nesting on communication towers. The video is the second to debut in Volume 5 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection series. The video, released to coincide with bird nesting season in many parts of the United States, includes important information that …
Contractors not being compensated for added expenses during pandemic
Commentary – Craig Lekutis, Editor After an overview was published last week, of how the COVID-19 virus was affecting wireless infrastructure work conditions, dozens of updates were received by Wireless Estimator by the nation’s contractors with a key concern being their inability to obtain N95 masks, hand sanitizers and other PPE supplies. Also, the subjective slowdown in work averaged around 30% …
NATE’s contractor COVID-19 Impact Survey provides an excellent snapshot of concerns
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today unveiled the results of the Association’s Member COVID-19 Impact Survey. The survey provides some interesting details such as 24% of their members stating that they pulled tower crews from the field. The survey, conducted over a six day period from Friday, March 27 to Wednesday, April 1, 2020, included responses from 224 member …
NATE webinar will help contractors understand CARES Act as they navigate troubled financial waters
Wireless contractors and other infrastructure businesses scrambling to determine how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act applies to them will welcome a webinar scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EDT to be presented by NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association with Brian Gramm, a prominent small business consultant from Seemore Hawk. This important webinar …
Even if you don’t climb, safety sleeve testing report is a must read
The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today officially released the NATE Safety Sleeve Testing Final Report. This in-depth, 62-page white paper describes the overall scope, methodology and results from the NATE sponsored Safety Sleeve Testing events that were performed at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) in Dayton, Ohio in 2018 and 2019. If you’re knowledgeable about the “Sunflower Effect” …
NATE’s legal eagles address ever-changing COVID-19 regulations impacting employers/workers
A live NATE webinar this morning presented by attorneys Edwin Foulke, Jr. and Howard Mavity, partners in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, enabled almost 200 registrants to obtain the latest information regarding the serious issues facing all employers and employees stemming from COVID-19. But as both attorneys acknowledged, the most recent information could be outdated as fluid …
NATE develops a COVID-19 Resource Portal
In an effort to keep NATE member companies informed on the fluid situation involving the COVID-19 public health pandemic, the Association has compiled and developed a central portal consisting of key resources and updates from government agencies, Congress, and other applicable organizations. NATE encourages member companies to become familiar with the organizations, guidelines and information included below in order to …
Live NATE webinar to address the serious issues facing employers from COVID-19
On Tuesday, March 24 at 11 AM EDT/10 AM CDT/9 AM MDT/8 AM PDT, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP and Howard Mavity, also a partner in the Atlanta office will conduct a live webinar entitled “Addressing the Serious Issues Facing all Employers from the COVID-19 Coronavirus”. You can register for …
Coronavirus takes its first contractor toll in the repack lane, FCC extends deadline
In what appears to be the first instance of COVID-19 directly halting a tower erection and antenna installation’s company’s obligation to perform contracted services for its broadcast client, the FCC said today that they are aware of and accept the contractor’s imposed two-week suspension of field service, including work on repack-related construction, while it evaluates the nation’s quickly changing situation …
NATE provides the industry with their free sUAS Operations Best Practices Advisory drone resource
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today officially released the NATE sUAS Operations Best Practices Advisory resource. This in-depth, 38-page document becomes the latest in a line of commercial drone-related resources that NATE’s UAS Committee and its cadre of aviation subject-matter experts have developed. NATE is providing this resource as an industry-specific guideline manual for carrying out UAS operations for …
NATE’s convention attendance total soars above last year’s count
For the eighth year in a row, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association saw an increase in their annual convention’s attendance at their Raleigh, North Carolina show last month with an enviable surge of 18% over 2019, with a record 2,416 registrants, according to NATE UNITE Registration Manager Nikki Gronau. The 367 increase in attendance eclipsed the association’s first show’s …
Swiss army knife of helicopters’ antenna pick is a must see NATE Climber Connection video
Crank up the bass, sit back and enjoy an epic video ride alongside pilots of the Erickson Air-Crane, the Swiss army knife of helicopters as it lifts a repack antenna to the top of a broadcast tower in Jacksonville, Florida, courtesy of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association. The breath-taking video focused on the topic of Helicopter Lifts as the first …
Avetta takes contractors’ heat, says it will complete BROWZ integration by September, add employees
Compliance company Avetta’s representatives were on the hot seat during a NATE UNITE 2020 educational session in Raleigh, North Carolina last Tuesday as well as during a dinner the following evening. Avetta was proactive during the conference to allay rising contractor concerns over the way they charge and manage onboarding and compliance reviews for the major carriers and towercos. The …
NATE Raleigh show was alight with donations to the Tower Family Foundation
The NATE UNITE 2020 conference last week in Raleigh, North Carolina showcased numerous companies that made donations to the Tower Family Foundation, a non-profit charitable support arm for tower workers injured or killed in an accident stemming from working at heights on communications structures or other on the job related activities. During an exhibit hall presentation, SAC Wireless presented the …
Win $100 by guessing the number of attendees at NATE UNITE 2020’s record-breaking show
Step back Grapevine, Texas and make room for Raleigh, North Carolina as the host of NATE – The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association’s largest attended conference in the association’s 25-year history. The event ended today. Last year, a record was set with 2,059 registrants. However, this year, according to an early tally that will not be finalized until next week, the Tar …
NATE’s rebranding clearly captures additional wireless contracting skillsets employed today
As part of the Association’s 25th year anniversary milestone, NATE today unveiled a new logo and descriptor tag-line designed to honor the organizations proud past and capture its promising future in the rapidly evolving communications infrastructure industry. Effective immediately, the organization will be referred to as NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association. The Association made the announcement by debuting a …
Jim Miller and Ken Meador given top honors at NATE UNITE 2020 for their years of service
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today honored Jim Miller, CEO of EasTex Tower, LLC and Executive Advisor of Enertech Holdings, LLC in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Ken Meador, former President of TWR Lighting, Inc. in Houston, Texas during the Awards & Sponsor Recognition Luncheon at NATE UNITE 2020. Jim was honored as the recipient of the Bill Carlson Lifetime Service …
