NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today unveiled a framework document outlining the key components of the organization’s workforce strategic plan initiative. The initiative is spearheaded by NATE’s workforce development consultant Gemma Frock, PhD. The Association’s workforce mission statement is to promote and expand telecommunications workforce development capabilities by facilitating collaborations and partnerships between NATE members, community agencies, and educational and …
NATE reaches a record high membership of 1,000 companies
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has established a new all-time record for member companies, reaching the 1,000 member mark for the first time in the organization’s 25-year history. Oddville Communications, Inc., a Cynthiana, Kentucky-based company, has the special distinction of becoming the 1,000th NATE member company. “Reaching the 1,000 member mark is incredibly gratifying and …
Wireless workers asked to be vigilant Saturday due to possible attacks against infrastructure
Some activist groups have declared Saturday, June 6, 2020 as Global 5G Protest Day, resulting in associations and carriers as well as contractors warning the industry to be extra vigilant to ensure worker safety and protect the nation’s infrastructure. One key contractor is warning the industry to not take the situation “lightly”. Ericsson, in an “abundance of caution” to ensure the …
FCC Commissioner Carr announces order to upgrade wireless infrastructure, reduce bottlenecks
Yesterday at the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) free, virtual conference, Connect (X): All Access, Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Brendan Carr announced the FCC’s plans to clarify its rules to promote network upgrades on existing towers and other wireless sites. His comments are available here. The ruling will address state and local approval of wireless equipment modifications and clarify the definition of “substantial change”. …
NATE sets aside May 6 for the nation to appreciate and thank tower technicians
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a commemoration declaring Wednesday, May 6, 2020 as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the fourth consecutive year, a day has been set aside by NATE in order to pay tribute to the important work that communications infrastructure technicians conduct on a daily basis to enable a mobile society. “NATE is excited to declare Wednesday, …
NATE releases wire rope safety climb document, announces Jeremy Buckles as SEMC’s Chairman
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 …
