Active in the wireless construction industry for many years and a strong safety advocate, William Leon “Bill” Vance, 72, of Taylor, MO passed away on Oct. 6, 2019. Vance had been selling pagers and entered the industry when he joined Rhodes Tower Services. Vance retired from Midwest Underground Technology Inc., where he served as Vice President of Operations. He was …
Rooftop safety complacency and best practices highlighted in NATE’s newest video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a video entitled “Rooftop Safety: Don’t be Complacent” in order to shine a spotlight on the specific hazards, guidelines and best practices associated with wireless rooftop deployment activities. NATE has taken an active industry role in ensuring that workers are safe in any environment and has tackled the often overlooked complexities and …
Swarztrauber, FCC Chairman Pai’s new policy advisor, is well-versed on towers and wireless infrastructure
UPDATE: September 30, 2019 – In the FCC’s official statement announcing that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has appointed Evan Swarztrauber as his policy advisor, Pai said, “I’m pleased to have Evan join our team. Having served in Commissioner Carr’s office, he brings a wealth of experience on telecom issues and is well positioned to advance our policy agenda.” Commissioner Brendan Carr …
NATE receives DOL grant for nationwide wireless rooftop deployment training
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2019-2020 program year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation. …
NATE co-founder and former Chairman Snyder testifies at U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing
NATE Co-Founder and Former Chairman Craig Snyder, CEO at Vikor Teleconstruction, provided expert witness testimony at today’s U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet hearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The hearing, “Transforming Rural America: A New Era of Innovation”, was convened by U.S. Senator John Thune, R-SD, who serves as chairman of the Subcommittee. During …
In America’s most barren broadband district, Congressman Mullin tours an ATC tower site
On Monday, U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) conducted a site visit to a communications tower located in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The tour was facilitated by representatives from the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), the Association’s Wireless Industry Network (WIN) and American Tower Corporation. The site visit was held at an American Tower-owned self-supporting cell tower site that is located in …
Tower techs and families are major benefactors of T-Mobile’s 6th annual golf tournament
T-Mobile hosted its 6th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 24 in Newcastle, Washington. At the event, T-Mobile and the event’s 41 industry sponsors continued their generous track record by presenting $235,000 directly to the Tower Family Foundation (TFF). Funds totaling upward of $1 million have now been distributed to TFF and Warriors4Wireless through the tournament’s five years of …
Easy app is a first line of defense in reducing injuries and saving lives
Over 1,100 tower site hazards were identified and corrected last year. They weren’t found by accident, but were discovered through the active participation of 138 companies taking advantage of the National Association of Tower Erectors STAR Initiative program that uses a free app that easily assists workers in identifying site safety hazards. To highlight this app, NATE has released a video entitled …
Key carrier contractor Centerline Solutions throws in the towel with its bankruptcy filing
Citing, delayed payments from carriers, slim margins and competition that doesn’t have high corporate expenses, Colorado-based Centerline Solutions, one of the nation’s larger contractors, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Friday Centerline said in its filing that it has assets of $10.21 million and owes creditors $7.63 million. It’s a who’s who list of creditors The creditors are well-known (pages 74 through …
Pedophile may have inadvertently put OSHA tower safety rule on permanent hold
President Donald Trump said Friday that embattled Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta is resigning because Acosta doesn’t want his decade-old plea deal with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to distract the President from pressing issues. Epstein, 66, was arrested last weekend and charged in the Southern District of New York with sex trafficking of young girls. A judge has postponed his decision …
Wesley Weis passes, leaving a legacy of advancing safety throughout America
Services will be held tomorrow for a Northern New Jersey industry icon, Wesley Weis, CEO of Mikab Corporation who passed away on Saturday at age 78. A resident of Old Tappan, he was a founding member of the National Association of Tower Erectors and helped the trade group from its first meeting in 1995 to move forward with a unified …
It’s never too soon to sign up for the Tower Family Foundation golf event
You can get an early start to your 2020 golf season by hitting the links and participating in the Tower Family Foundation Golf Event! This exciting golf outing will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina. This event is powered by NATE’s Wireless Industry Network (WIN) and all proceeds raised …
Education will be harmed after contentious vote that opened up 2.5 GHz band: FCC Democrats
In a controversial 3-2 vote yesterday, the FCC agreed to free up the 2.5 GHz band of wireless spectrum for 5G services. Known as the Educational Broadband Service, the band had been used for educational purposes since the 1960s by educational institutions and nonprofits supporting education. The unused and underused mid-band spectrum will now go on the auction block. The only …
Miranda Allen selected to represent NATE on FCC’s job skills and training opportunities working group
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai today announced his appointments to serve on two Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC) working groups: (1) the Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Job Skills and Training Opportunities working group, and (2) the Increasing Broadband Investment in Low-Income Communities working group. Miranda Allen, CEO of NATE member company RSI Corp of Kowa, Kansas, has been selected to …
CTIA develops a new website to combat RF fear and fake news, but it can’t stop there
Commentary — Recurring headlines purporting that 5G is untested and RF radiation from cell towers could cause cancer is the ammunition being used to close down or prevent the addition of cell sites on school campuses or on adjacent properties throughout the nation. To cool down the heated campaigns, towercos and carriers simply refer opponents to the FCC’s Wireless Devices and …
NATE reaches an all-time high milestone of 900 members
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that it has established a new all-time record for member companies, reaching the 900 member mark for the first time in the organization’s 24-year history. Broadcast Construction Solutions, a San Antonio, Texas based company, has the special distinction of becoming the 900th NATE member company. “NATE member companies encompass all layers …
Tower Infrastructure Deployment bill introduced by Representatives Walberg and Clarke
Update: June 14, 2019 – Commenting on the bill he co-sponsored with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke to establish a Telecommunications Workforce Development Advisory Council, Congressman Tim Walberg said in a statement today, “As the telecom industry deploys next generation technologies, there are tens of thousands of good-paying, highly-skilled jobs but nobody to fill them. Developing a skilled workforce needs to be …
Small cell deployment highlighted in NATE’s newest Climber Connection video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a video entitled “Small Cells: Here, There and Everywhere” designed to showcase the prominent role next generation technologies and the Association’s member companies are playing to densify networks on the road to 5G. The fast-paced video was unveiled at the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2019 Conference in New Orleans, …
New inductees profiled in ‘Tower Climbers Hall of Shame’
Facebook pages provide an uncensored opportunity for stupidity June 5, 2019 – For over a dozen years Wireless Estimator has highlighted some of the most egregious tower climber safety infractions in its Tower Climbers Hall of Shame. Almost daily you could view violations on Facebook. Thankfully, most Facebook group moderators took the high road and now delete troubling photos. But …
Nebraska streamlines small cell installations with bill passage
Industry trade associations applauded Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts’ signing the state’s small cell deployment legislation, available here. “On behalf of NATE’s 12 member companies in Nebraska, the association applauds Governor Ricketts and members of the Nebraska State Senate for getting this important legislation across the finish line,” stated NATE Wireless Industry Network Director Scott Krouse. “NATE’s Wireless Industry Network worked …
