With new members of the 116th Congress having had the opportunity to settle in, NATE members reached out to them as well as seasoned legislators to inform them of their company’s efforts and roadblocks in building out 5G as well as maintaining the nation’s communications networks. The inaugural fly-in was initiated by NATE Executive Director Todd Schlekeway. Prior to being …
Tower techs, it’s your day in the sun tomorrow; Walk and climb proudly
NATE today unveiled a commemoration declaring tomorrow, May 8, 2019, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the third consecutive year, a day has been set aside by NATE to coincide with OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down Week in order to pay tribute to the important work that tower technicians conduct on a daily basis to enable a mobile society. “NATE is …
NATE and OSHA encourage participation in National Safety Stand-Down next week
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) is urging its members and all wireless industry companies and stakeholders to actively participate in next week’s OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. NATE and OSHA are requesting that employers set aside time throughout this week to facilitate safety meetings and activities in order to have an open discussion with their workers about industry safety …
Dozens of industry professionals take advantage of free advanced rigger training, next course is May 17
Congratulations are being offered to the graduates (top group) of Monday’s Advanced Rigging Principles Training Course hosted by NATE in Urbana, Iowa The free training was made possible due to a U.S. Department of Labor-OSHA Susan Harwood Grant (SH-05018-SH8) that the Association has received. Industry professionals also took advantage of an April 18 course that was held in Phoenix, Ariz. …
$2 trillion infrastructure proposal will have a welcomed emphasis on broadband
The wireless construction industry could get a welcomed shot in the arm since broadband is expected to be part of the $2 trillion spending plan on infrastructure that President Donald Trump agreed to in a meeting with Democratic leaders today after he met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House to begin …
Serious workforce shortage has the wireless industry and FCC pulling together to solve it
Although it’s difficult to assess exactly how many additional trained tower technicians America needs to build out 5G, it’s clear that there is a shortage of skilled workers and Aiken Technical College (ATC) in South Carolina is helping to fill that gap with the nation’s most successful tower and wireless installation training program. After observing the ATC program in Graniteville …
‘To Tie-Off or Not to Tie-Off’ video examines step bolts for personal fall arrest systems
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today released a video that was produced as a result of several prominent industry step bolt testing events that were conducted at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) in Dayton, Ohio. The #ClimberConnection video, entitled “To Tie-Off or Not to Tie-Off”, contains important safety information that the industry’s tower technician workforce needs to …
First ‘brick’ has provided workers with an enjoyable 46 years of infrastructure builds. Thanks, Marty!
Forty-six years ago today on April 3, 1973, Marty Cooper changed the course of history when he made the first call from a handheld, portable phone in midtown Manhattan. With the transformative impact of smartphones being felt by industries across the globe, and as the first 5G smartphones hit the market in 2019, Wireless Estimator and the National Association of …
A safer more professional industry mourns the passing of NATE founder Bill Carlson
William (Bill) Carlson, President and CEO of Tower Systems, Inc., and heralded as the founding father of the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), passed away peacefully at home on Mon., March 25, 2019, leaving a legacy of friendship, leadership, mentoring and a collective belief that through his efforts the wireless construction industry has become one of the most professional …
Successful NATE UNITE 2019 conference is captured in video
NATE today unveiled a video showcasing the sights and sounds from the successful NATE UNITE 2019 Conference in Grapevine, Texas. The video is the second to debut in Volume 4 of the Association’s popular Climber Connection series. The video provides testimonial interviews with NATE UNITE 2019 attendees and recaps the popular educational sessions, training opportunities, keynote luncheons, vendor displays, social …
Congressman Loebsack tours Crown Castle monopole site in Iowa
U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) today conducted a site visit to a communications tower located in Le Claire, Iowa. The tour was facilitated by representatives from the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), the Association’s Wireless Industry Network (WIN) and Crown Castle. The site visit was held at a Crown Castle-owned monopole cell tower site that is conveniently located in …
Short Band of Brothers video highlights the long term comradeship of climbers
NATE today released the first #ClimberConversation video of 2019, shining a spotlight on the camaraderie that develops between tower technician crews. The video was released at the 2019 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, Nevada, a conference that NATE is actively participating in this week. The #ClimberConversation volume is a companion series to the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection campaign …
NATE to host inaugural member Congressional Fly-In event in the nation’s Capital
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today announced the key details associated with the inaugural NATE Member Congressional Fly-In Event in Washington, D.C. on May 14-15, 2019. The NATE Member Congressional Fly-In will be a time for representatives from NATE member companies across the country to converge in the Nation’s Capital. to conduct meetings with the congressional delegations and …
Women of NATE leaders featured in the latest FCC podcast
With the broadcast repack in full swing and the race to 5G heating up, tower work is essential to getting those efforts across the finish line. Demand for tower crews is sky high—whether it’s working a 50-foot cell tower or a 2,000-foot broadcast tower. And it’s easy to take for granted when our cell phones and televisions work, but it’s …
Three industry leaders appointed to Tower Family Foundation positions to assist continued growth
The Tower Family Foundation announced today three appointments to the non-profit organization’s leadership structure, individuals who are committed to ensuring that the Foundation continues to expand its ability to serve wireless workers and their families when there is a work site injury or fatality. A recent Climber Connection video highlights how an injured tower technician and his wife were overwhelmed by the Foundation’s assistance. …
All-time record attendance at NATE UNITE 2019 announced as Association ramps up for Raleigh
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that last week’s NATE UNITE 2019 Conference in Grapevine, Tex. reached record-setting heights. The Association announced that 2,059 individuals registered to attend the conference. This total eclipses the organization’s all-time conference registered attendee total in its 24-year history, exceeding the previous attendance record of 1,856 from NATE UNITE 2018 in Nashville, …
Payment terms and the development of large contractors were hot NATE UNITE 2019 topics
Two of the hottest topics at NATE UNITE 2019 in Grapevine, Tex. last week were contractor payment terms and the possibility that an upsurge in the establishment of large contractors could be injurious to the industry mainstay of smaller companies. Wireless Estimator’s recently published results of an extensive contractor survey, was frequently discussed amongst NATE’s members and the Association’s directors …
Industry giants CommScope and Ericsson capture FCC Commissioner Carr’s attention during Texas tours
Before Commissioner Brendan Carr provided his Monday evening keynote address at the National Association of Tower Erectors’ annual convention, NATE UNITE 2019, in Grapevine, Tex., CommScope gave him a Cook’s tour of their sprawling 10-acre manufacturing facility in Euless where he learned from engineers, product executives and other company officials of their ability to provide vertically integrated wireless products from …
Tower Family Foundation and NATE announce 2019’s scholarship recipient
The Tower Family Foundation and National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) today jointly announced that Austin Uhr, a junior civil engineering student from Evansville, Indiana has been named as the 2019 recipient of the Ernie Jones Memorial Civil Engineering Scholarship at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. The official announcement was made at the NATE Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, …
NATE pays homage to Coleman and Moore for their many years of dedicated service
O’Brien, Aero and Ruedlinger awarded Chairman’s Coin; Tracy and Miller recognized for years of service on the NATE Board of Directors NATE honored Jim Coleman, National Tower Safety Manager at AT&T in Birmingham, Alabama and Pat Moore, Operations Team at Stainless in Cedar Park, Texas during the Awards Luncheon at NATE UNITE 2019 in Grapevine, Texas on Wednesday. FCC Chairman …
