The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it will accept public comments through Dec. 30, 2024, on its proposed rule issuing a heat injury and illness prevention standard for outdoor and indoor workplaces. According to NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, the rule would require employers to develop a heat injury and illness prevention plan and provide water, rest breaks, …
Better data, better quality: How drones are revolutionizing UScellular’s tower maintenance
By J. Sharpe Smith, Contributing Editor According to a speaker at a recent NATE conference, data provided by drones is helping carriers increase their quality control, and tower maintenance companies are getting a report card judging their work on the tower. “I’m a data person. I like to measure things, and we’ve had an amazing experience with drones,” said Brandi …
Tower Family Foundation: A decade of delivering financial support to affected industry workers and their families
The Tower Family Foundation officially celebrates its 10-year anniversary today as a 501c-3 non-profit organization supporting the industry’s workforce and their families. The Foundation officially launched during a reception and press conference that was held on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at CTIA’s “Super Mobility Week” in Las Vegas, Nevada. The impetus behind the Tower Family Foundation occurred when representatives of …
‘Bible of Safety’ updated: NATE’s new video explores key changes to A10.48-2023 standard
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a safety video highlighting the revised ANSI/ASSP A10.48-2023 standard. The standard—Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification, and Maintenance of Communications Structures—serves as the industry’s playbook and provides comprehensive safety guidance for the entire tower construction, service, and maintenance activities. The video includes informative, back-and-forth dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley …
Atlas shrugs off industry downturn after acquiring QualTek as it signals for other contractor acquisitions
QualTek Services, formerly one of the wireless infrastructure industry’s largest turnkey contractors that scaled down during post-Covid years and after emerging from bankruptcy, has been acquired by Atlas Holdings, a company that owns and operates 28 companies in various sectors. However, this is Atlas’s first acquisition in the telecom space, and they’re hoping to leverage their proprietary technology-driven platforms and …
NATE, Crown Castle and JHC Construction host California Congressman Obernolte on a site visit
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and member companies Crown Castle and JHC Construction LLC facilitated an opportunity for Congressman Jay Obernolte to conduct a communications tower site visit in the 23rd Congressional District of California. During the site visit, Congressman Obernolte toured a Crown Castle communications tower and compound with event participants to learn about the work that is …
Celebrate the unsung heroes: Shine a spotlight on the Sky High Heroes of the telecom industry
Wireless Estimator is proud to announce the industry-supported Sky High Heroes Awards, which will spotlight the unsung heroes throughout the year who elevate the telecommunications infrastructure industry to new heights who will be selected by their peers and industry stakeholders. These are the tower crews who brave the elements to keep our nation connected, the program managers who navigate complex …
It’s your last chance to attend a complimentary in-person or remote training course on PPE for telecom workers
NATE The Infrastructure Contractors Association understands that staying ahead in today’s fast-paced environment requires continuous learning and growth. That is why they are extending a special invitation to those who may have missed their previous free training course on PPE for Telecom Workers: Hazard ID, Selection and Use. The last complimentary course will be held in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. …
Texas State Wireless Association takes on lead sponsorship role of Tower Family Foundation golf event
The Tower Family Foundation has announced that the Texas State Wireless Association (TXWA) will once again be the premier sponsor for the upcoming golf event to be held at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 20, 2025, as part of the highly anticipated series of events hosted in conjunction with the NATE UNITE 2025 Conference and …
NATE doubles down on safety with the addition of Brian Bicknese to assist its member companies
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that it has hired Brian Bicknese as the Director of Safety and Education, a new staff position established by the Association. Brian officially begins his duties with NATE on August 1. Bicknese, a long-time industry subject matter expert whose background includes field and management experience as a tower technician, foreman, project manager, …
Urgent call from NATE, WIA and other stakeholders for FAA to finalize BVLOS drone operations rules
Spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a coalition of industry organizations, including NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Wireless Infrastructure Association have formally requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) swiftly issue rules to enable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones. In a letter addressed to Secretary …
NATE cautions: First aid supplies on the tower job site should include more than your standard ANSI medical kit
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association unveiled a video covering first aid at communication tower sites. The video is the fifth to debut in Volume 7 of the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection Series. The video includes an informative, back-and-forth dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley and Brandon Foster, Director of Safety and Field Operations of NATE member company VIKOR. During their conversation, …
21 students selected to receive scholarships from the Tower Family Foundation for 2024-2025 academic year
The Tower Family Foundation announced today the recipients of the non-profit organization’s inaugural merit-based scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. In 2024, the Tower Family Foundation opened the program to the broader NATE community by offering a limited number of merit-based scholarships that are to the Association’s member company employees and their eligible dependents. The following students were selected …
Spending an enlightening nine minutes with rope expert Loui McCurley could easily save climbers’ lives
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has unveiled a crucial new video focusing on the importance of safety ropes in the communications tower industry. Featuring an engaging dialogue between narrator Sean Gilhooley and Loui McCurley, CEO of NATE member company Beal-PMI, Inc., the video covers vital topics such as the types of safety ropes currently in use, the materials they are …
SBA Communications’ Joe Hayes and Ethan Preston take trophy as ‘tough’est tower techs in America
Although exceptional physical condition is a requisite for being a tower tech due to many challenging circumstances, this weekend’s second annual Tough Tower competitors were judged upon their proficiency in complex rescue, simple rescue, full install, lighting install, level lift, maneuvering, punch items, and JLG/azimuths. Seven teams of two technicians competed in the North Jackson, Ohio, event on Saturday. In …
With 5G at 50% completion, NTIA is jump-starting 6G deployment with questions on a range of issues
At last week’s Connect X in Atlanta, panelists in multiple sessions estimated that 5G had been rolled out across approximately 50% of America. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wants to jump-start 6G deployment. It requests public comments to guide executive branch policies on the next generation of wireless communications technology development. As industry, governmental, academic, and civil …
Celebrating connectivity, NATE announces Tower Technician Appreciation Day
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has officially declared Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. This annual event, now in its eighth year, is dedicated to recognizing the essential role of tower technicians who maintain and enhance communication infrastructures, thereby ensuring connectivity across the United States and globally. On this day, NATE calls on member companies and other stakeholders …
Legal disciplinary strategies being offered for employees who disregard safety obligations in live NATE webinar
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 11:00 AM EDT, Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Fisher Phillips Partner will conduct a live NATE webinar titled, “Managing Safety Risk Takers: Management and Legal Disciplinary Strategies for Employees who Disregard Safety Obligations.” Without a disciplinary component as part of your enforcement policy for legal discipline of employees who disregard safety obligations, the possibility of effectively using …
NYC Comptroller Lander leverages pension fund clout for tower worker safety reporting, but is it necessary?
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, representing the five New York City pension funds, has successfully secured agreements with leading telecommunications infrastructure firms—SBA Communications Corporation (SBA), American Tower Corporation (American Tower), and Crown Castle—to improve their reporting on worker safety at communication tower sites. Lander emphasized the difficult conditions faced by tower workers, noting, “From dizzying heights to challenging …
Omaha stakeholders’ roundtable addressed the state of broadband connectivity at all levels
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association was invited to participate in a roundtable event hosted today in Omaha, Nebraska by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. NATE President & CEO Todd Schlekeway represented the Association at the roundtable, which was held at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Headquarters. During the event, Senator Fischer and Commissioner Carr …
