In assessing Wireless Estimator’s Top 10 News stories in 2021, there were dozens to choose from pertaining to safety, fatalities, 5G infrastructure, COVID-19, workforce shortages, and Dish’s ambitious buildout. However, there was one story that dwarfed all others in readership and its ability to shape 2021 and beyond – NATE’s full-court press in exposing and championing its core contractor members’ concerns regarding …
Senate confirms FCC Chair Rosenworcel to a new term, the first woman to lead the agency
The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed Jessica Rosenworcel in a 68-31 vote as the first appointed female chairperson of the FCC. Rosenworcel had been acting chairperson since January. Tuesday’s action means the FCC narrowly avoided a Republican majority, which could have happened if Rosenworcel’s current term was allowed to expire at the end of the year. “It is a tremendous honor …
A 1099 crew’s 53-year-old tower technician falls to his death from a Verizon tower in Texas
UPDATE: December 2, 2021 — OSHA has released the contractor’s name that the agency will be investigating. Wireless Estimator has been able to confirm today the death of a 53-year-old tower technician in Garrison, TX on November 17. The fatality came to light when tower technician Chris Sanders posted on a Facebook group: Sad day on the tower today! He …
Actor, comedian, entertainer Rob Riggle to deliver comic relief at NATE UNITE 2022
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced today that famed actor/comedian/writer/producer/director Rob Riggle will deliver the keynote address at the NATE UNITE 2022 Conference in Las Vegas. NATE UNITE 2022 will take place February 21-24, 2022 at Caesars Forum. NATE UNITE is widely regarded as the premier and most comprehensive education event in the communications infrastructure industry. Riggle is scheduled …
Ohio Lt. Governor Husted announces that NATE-developed TTT-I curriculum to be offered at three schools
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association participated today in a Telecommunications Tower Technician I (TTT-I) program launch announcement event at North Central State College in Mansfield, Ohio. The workforce event, hosted by Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, included a celebrated announcement that TTT-I pilot programs will be established at three Ohio schools: Hocking College …
Four trailblazing pioneers inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame
A trailblazing class of pioneers was inducted into the prestigious Wireless Hall of Fame Thursday night. The event, hosted by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF), a nonprofit organization that has honored the hall of fame members for the past decade, celebrated Pat Riordan, Mark Crosby, Jim Tracy and Ari Fitzgerald. “We were so happy to highlight the accomplishments of the Hall of …
Inflation delivers another gut punch to wireless contractors as it reaches a 31-year high
Consumer prices surged at the fastest pace in more than three decades in October as fuel costs accelerated, supply chains remained under pressure and construction materials and steel prices moved higher — bad news for economic policymakers at the Federal Reserve and for the Biden White House. Even worse news for wireless contractors who are locked into Tier 1 companies’ …
It was anticipated, but now there’s proof that NWSA Certification dramatically reduces safety incidents
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that due to the collaboration of all sectors of the telecommunications industry, there has been a dramatic three-to-one decrease in tower crew-related safety issues and accidents when NWSA trade certified technicians are present on jobsites. This major safety improvement is the result of countless hours donated by volunteers representing the broadest-ever consortium …
Pelosi’s on again, off again historic infrastructure bill passes with NATE and WIA applauding broadband funding
After months of frustrating attempts to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally achieved success with the support of 13 Republican House members on Friday night. The bill, which received 19 GOP votes in the Senate, was dissociated from the broader social spending package known as Build Back Better “Tonight, we took a monumental step forward as a …
John S. Hanna Sr., industry pioneer and mentor to many, passes at 83
John S. Hanna, Sr., 83, who along with his wife Louise established Tower & Communications Services, Inc. of Florence, SC in 1970, passed away on October 31, 2021, leaving the industry with fond memories of a man who dedicated his life to his family, friends and the many wireless workers who learned their craft from him and expanded their horizons with …
FCC is considering a DJI drone ban that would take a tool out of the contractor’s toolbox and not replace it
The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to boot China Telecom Americas off of U.S. networks, finding that the service provider could not quash concerns that it’s beholden to surveillance requests from the Chinese government. The decision means China Telecom Americas must now discontinue U.S. services within 60 days, ending its authorization for the past 20 years to operate in the …
NATE announces the STAR Initiative participating companies for 2021-2022 program year
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today announced the member companies who have been formally approved to participate in the STAR Initiative program for the 2021-2022 year. NATE has proudly accepted 176 participating companies in this year’s STAR Initiative program.The STAR Initiative will be entering its twelfth program year in 2021-2022. Since its inception, the program’s site safety audits and program …
Monica Vink to head Legacy Telecommunications’ marketing efforts to increase its brand strength
Legacy Telecommunications, based out of Gig Harbor, WA, has announced the growth of their team with the addition of Monica Vink as Marketing Director. Vink’s role will focus on strategic goals and objectives related to marketing, branding, digital footprint, and social influence. She has over 10 years of experience in wireless infrastructure and has held various positions supporting the broadband and …
Contractors rebelling against ‘take it or leave it’ matrix pricing that could easily endanger carriers’ 5G builds
In 1999 when The Matrix opened in theatres, carriers and towercos began utilizing matrix pricing to project CapEx budgets for macro sites, while still allowing acceptable margins and opportunities for contractors to continue to be successful. Fast forward 22 years. The Matrix Resurrections sequel will hit the big screens this December and it is expected to be hugely profitable, unlike …
It’s possible the infrastructure bill will require tower techs and other workers to receive huge pay increases
Since the text of the infrastructure bill was released earlier this month, industry media have been surgically dissecting the limited details in the $1.2 trillion act that provides $65 billion for the nation’s broadband development. What is known is that $42.45 billion will be funneled to states to fund projects each state approves independently, if their telecommunications provider can offer speeds …
You’ll love big brother watching you during the Las Vegas Tower Family Foundation charity golf event
You can get an early start to your 2022 golf season by hitting the links and participating in the Tower Family Foundation Golf Event, Powered by NATE’s Wireless industry Network (WIN). And if you’re fortunate enough to hit a hole in one, there’s a good chance it will be recorded. This exciting and fun event will take place on Thursday, …
Fischer amendment on broadband will create multi-agency mapping tool for deployment
Organizations and industry groups released statements supporting an amendment sponsored by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, that passed unanimously during the Senate’s consideration of the bipartisan infrastructure package. The amendment will increase transparency by directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a publicly accessible online mapping tool for broadband infrastructure deployment. This …
Infrastructure bill passes the Senate, but Speaker Pelosi is expected to play her trump card to delay it
The Senate this afternoon passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan bill to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure with modernized highways, roads, bridges, railways and transit systems as well as provide needed broadband services, after months of intense debate over how to prioritize and pay for President Joe Biden’s plan to boost the U.S. economy. However, the bill now faces potentially lengthy …
11th hour amendment to infrastructure bill will assist nation’s workforce needs
Yesterday evening, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Thune-Tester amendment to the infrastructure bill, which aims to address the workforce needs of the telecommunications industry and it was a welcomed addition, according to trade groups NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). “We are very pleased that Senator John Thune’s Telecom Skilled Workforce Act has been …
Dish wants contractors to ‘accept or reject’ unprofitable blue plate special colo pricing
Dish Wireless’s urgency to build out their 5G mobile network has been long-seen by many wireless contractors as their sought after savior that would allow them to move a segment of their workforce to more profitable work than the depressed market pricing they are being offered by many carriers or their turfing vendors. However, the expected supply and demand shift …
