] During their May 6–7 Congressional Fly-In event in Washington, D.C., NATE members will showcase a whiteboard animation presented today, highlighting the critical issues that are forcing many contractors out of business. They will personally deliver a petition for Fairness and Sustainability in Wireless Infrastructure Contracting to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. [enlarge image] NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today unveiled …
Golden State, gilded rates: Fixed high cell tower property lease outlays challenge industry norms
The City of Fullerton, California, has signed a significant lease agreement with Phoenix Tower International to construct a monopine cellular tower at 2470 West Pioneer Avenue. The deal, valued at approximately $893,000 over the initial ten-year period, will generate an annual revenue of $74,450.98 for the city’s general fund, with a four percent escalation rate applied yearly. The city is …
Canada mourns loss of tower tech in New Brunswick—but remains a global leader in elevated work safety
Canada’s telecom industry is mourning the loss of a 25-year-old tower technician who tragically died while working on a cellular tower in Riverview, New Brunswick, on Monday. Despite the heartbreaking incident, safety records show that Canada remains one of the safest countries in the world for elevated workers in the wireless infrastructure sector. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, …
Both defendants plead guilty in Oklahoma tower sabotage that caused $500K in damage
Two Choctaw County, OK residents who toppled a 500-foot broadcast tower in Hugo, OK in a brazen copper theft scheme last year have pleaded guilty in federal court, nearly 15 months after the incident cut off a local radio station and triggered a multi-agency investigation. Candice Marie Logan, 34, and Matthew Wilson, 37, pleaded guilty with identical pleas to Interstate …
Tower tech shot while on Verizon tower, Air Force members involved in accidental target practice incident
A tower tech working on a Verizon cell tower was shot in the thigh Thursday evening while three U.S. Air Force members were engaged in target practice on federal land outside Guernsey, according to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 7:30 p.m. to the area near Warm Springs Trace, Wyoming, after receiving reports of a shooting, Sheriff David …
‘Apocalyptic’ ice storm takes out 630-foot broadcast tower in East Jordan, Michigan
Macdonald Garber Broadcasting’s CHR station, 106 KHQ (105.9 WKHQ-FM) in Charlevoix, Michigan, experienced a significant disruption when its 630-foot tower collapsed Sunday evening in East Jordan. The collapse resulted from what is being described as an “apocalyptic” ice storm that brought multiple days of heavy sleet and freezing rain to the region, leading to substantial ice accumulation. This severe weather …
Industry and labor coalition warns T-Mobile–UScellular merger could trigger rural tower shutdowns
A broad coalition of industry groups, public interest organizations, and a national labor union is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take a hard look at the proposed multibillion-dollar acquisition of UScellular by T-Mobile, warning that the deal could harm rural connectivity, suppress competition, and undermine decades of federally subsidized infrastructure development. In a detailed filing submitted to the …
DigitalBridge continues to face market woes as stock hits new lows and European director departs
In late 2021, when it was announced that Matt Evans was hired as Digital Bridge Group, Inc.’s Managing Director Head of Europe, he said, “I am excited to be joining the DigitalBridge team at such a pivotal time.” According to Bloomberg, he is leaving DigitalBridge at a pivotal time as the company tries to shore up its flagging stock value. …
Evan Feinman departs BEAD program, warning of ‘deeply negative outcomes’ from favoring satellites
The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is at a crossroads following the departure of its director, Evan Feinman. In a farewell email to staff (available below), Feinman issued a stark warning that proposed shifts in the program’s direction—moving away from fiber broadband infrastructure in favor of satellite-based alternatives—could result in “deeply negative outcomes” for rural America. …
Back to basics: Crown Castle reverts to core tower strategy after shedding fiber and small cells assets for $8.5 billion
Crown Castle Inc. has finalized a definitive agreement to sell its Fiber segment, marking a strategic shift to focus on its core tower business. The transaction, valued at $8.5 billion, involves EQT Active Core Infrastructure fund acquiring Crown Castle’s small cells business, while Zayo Group Holdings Inc. will take over the fiber solutions business. The deal is expected to close …
Tariff shock: Steel price surge threatens carrier expansion, squeezing manufacturers and contractors
Since the U.S. telecommunications industry relies heavily on steel to construct and maintain cell towers, mounts, and products for new cell site locations and upgrades, tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, reintroduced by the Trump administration yesterday, are already creating significant market turbulence, affecting everything from carrier investment decisions to supply chain stability with President Trump’s sweeping 25% tariffs on …
Fiber is no longer the cornerstone: Lutnick’s BEAD program’s shift should benefit wireless and satellite
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a significant overhaul of the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, signaling a shift from its previous fiber-centric focus. Fiber optics, once seen as the cornerstone for high-speed internet infrastructure, could become less viable due to escalating costs and a new “tech-neutral” approach. The Commerce Secretary’s initiatives could result in wireless infrastructure …
Just months after announcing its formation, Trueline’s collapse sparks class-action lawsuit by laid-off workers
Trueline Infrastructure Solutions, a broadband construction firm backed by private equity giant Grain Management, abruptly shut down last week, laying off nearly all its 500 employees on Friday. The sudden closure shocked employees, prompting a class-action lawsuit against Trueline for allegedly violating federal labor laws. In its reporting, Fierce Network stated that Trueline emailed its staff on Friday to inform them that the …
Insider theft: Telecom contractor’s employee charged with stealing hundreds of T-Mobile’s cell tower batteries
A Phoenix, Arizona man faces 27 felony charges for allegedly stealing backup batteries used in cell towers across the area, threatening emergency communications during power outages. According to an indictment, Andres Samuel Contreras, 29, is accused of stealing over 900 backup batteries from 66 T-Mobile cell tower sites between August 2024 and February 2025, resulting in over $330,000 in damages. …
“This map proves absolutely nothing”: Attorney gives Greenfield residents 80% chance of blocking AT&T 170-foot monopole
The ongoing debate over a proposed 170-foot cell tower near 112 Newton St. in Greenfield, MA, took a new turn late last month, as the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) extended the hearing following a contentious two-hour presentation by Viridi Wireless and AT&T representatives. At the heart of the dispute are the coverage maps presented by the applicants, which have …
Texas tower technician falls to his death during a T-Mobile build in Louisiana on an American Tower site
At an opening reception during NATE UNITE 2025 in Raleigh, NC, last Monday evening, an American Tower Corp project manager unexpectedly obtained a microphone and brought a lively crowd to silence with a somber announcement: “An hour ago,” he said, a tower climber fell to his death. His reverent prayer was well received by those in attendance, and news of the …
Historic charm meets bathroom chic: The saga of SBA’s toilet paper tower, which gained an extra roll
A telecommunications tower off Line Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, has been a source of debate since its completion in 2023. Historic preservation advocates are pushing for changes, arguing that the structure deviates significantly from its initially approved design. Based on the initial designs, the Historic Charleston Foundation, one of the organizations involved in the review of the structure, …
Tower technician critically injured after contact with high-voltage power line adjacent to Verizon monopole
UPDATE: February 5, 2025 – According to OSHA, the employer of the tower technician who was rescued was True North Management Services, LLC of Fenton, MO. The agency will not provide any additional information until they complete their investigation. A tower technician on a cell phone tower in Burleson, Texas, was critically injured on Friday afternoon after coming into contact …
Contracting industry will collapse without reform in carrier practices, warns NATE CEO Schlekeway
Today, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association released an open letter addressing critical challenges facing the wireless contracting industry. As the association celebrates its 30th anniversary, it simultaneously confronts one of its most turbulent eras. While benefiting from the tireless efforts of contractors and small businesses to build and maintain the nation’s communications infrastructure, the wireless industry, primarily directed by …
Engineers to provide a unified front with the launch of a consortium to accelerate and optimize network deployments
Telecom structural engineering firms Colliers Engineering & Design, Congruex, Kimley-Horn, and Paul J. Ford & Company today announced the launch of the Mobile Infrastructure Engineering Consortium (MIEC). This groundbreaking consortium is dedicated to advancing global wireless engineering standards and best practices. It will empower mobile network operators, tower companies, and digital infrastructure stakeholders to accelerate deployments, achieve cost efficiencies, and uphold stringent safety and compliance standards. …
