Elliott Investment Management L.P., which manages funds that collectively have an investment of approximately $2 billion in Crown Castle Inc., released a letter and presentation today detailing its perspectives on the company’s history of underperformance and calling for significant changes. One of those adjustments is for the Board of Directors to immediately provide an interim CEO to replace Jay Brown, who has held that position …
Delusional ‘Postmaster General’ serial coax thief Douglas Lee arrested again in North Carolina
In August, Yadkin County NC Sheriff’s Office investigators received a report that someone had climbed a tower in East Bend and cut off several hundred feet of coaxial cable that would likely be sold to a scrap metal firm. In October, another Yadkin County theft of copper cable was reported in Yadkinville. Detectives, with the assistance of AT&T Mobility Services, …
Big policy decisions loom over the future of America’s wireless networks, says WIA CEO Halley
By Patrick Halley, President and CEO, WIA – Wireless Infrastructure Association Access to broadband – fixed and mobile – is table stakes for participation in today’s Internet-driven economy. Hence the billions of dollars coming out of Washington to connect every unserved home in America. That’s good news for consumers who remain on the other side of the digital divide. Beyond a …
After an excellent Q3 financial report by DigitalBridge, the stock unexpectedly falls off a cliff
When American Tower Corporation (ATC)) released its Q3 earnings report on October 26, 2023, analysts were pleased with the company, beating its earnings per share of $1.26 by 11.51%. The company also had a surprise increase in revenue of 2.10% at $2.82 billion. Although ATC cautioned that its 2024 expectations might be slightly lower since annual 5G investments by U.S. …
Following a tech’s death, the industry unites for best practices for wire mesh grips in new NATE advisory
After a 32-year-old tower technician passed away last December in Texas and Wireless Estimator identified that a hybrid cable hoisting grip failure might have caused the fatality, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association engaged a Hoisting Grip Task Team to examine the use of wire mesh grips (WMG), and they provided initial guidance. Those subject matter experts within the industry, …
Ohio tower technician succumbs from injuries following a 250-foot fall during an AT&T installation
Services have been announced for Darren Bishop, 28, of Proctorville, OH, who passed away on Monday, September 25, 2023, after falling approximately 250 feet off a 300-foot guyed tower in Huntsburg Township, OH. According to individuals knowledgeable of the incident, Bishop, employed by Overland Contracting, had been working on an AT&T overlay project managed by Black & Veatch when he …
Rewards offered for a copper stripper’s arrest and recovery of a Hydradyne hoist
Two cash rewards have been offered, one leading to the arrest of an individual who stripped a Subcarrier Communications tower of copper and another for information that will lead to recovering a single drum winch and trailer. Last week, Tad Pepmeier was at a gas station in Monroe City, Indiana, close to where he lives, and noticed a tower climber …
Crown Castle’s Federal Sales Director says he was fired in retaliation for whistleblowing
A US District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, on August 23, 2023, denied Crown Castle USA, Inc.’s request to dismiss a whistleblower’s complaint for failure to make a claim, and the company is now required to answer Matthew Foosaner’s amended complaint by September 15, 2023. Foosaner alleges one count of retaliation against Crown Castle according to the …
Breakaway pole requirement is just one of several ‘misapplied standards’ in Verizon’s New Jersey lawsuit
Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit on September 7, 2023, against Monmouth County in New Jersey federal court, alleging the County wrongly rejected its applications to provide small cell site structures along the Borough of Belmar’s boardwalk based upon misapplied standards that were not supported by substantial evidence. Verizon said that it initiated a discussion with Belmar approximately five years ago …
Midco sells its towers and is sold on Sioux Falls as its new headquarters
Midco announced that it sold its tower portfolio to K2Towers. The companies did not reveal the amount of the transaction nor how many towers were in the agreement. However, according to Midcontinent Communications’ registrations with the FCC, the company has 33 structures. In a statement, Midco said the sale further solidifies the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional broadband services to …
As communities struggle with Idalia’s damage, cell tower sites have weathered the hurricane
Hurricane Idalia left a path of destruction in areas of Florida normally not impacted by a hurricane, leaving a trail of destruction on Wednesday in Florida before losing power as it moved inland through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Although the Idalia might become one of the US’s costliest hurricanes, fortunately, it appears to have had a minimal impact …
Charleston’s historic skyline is degraded by a 5G mono toilet paper pole: residents
Founded 353 years ago, the City of Charleston, SC, is one of America’s most beautifully preserved architectural and historical treasures. It boasts the first public college, museum, and playhouse in the U.S., and unfortunately, as The Post and Courier has labeled it, the first “toilet paper tower” that has become a “prominent and regrettable Charleston landmark.” The publication’s editorial excoriated the erection …
Vertical Bridge lawsuit says 30-foot tower near Finley Point, Montana won’t fly
Vertical Bridge filed a lawsuit last week against Lake County, Montana, stating that there is a well-known gap in mobile coverage near the Finley Point area of Polson, Montana, and an unnamed carrier wants to fix it. Still, Vertical Bridge claims that Lake County’s onerous restriction of only allowing a 30-foot tall tower violates the towerco’s “federal rights” under the …
Maui cell site outages drop considerably as death toll rises to 111 with possibly 1,000 still missing
Although cell phone coverage has improved significantly in Maui today with only five out of 21 cell sites on the west coast out of service, the death toll has risen to 111, and according to authorities, more than 1,000 people are estimated still to be missing. The five sites represent an out of service amount of 24%, about half of …
“Y’all better come back for your trial on coax theft,” alleged New York thieves told after being set free
If you’re hell-bent on making a quick buck by illegally stripping coax from communications towers and you live in Akron, Ohio, your county’s landscape is pin cushioned with approximately 300 or more towers to cherry-pick from. So why did two Akron men, 49-year-old Phillip Lakes and 36-year-old Bryan Good, travel 140 miles to the closest county in New York, Chautauqua …
Cell tower fires did not cause Maui’s communications outages, power was the problem
According to Hawaii Governor Josh Green, residents will be allowed to return to the devastated town of Lahaina in Maui today, stating, “They will see destruction like they have never seen in their lives.” Authorities said that most of the flames were contained. Currently, the death toll is estimated at 55 but is expected to rise as the interior of …
Electrifying love and other heartbreaks are resolved after tower climbs in India
Although unauthorized tower climber incidents are more frequent in India, the U.S. has its share of climbing events, such as a man who scaled a 320-foot guyed tower late last month in Thornton, CO, after he exited a stolen car after a police chase and thought he could disappear in the clouds. However, over the years, communications towers are often …
U.S. Cellular stock almost doubles after announcement it is being readied for the auction block
The boards of directors of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and United States Cellular Corporation have decided to initiate a process to explore strategic alternatives for U.S. Cellular. The comprehensive process will explore a range of strategic options. “The TDS board believes that now is the right time for a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for U.C. Cellular. We will …
DigitalBridge says it will continue to profit from providing the picks and shovels for Gen AI that is edge delivered
DigitalBridge stock gained 1.2% in Friday trading after the company turned in much stronger than expected Q2 revenue and said it remains on track for its $8.0B fundraising target. During the Q2 analysts call, CEO Marc Ganzi’s message of “promises made, promises kept” appeared to resonate with shareholders as DBRG in pre-market this morning was up 4.23% at $16.73. Ganzi said the company …
DigitalBridge is betting a quarter billion dollars on its competitors becoming more profitable
On Monday, during its second-quarter earnings call, SBA Communications cited a slowdown in U.S. carrier activity, similar to previous announcements by American Tower Corp. and Crown Castle, whose Q2 activity had declined a whopping 50%. DigitalBridge Group, whose tower arm Vertical Bridge has 11,000 owned and master-leased towers, will release its quarterly report on Friday and takes no comfort in …
