The South Dakota Board of Technical Education has approved the creation of a Wireless Infrastructure Technician Certification program through a partnership with Southeast Technical Institute (Southeast Tech) and VIKOR. VIKOR, formerly Sioux Falls Tower & Communications, is one of the leading providers of wireless infrastructure in South Dakota. The company saw a growing need to establish this educational program in …
Hightower and Tilson escort the benefits of TIRAP in apprenticeship’s new video
Hightower Communications and Tilson workers along with their company CEOs are featured in a new Wireless Industry Association (WIA) video promoting the benefits of joining the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) along with 27 other companies that have had 2,000 apprentices participate in the program. The video was unveiled at Tuesday’s WIA awards dinner in Washington, DC that raised …
NATE receives DOL grant for nationwide wireless rooftop deployment training
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA to receive a $160,000 Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grant for the 2019-2020 program year. The Susan Harwood Training Grant Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations on a competitive basis. Awards are issued annually based on Congressional appropriation. …
Heat-exhausted Texas tech is rescued from monopole by firefighters
UPDATE: September 9, 2019 – According to individuals knowledgeable of Friday’s incident in Katy, Texas where a tower tech was rescued by firefighters, the technician at first thought that he was having a heart attack and firefighters immediately arrived at the scene following a 911 call. The tech was checked out at the local hospital for heat exhaustion and …
TIRAP elects new leadership with American Tower’s Paul Roberts at the helm
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced that Paul Roberts, Vice President, Compliance, American Tower Corporation, was elected to serve as Chairperson of WIA’s Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) Executive Board. A new slate of officers was also elected. Other newly elected officers include: Vice Chairperson, Beau Aero, President and Founder, GME Supply Co.; Chairperson Emeritus, David Sams, Vice President …
5G was rushed to market – It shows, leads Fast-Forward Friday
Article Media 5G was rushed to market – It shows Light Reading Syracuse takes steps to address uncertainty over 5G wireless network Syracuse.com FCC: Lack of coordinantion extended hurricane-related wireless outages Multichannel Broadband internet looms large in county commission election Government Technology Montana Governor vetoes bill creating tax abatement for high-speed broadband KPAX CenturyLink focused on fiber strategy, advisors hired …
WIA and PCCA announce workforce training collaboration; “More good news for 5G” says Commissioner Carr
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and the Power and Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) announced today that they will work together to expand training initiatives to establish a stronger wireless workforce with the skills needed to deploy 5G networks. PCCA has developed successful utility technician training programs at community colleges and plans to enhance them with WIA’s wireless curricula to teach workers skills they need …
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. …
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 …
Preventing ‘rampant’ safety credentials fraud is a passion of QRedentials’ founder Clifford Wilcox
In a Frontline/ProPublica investigation in 2012 exploring the high fatality rate of tower techs, many hours of footage didn’t make the 30-minute Frontline broadcast. One such interview segment was with Wireless Estimator editor Craig Lekutis who was asked if he would be surprised to find out that a deceased worker had counterfeit training certificates in his wallet, had no training, …
NWSA launches Tower Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty certification programs
New nationwide portable certification programs provide career progression pathways for industry workers The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today the official launch of the Telecommunications Tower Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty Certification programs. These programs were developed by the NWSA’s Foreman and Antenna & Line Specialty Task Force that is comprised of subject matter experts from all aspects …
Night climbing requirements could be “putting profits ahead of tower technicians’ lives”
“It’s obvious, carriers are simply putting profits ahead of tower technicians’ lives,” said a Texas-based contractor’s safety manager last week, deploring requirements by some carriers to perform maintenance work during nighttime hours to keep subscriber service interruptions at a minimum. He was one of many company owners and safety professionals Wireless Estimator spoke with after there was a groundswell of concern following …
NATE announces free 2019 Advanced Rigging Principles Training dates and locations
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) has announded the dates and locations for the 2019 Advanced Rigging Principles Training sessions. Twelve (Advanced Rigging Principles Courses will be hosted nationwide in 2019 and will be offered free of charge to industry employees and employers due to a Susan Harwood Training Grant (SH-05018-SH8) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. …
Wireless contractor’s required Job Hazard Analysis is front and center with NATE’s newest informative video
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) has unveiled their newest video entitled “Job Hazard Analysis: Reducing Your Risk” that highlights the important elements of conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) at a communications tower or any other infrastructure site. The Association is taking an active role in promoting the need for a JHA, an endeavor that Wireless Estimator has been assisting the industry with …
Influential wireless and drone companies at inaugural UAS summit
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) recently hosted a successful inaugural Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit in the Motor City of Detroit, Michigan.The high-level, 2-day strategic planning event was attended by participants representing the most prominent companies in the wireless and drone industries.During the NATE UAS Summit, attendees received an update from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) UAS Integration …
Pai promises to put his boots on and get on the steel after hearing ribbing
At an FCC House oversight hearing yesterday, tower climbers took center stage when Congressman Pete Olson threw a ‘curveball’ at FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, when he jokingly suggested that Pai should climb a tower as Commissioner Brendan Carr had done recently in South Dakota, as can be viewed in the above video. That forced Pai to take advantage of Olson’s levity …
NATE and Warriors4Wireless announce a strong industry partnership
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) and Warriors4Wireless (W4W) today announced a collaborative partnership to enhance ties between the two organizations and further advance workforce development initiatives in the industry. As part of the agreement, NATE joins a select group of prominent organizations and companies in the industry to be promoted as an official supporting partner of W4W. Additionally, W4W …
Coalition of organizations endorse Communications and Jobs Training Act of 2018 legislation
A diverse coalition of influential communications industry organizations today announced their endorsement of H.R. 5639 – The Communications and Jobs Training Act of 2018.Organizations supporting the legislation include CTIA, Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), Rural Wireless Association (RWA), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Utilities Technology Council (UTC) and …
Industry pride shines as Pat Cipov is selected as Wireless Hall of Fame honoree
Accolades from all quarters of the industry have been coming in for Pat Cipov who was selected by the Wireless History Foundation (WHF) last week as one of its 2018 Wireless Hall of Fame honorees – the most recognized and highest honor acknowledging the leadership, innovation and achievement of each honoree in the wireless industry. In making the announcement, the …
Foremen getting unique opportunity to help set the creation of certification guidelines
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is reaching out to the industry’s thousands of tower foremen to complete a survey to provide their valuable input to ensure the new NWSA Certified Foreman Examination accurately reflects today’s work environment, regulations, and technology. This new certification for the telecommunications Industry will define a set of criteria to verify that candidates have achieved …
