The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) named Dr. Rikin Thakker as Chief Technology Officer; Brent Weil as Vice President, Workforce Development; and Jason Nelson as Vice President, Partnerships and Development. These new leaders will expand WIA’s wireless workforce development initiatives and extend WIA’s thought leadership and convening role for businesses in the wireless industry. These positions will play a major role …
NATE says it is a big go for its February show in Memphis as WIA moves its event to August
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced this week that it is moving the dates for its Connect (X) 2021 show in Boston from May 25-28 to August 3-6 as a “precautionary measure” during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the NATE UNITE 2021 conference scheduled for February 15–18 in Memphis, Tennessee opened for registration today, the Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association announced this …
DoL gives WIA million$ of reason$ to develop the wireless workforce
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) awarded it a major contract to perform as the 5G Industry Intermediary to develop the wireless workforce. DoL provided WIA a multi-million-dollar contract as the National Sponsor of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP). The objective of the funding is to expand the industry’s multi-employer …
Coalition of industry organizations advocate for wireless workforce development
A diverse coalition of influential communications industry organizations, whose members depend on a properly trained and highly skilled workforce, sent a letter to key congressional leaders in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives requesting support for industry-specific workforce development programs through stand-alone legislation or as part of a larger telecom/broadband infrastructure package. The coalition sent the letter to …
WIA announces new speakers with latest insights on 5G at Connect (X): All Access
On Tuesday, June 23, the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is launching new panel sessions with top 5G thought leaders as part of Connect (X): All Access – a free, virtual conference. “WIA is continuing to roll out panels with the latest 5G insights throughout the summer to serve the industry as our participants are planning ahead for their businesses at a challenging time. We tailored it with cutting-edge speakers that address the latest developments happening right now in our industry,” said …
Connect (X) All Access is a resounding success as the industry eagerly awaits familiarity
In a sampling of 16 attendees and two exhibitors at yesterday’s Connect (X) All Access virtual conference that replaced the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) COVID19-cancelled Miami Beach event that was to begin on Monday, they all gave rave reviews to Wireless Estimator. Although the still available virtual event was missing what the Florida show publicized as a huge benefit, the …
FCC Commissioner Carr announces order to upgrade wireless infrastructure, reduce bottlenecks
Yesterday at the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) free, virtual conference, Connect (X): All Access, Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Brendan Carr announced the FCC’s plans to clarify its rules to promote network upgrades on existing towers and other wireless sites. His comments are available here. The ruling will address state and local approval of wireless equipment modifications and clarify the definition of “substantial change”. …
Next week’s keynote starting lineup for Connect (X): All Access outlined
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced its keynote lineup and its annual View from the Top: Tower Executive Roundtable for Connect (X): All Access – a free, global, virtual conference launching May 19 that is taking the place of WIA’s in-person, annual Connectivity Expo, or Connect (X). “We are excited for Connect (X): All Access to offer a top-notch lineup …
WIA launches free registration for Connect (X): All Access, announces Small and Diverse Business Summit
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) launched registration today for “Connect (X): All Access,” a free, global virtual conference on May 19 that is taking the place of WIA’s in-person, annual Connectivity Expo, or Connect (X). WIA today also announced that on May 20-21, Connect (X): All Access will convene the Small and Diverse Business Summit, which brings together small and …
Contractors not being compensated for added expenses during pandemic
Commentary – Craig Lekutis, Editor After an overview was published last week, of how the COVID-19 virus was affecting wireless infrastructure work conditions, dozens of updates were received by Wireless Estimator by the nation’s contractors with a key concern being their inability to obtain N95 masks, hand sanitizers and other PPE supplies. Also, the subjective slowdown in work averaged around 30% …
Connect (X): All Access will satisfy the industry’s pent-up thirst for knowledge – virtually
Connect (X), a leading 5G infrastructure annual conference in North America, originally scheduled to begin May 18, 2020 in the Miami Beach, Florida Convention Center has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, and in its place, the Wireless Infrastructure Association will offer “Connect (X): All Access,” a free global virtual conference featuring the best of the in-person event, debuting on …
Connect (X) still weighing its best options for the May 18-21 Miami Beach show
UPDATE: March 27, 2020 – The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), updated the status of their May 18 through 21, 2020 Connect (X) 2020 show to their exhibitors, attendees and sponsors on their web site Wednesday, as the planned dates for Connect (X) Miami approach. “The health and safety of each of you is our top priority. Like all of you, we are …
WIA report says CBRS spectrum will play a pivotal role across many industries
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) published a new report: “The CBRS Opportunity: New Spectrum, Stakeholders, Networks and Devices.” Written by members of WIA’s Innovation and Technology Council, the paper highlights the benefits, impact, and opportunities for commercial-use shared spectrum of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) for existing and new networks. “The industry needs as much spectrum as possible as quickly …
IWCE reschedules it’s expo to August, WIA’s May show is still a go
In a there’s light at the end of the tunnel announcement, the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) announced that IWCE 2020 will take place on August 24-28, 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. ETA’s Education Forum will also be rescheduled to take place at this time. The show had been originally scheduled to begin March 30, but …
Weekend decision shutters IWCE’s 2020 Las Vegas conference due to COVID 19 concerns
The International Wireless Communications Expo’s IWCE 2020 conference scheduled to take place March 30 – April 3 in Las Vegas has been cancelled due to concerns about attendees traveling and networking at a conference with the inherent possibly of being exposed to the Coronavirus (COVID 19). On Friday, IWCE said the show was a go since a large number of enhanced on-site …
Mobile World Congress show canceled over virus concerns, reimbursements unknown
The world’s biggest wireless show, Mobile World Congress (MWC), is no longer taking place this year in Barcelona after the coronavirus threatened to throw MWC into turmoil. The GSM Association (GSMA), which organizes the show, has now canceled it. It comes after more than a week of exhibitors and companies pulling out. One of the more recent cancellations came from …
Macro towers, 20K more trained tower techs and new skill sets needed to roll out 5G says FCC
Although small cells and 5G were high on the list of topics during yesterday’s U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation’s hearing on Industries of the Future, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly emphasized that 5G deployment requires more than just sound spectrum policy to be successful, and macro towers and additional worker skill sets are needed “It will need a …
WIA awards raise over $400,000 for wireless workforce development
The second annual WIA Awards generated over $400,000 for wireless workforce education and training initiatives. The awards honored champions of the wireless workforce by celebrating members of Congress, the FCC, and industry who have made major contributions to develop the wireless workforce needed to build America’s 5G wireless networks. The event was held last night at the Conrad Hotel in …
Color privilege, gen sets, graffiti used as ploys to deny 5G deployments: WIA
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify its rules to facilitate broadband deployment by promoting collocations on existing wireless facilities. As part of its request, WIA has asked the FCC to rectify an unnecessary barrier to broadband deployment due to the divergent treatment of compound expansions around wireless facilities. These petitions are based on the FCC’s explicit authority …
2019 WIA awards to honor AT&T’s Susan Johnson with Distinguished Service Award
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) announced that it plans to recognize Susan Johnson, Executive Vice President of Global Connections & Supply Chain, AT&T, with its Distinguished Service Award. The WIA Foundation will present the honor at the 2019 WIA Awards on Oct. 1 in Washington, D.C. “Susan’s accomplishments represent the very embodiment of this year’s WIA Awards theme – wireless …
