Murphy Tower Service, a leader in wireless and wireline infrastructure service, has announced a key leadership transition. Co-owner Patrick Murphy will step down as Chief Executive Officer effective immediately and transition into the role of Chief Operating Officer. Sam McGuire, current CEO of the parent company FieldSync, Inc., has been named the new CEO of Murphy Tower Service. This transition …
Starks resigns from the FCC, paving the way for Republican control under Chairman Carr
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has announced his intention to resign this Spring, cutting short his term that was set to expire in 2027. His departure could have significant implications for the balance of power within the FCC, potentially giving Chairman Brendan Carr a temporary Republican majority. In a letter to President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader …
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. …
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 …
As contractors are forced to quit, FCC Chief Carr tackles tower climb to showcase telecom workforce’s true grit
With over 42 years of experience erecting and maintaining tall towers, Precision Communications lead foreman Mike Berry has tackled plenty of unique and challenging projects—some unforgettable, while others blur together, fading into the background like just another day on the job. A planned two-week lighting system upgrade on WKRG News 5’s 1,865-foot structure in Spanish Fort, AL, seemed destined to …
Arielle Roth’s nomination to head NTIA signals probable shift away from fiber-centric BEAD program
President Donald Trump has nominated Arielle Roth, telecom director for Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). If confirmed, Roth would oversee federal broadband policy, including the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program—an initiative she has sharply criticized for its regulatory overreach and fiber favoritism. Roth outlined her concerns …
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 …
Tower technician setbacks serve as a cautionary tale for BEAD fiber training exceeding $350 million and climbing
As the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program begins construction in Louisiana, Delaware, and Nevada in Q2, significant concerns about workforce development initiatives funded through BEAD grants are emerging. A striking percentage of the $42.5 billion BEAD program is earmarked for broadband workforce training, totaling nearly $350 million today. Yet, the funding heavily favors fiber-optic training, leaving other broadband …
Industry faces unfair competition from 1099 contractors exploiting loopholes; Boston Judge puts one in jail
Kenneth Marston, 67, of Hanson, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to six months in prison, followed by 18 months of supervised release with the first six months on home detention, for a tax fraud scheme that avoided over $1 million in employment taxes. Marston pleaded guilty in October 2024 and was also ordered to pay $101,791 in restitution. Marston owned and operated …
Ericsson’s green dreams become contractors’ nightmare
In President Donald Trump’s inaugural speech, one of the first actions he said he would take today was to “end the Green New Deal.” His timing was perfect for wireless contractors who learned this morning of Ericsson’s move to mandate participation in its “Net Zero” Climate Initiative, which has drawn sharp criticism from contractors who say the requirements are impractical, unsustainable, …
New TIF and WIA white paper offers bird-friendly guidelines for tower work and avian coexistence
Communication structure owners are well-acquainted with a common scenario: a contractor calls and reports, “We’re on-site, but there’s a nest on the tower. What do we do?” Since the 1970s, the population of raptors (birds of prey) has rebounded significantly, thanks to banning harmful substances like DDT, reductions in pollution, and efforts to address habitat loss, lead poisoning, and illegal hunting. …
Palistar Capital combines Symphony Wireless and CTI Towers to create sixth largest private tower owner in the U.S.
Palistar Capital, an alternative asset manager focused on mission-critical communications and digital infrastructure, announced the combination of its pool of wireless assets, managed exclusively by Symphony Wireless, Palistar’s dedicated cell site acquisition affiliate, with another Palistar portfolio company, CTI Towers, Inc., which owns 757 towers. In conjunction with the transaction, Symphony Wireless will change its name to Symphony Towers Infrastructure. …
From 5G to future G’s: WIA pushes for bold wireless reforms under Trump administration
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) has released “A Roadmap to Unlocking Connectivity Everywhere in the Next Administration,” a policy playbook to spark the wireless deployment and investment necessary to end the digital divide and ensure the U.S. continues to lead the world in growth and innovation. There are more than 558 million wireless connections in use in the U.S. every …
Bye-bye, Beijing: Congress boots Huawei and ZTE with full rip and replace funding
The U.S. Senate passed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today, including a crucial $3.08 billion funding provision to fully support the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rip and Replace program. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, marking a significant milestone in securing the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential threats posed by Chinese equipment. The …
BEAD program: $250M in admin, a goose egg in construction—Senator Cruz wants answers after 1,107 days
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee and its incoming chairman, has issued a stern warning to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding what he deems “unlawful” activities in administering the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Cruz announced plans to review and potentially revamp the program when the GOP …
Macro to Mini: Chris Pleibel charts a new course beyond PerfectVision’s big steel
PerfectVision Infrastructure Vice President Chris Pleibel surprised the telecom industry last week by announcing his departure from the leading manufacturer. While career moves are common in the field, Pleibel’s decision to leave the wireless industry altogether was unexpected by colleagues who have come to know him well since he began his 26-year career in telecom at monopole and tower manufacturer …
CapEx climbs at big 3 carriers, offering the industry niche opportunities
By J. Sharpe Smith, Contributing Editor The major carriers appear to be healthy, generating strong cash flows, paying down debt and buying back stock. But will tower construction and maintenance companies be healthier in the coming year? That might depend on which services each company provides. Opportunities for growth in fiber, fixed wireless access, C-Band (and other spectrum), and private …
Déjà Vu at the FCC: Republicans demand a timeout as power swaps hands asking for ‘pencils down’
In a move that mirrors past transitions of power, Republican leaders are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to temporarily hold any contentious regulatory initiatives until President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. This “pencils down” approach, often invoked during transitional periods, aims to restrict the FCC’s agenda to non-controversial matters, ensuring a smooth handover of authority. It’s a …
CWA Unions see uneven wage hikes in AT&T agreements: West vs. Southeast which gets a BEAD perk
AT&T workers, including technicians, customer service representatives, and others who install, maintain, and support AT&T’s network, will receive wage increases of at least 15% throughout the new four-year collective bargaining agreement in the West and over 19% during the new five-year agreement in the Southeast. In the contract that covers the Southeast, Wire Technicians and Utility Operations professionals, who will …
