Well-known and highly respected communications tower broker Tom Engel, 80, of Puyallup, WA, passed away on May 28, 2025, leaving behind his loving wife Shana, and their son, Derrick, and years of fond memories from his co-founder partner Jody McCoy of Strategic Tower Advisors, tower owners and others who worked with him since 1972 in the media business. According to …
EchoStar’s missed $326 million payment casts a dark shadow over wireless contractor workflows
EchoStar Corporation’s recent decision to skip a $326 million interest payment on its 10.75% senior spectrum-secured notes due 2029 has introduced significant uncertainty into its 5G cell tower buildout program. This move, triggered by an ongoing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigation into EchoStar’s compliance with 5G deployment obligations in the 2 GHz spectrum band, could have several implications for the …
Network builder Tilson Technology hits Delaware court for Chapter 11 bankruptcy shield after revenue collapse
Tilson Technology Management, Inc. and its affiliates — Tilson Middle Street Holdings, LLC and Boundless Broadband, LLC — have voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The move comes on the heels of a sudden contract cancellation by the company’s largest client, Gigapower, which has left Tilson scrambling to restructure …
Cyber onslaught hits Cellcom: 75,000 subscribers lose voice, text services across Northeast Wisconsin
Last weekend, Wisconsin’s regional carrier, Cellcom, whose parent company is Nsight, confirmed that a sophisticated cyberattack brought down its voice and SMS networks, leaving thousands of customers unable to make calls or send texts. The incident, first detected late Friday evening, underscores the growing threat of targeted assaults on telecommunications infrastructure and follows an alarming pattern of service disruptions across …
DigitalBridge stock jumps 37% on acquisition buzz as tower REITs slip
In a surprising turn, 26North Partners—a specialist in alternative investments—is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc. (DBRG), the digital-infrastructure fund manager, also the parent company of Vertical Bridge. Energy trader Mercuria is said to be joining the bid, and sources tell IJGlobal that the deal could close within days. As the rumors circulated, DigitalBridge’s share price surged …
Inside WIA’s 2024 numbers: $63 Billion and 368,750 jobs are powering 5G
For the third year, the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) Wireless Infrastructure by the Numbers Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. wireless infrastructure sector, covering purpose-built cellular towers, indoor and outdoor small cells, macrocell sites, annual infrastructure investments, and the American workforce sustaining this essential industry. Wireless infrastructure consists of various components, including towers, cell sites, antennas, radios, fiber networks, and …
NATE showcases TIRAP career pathways supported by WIA in a new video on National Apprenticeship Day
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a video highlighting the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) as part of National Apprenticeship Day, being celebrated today. The video features an informative conversation between host Sean Gilhooley, Deb Bennett from WIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association, and Joel Hightower, CEO of Hightower Communications of Kinston, NC, discussing the value of apprenticeships in the communications …
Murphy Tower Service announces leadership transition amid continued growth with McGuire at the helm
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. …
