At last week’s Connect X in Atlanta, panelists in multiple sessions estimated that 5G had been rolled out across approximately 50% of America. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) wants to jump-start 6G deployment. It requests public comments to guide executive branch policies on the next generation of wireless communications technology development. As industry, governmental, academic, and civil …
Analyst Craig Moffett predicts Dish Network could face bankruptcy within six months
Craig Moffett, a senior managing director at MoffettNathanson, has issued a stark forecast for Dish Network, predicting potential bankruptcy within the next four to six months. This marks his first specific timeline following three years of warnings about the company’s financial health. The prediction followed EchoStar’s first-quarter earnings announcement on May 8, where the financial strain on Dish Network, despite …
Rexel and Talley: A merger poised to accelerate wireless and datacom innovations across America
Talley Inc., established in 1983 by John R. and Elizabeth J. Talley, has grown from a small, family-operated business in Santa Fe Springs, California, into a dominant force in the U.S. wireless infrastructure industry. Talley Inc. is set to be acquired by Rexel as a testament to its success, marking a significant milestone in its history. This acquisition highlights Talley’s prominence as …
Celebrating connectivity, NATE announces Tower Technician Appreciation Day
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has officially declared Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. This annual event, now in its eighth year, is dedicated to recognizing the essential role of tower technicians who maintain and enhance communication infrastructures, thereby ensuring connectivity across the United States and globally. On this day, NATE calls on member companies and other stakeholders …
New rule in effect on independent contractor classification will have a profound impact on broadband
A new rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to classify whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor became effective March 11, 2024, and a random sampling of four smaller-sized wireless contractors found that three of them needed to be made aware of the rule. A fourth said he did know there were significant changes, but …
Maui Files lawsuit against Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Spectrum Mobile over failed alerts during deadly fires
Maui County has launched a lawsuit against several major wireless service providers, accusing them of failing to notify emergency management officials of network outages during the devastating wildfires on August 8, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 101 people. The lawsuit was filed in Maui Circuit Court and details how the alleged communication failures hindered evacuation efforts …
Trey Pitts, EH&S manager at T-Mobile and Mike Young, CEO at ANCO, join NWSA’s Board of Governors
The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) announced today that Trey Pitts, EH&S Program Manager at T-Mobile, and Mike Young, President & CEO at ANCO, have been appointed to the organization’s Board of Governors. In their new roles as a Board member, Pitts and Young will join representatives from a broad cross-section of the industry tasked with developing policy and overseeing …
Tillman Infrastructure lands $1 billion in funding to drive its growth
Tillman Infrastructure, LLC, a leading provider of wireless communication infrastructure, announced this morning the completion of a financing package totaling $1 billion. The proceeds will refinance existing loans and provide additional growth capital to support the infrastructure needs of its wireless carrier and wireless infrastructure service provider (WISP) customers. “The Tillman Infrastructure team continues to deliver industry-leading solutions for our customers,” said …
Department of Labor’s new rule could transfer $1.5 Billion to workers in overtime pay
A new rule from the US Department of Labor unveiled on Tuesday will extend overtime eligibility to millions of salaried workers by raising the salary threshold in two phases. Starting July 1, the threshold will be set at $43,888 annually or $844 per week. It will increase to $58,656, or $1,128 per week, beginning January 1, 2025. According to the …
Sweeping FTC rule to eliminate noncompetes could boost wireless sector employment
UPDATE: Following the announcement of the FTC’s final rule, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce swiftly filed a lawsuit challenging the prohibition of non-compete clauses. The lawsuit contends that the FTC lacks the necessary authority under the FTC Act to regulate unfair competition methods. Moreover, according to the “major questions doctrine” as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, the rule should be …
Russian missile successfully kayos a Kharkiv TV tower as tower tech warriors risk their lives to restore networks
On March 6, 2022, a Russian fighter jet attacked a television station in Kharkiv, Ukraine, releasing eight 1,100-pound bombs at the station’s 790-foot tower and the adjacent building. Despite substantial damage, the broadcasting infrastructure was quickly repaired, and operations resumed. However, a strike yesterday by a Russian cruise missile has now destroyed the upper portion of the fifth-tallest tower in Ukraine, achieving the …
DigitalBridge’s corporate move to downtown Delray Beach will provide an uptown setting for its employees
When a large corporation moves to a new headquarters, it’s often a problem for employees who have to relocate. Still, DigitalBridge’s announcement today that it is moving its entire staff north to a new mixed-use complex is being welcomed by employees since the move to Delray Beach from its Boca Raton, FL headquarters is less than six miles further or …
ISP given a $10,000 fine for lying about coverage said they didn’t take the time to read the FCC’s guidance
A broadband provider has agreed to a $10,000 settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after confessing to falsifying its service area information. The provider, Jefferson County Cable (JCC) based in Toronto, Ohio, admitted inaccurately claiming it provided fiber services in regions it had yet to reach. Additionally, it has been revealed that the company submitted incorrect data to the …
‘Inchworm’ tower erectors’ desert demo video shows how robots can easily build lunar telecom towers
GITAI USA Inc. (GITAI), the space robotics trailblazer, unveiled a game-changing giant leap for moon construction automated tower erectors. They’ve pulled off a stellar first by showcasing their robot squad building a 16.5-foot-tall cell tower, mimicking moon-like conditions. This feat was a team effort with KDDI Corporation, a telecom giant from Japan, cheering from the sidelines. (SEE VIDEO BELOW) Here’s the …
Verizon’s Fresno faux brick building cell site is a slight to the community and an eyesore, residents say
OPINION — “What the’ x&!*’ is that monstrosity?” a member of the “For the Love of Downtown Fresno” Facebook group asked. “Looks like low-quality brick wallpaper,” commented another member. “This looks like crap, and if this is the finished version, I cannot believe the forward, thinking people who designed that,” a third member remarked. “It needs advertisements,” a fourth post …
Phoenix Tower International enters Ireland after acquiring Cellnex’s 1,900 towers for $1.1 Billion
Spanish telecom infrastructure company Cellnex has announced the sale of its Irish mobile tower unit to Boca Raton, Florida-based Phoenix Tower International (PTI) for about $1.1 Billion, equivalent to a multiple of around 24x EBITDA. This move comes as Cellnex, which currently manages approximately 1,900 tower sites in Ireland, aims to consolidate and simplify its corporate structure as part of …
Shentel strikes a $310 million deal with Vertical Bridge to sell its tower portfolio of 226 sites
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel), a prominent provider of broadband services, including cable TV across the Mid-Atlantic region, has announced a significant transaction with Vertical Bridge Holdco, LLC, a company based in Boca Raton, Florida, led by President and CEO Ron Bizick. Shentel will sell its tower portfolio and operations to Vertical Bridge for $310.3 million in cash. This deal, expected …
Crown Castle boots Boots Capital and Ted Miller’s turnaround fiber plan to the curb
Twenty-two years after stepping down as Crown Castle’s leader, co-founder Ted Miller wanted back one of his old jobs. Still, after the company reviewed his resume as an applicant for Chairmanship and his plans to turn around the company’s lagging stock price, they rejected his employment on Tuesday. Crown Castle said it had confirmed that Boots Capital Management, LLC, which …
Murphy Tower Services and FieldSync Technologies’ strategic merger ushers in a new era for telecom
After a year of collaboration and proven innovation, Murphy Tower Service, a leading provider of construction and maintenance services, and FieldSync, a next-generation tower analytics provider, announced at NATE UNITE 2024 this morning a strategic merger that heralds a significant opportunity to provide services to their clients in the industry. However, both companies will maintain their well-established separate brand identities. “By joining …
Newly minted NATE UNITE customer diversification workshops will help its members thrive in today’s uncertain telecom landscape
With severe carrier capex cuts resulting in depressed earnings for many industry companies because they are too reliant on just a few customers, diversification becomes a critical strategy for sustainability and growth. NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, aware that many of its members are dependent on a limited client base, wants to assist them by presenting the organization’s 1st …
