American Tower Corporation (ATC) informed the FCC on Monday that their phased approach to transition TV stations to new channels, with an ambitious completion deadline of 39 months, should take into consideration same phase tower assignments, complicated sites, the availability of tower crews, and the assumption that Canadian crews may not be available to assist in the repacking efforts following the spectrum …
Tower arsonist thought radio wave head problems would be solved following bombing
After an arsonist attempted to knock out more than a dozen broadcast towers on Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, N.M on Oct. 2, 2016 with gallon-sized Molotov cocktails, a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson informed Wireless Estimator that they had identified a suspect, but would not release his name. On Oct. 18, 2016 they arrested 53-year-old Brian Dorais of Madrid for …
Tallest, shortest, oldest and longest employed tower techs to be featured
Wireless Estimator is seeking out ‘tall tower workers’ – not the folks with boots on high steel, but tower technicians who are truly ‘tall’ in height – to publish a feature article about the tallest one in the U.S. or Canada. In addition to The tallest tower climber, Wireless Estimator is also in quest of locating: The shortest tower climber …
Horizontal lifeline energy absorber recall announced by 3M
Wireless Estimator has been notified by 3M Fall Protection (formerly Capital Safety) that there was a production issue with a number of its Zorbit Energy Absorbers that could create a risk of serious injury or death for the user in the event of a fall from height. The Zorbit is used with horizontal lifeline systems. 3M said that although there …
New ANSI/SSE A10.48 standard now available for purchase from NATE
The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) announced today that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) A10.48-2016 Standard is now available for purchase on the Association’s website. The A10.48 Standard – Criteria for Safety Practices with the Construction, Demolition, Modification and Maintenance of Communications Structures is a game changer for the industry as it has …
Reports of Russia using its cell towers to stretch its defense system might be a stretch
In his rallies and presidential debates, Donald Trump said that he has a way of defeating ISIS and putting Russian President Vladimir Putin in his place. But the real estate mogul says he’s not releasing any further information because he wants to unleash his measures secretly. However, it appears that Russia, which normally keeps its defense system initiatives and actions close …
Carriers and their contractor teams carry on proudly following Hurricane Matthew
Although damages from Hurricane Matthew along the east coast are still being assessed, the report on how carriers managed wireless communications with hardened sites and cell site service by the nation’s wireless contractors is in – and they are getting high marks. While there were a sporadic reports of outages on downdetector.com, service has been generally excellent in the effected …
New pivoting and swivel RRU mounts provide ease of radio head installs and maintenance
Connect-It Wireless Components, a leading manufacturer and supplier of thousands of site hardware and component products, has introduced its newest industry offerings, pivoting and swivel RRU mounts to keep remote radio heads close to the antennas and allow for easy maintenance and simplified installations with the included mounting arms that swivel the radio heads to a single face. The mount, …
AT&T plans to give towers and fiber competition with plastic antennas using the power grid
Towers and fiber may have a serious competitor if AT&T’s Project AirGig is successful in spreading internet service wirelessly through the country’s power grid, with the company believing, “where there are power lines, there can be broadband”. AT&T said its transformative technology from AT&T labs allows for affordable antenna units to be able to redistribute wireless and wireless signals around …
Pittsburg communications confab focused upon industry safety issues
Safety officials from carriers, tower owners, regulators and training companies converged in Pittsburg, Pa. last week at the 2016 Environmental, Health & Safety Communications Panel (EHSCP) symposium hosted this year by Crown Castle. A wide variety of topics related directly to the communications industry were presenting during the well-attended sessions. A panel discussion on the upcoming Washington State Standard, was …
Wireless has curtailed real conversations about real subjects
By Andrew Seybold With today’s wireless networks, services, and devices we have instant access to all of our voice, text, data, and video information almost no matter where we are. Does that mean every call, text, or email we receive must be answered right then and there? I was one of the first to learn a lesson when it came …
Goodman’s wireless CMs will receive $2 million to settle overtime lawsuit
Wireless turfing contractor Goodman Networks Inc. has agreed to pay $2 million to former construction managers who claimed the company stiffed them on overtime pay after misclassifying them as exempt employees, according to a settlement statement obtained by Wireless Estimator that was filed in Texas federal court on Sept. 6. The matter was litigated for two years, required numerous depositions …
Sprint’s small cell delays may be worse than the industry thinks
By Ken Schmidt Sprint and Mobilitie’s innovative plan to build mini-macros Back in June of this year, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ran a story about Sprint’s use of “sidewalk utility poles” as a core element of their efforts to improve the Sprint network while reducing ongoing network operating expenditures. The article suggested that Sprint may have been delaying network …
Military strikes target ISIL communications towers in Iraq
U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Fighter aircraft and rocket artillery conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government. Near Baghdad, a strike destroyed an ISIL repeater tower. Near Qayyarah, …
Amended colocation agreement lessens historic preservation reviews and speeds up 5G
The Federal Communications Commission took another significant step to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure critical to ensuring American leadership on next-generation wireless service, or 5G. Building on previous infrastructure reforms, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau signed an agreement to eliminate historic preservation review for small facility deployments across the U.S. that do not adversely impact historic sites and locations. The agreement …
Trump took a special interest in a contractor’s rooftop telecom mounting frame lift
When Donald Trump’s older daughter, Ivanka, introduced him at the Republican National Convention last night, she highlighted that his success in developing properties partly came from his deep-seated desire to receive worker feedback. “Billionaire executives don’t usually ask the people doing the work for their opinions of the work,” said Ivanka. “And typically money moguls don’t take an interest in …
FCC’s new sweeping Spectrum Frontier rules will open up 11 GHz of spectrum
The FCC today adopted new rules for wireless broadband operations in frequencies above 24 GHz, making the United States the first country in the world to make this spectrum available for next generation wireless services. Building on the successful, flexible approach to spectrum policy that enabled the explosion of 4G (LTE), these rules set a strong foundation for the rapid …
Lease buyout firm Unison cuts back its staff while selling off some assets
Cell site lease buyout firm Unison Site Management has sold 760 leases to competitor Melody Wireless Infrastructure for an undisclosed amount, according to a press release from Melody. Omar Jaffrey, Managing Partner at Melody Capital Partners, and CEO of Melody Wireless Infrastructure stated: “This latest acquisition will solidify Melody’s presence within the wireless infrastructure ecosystem and directly aligns with our …
New Navy guidelines will streamline the wireless siting process on federal bases
The United States Department of the Navy (DON) has formally released new guidelines designed to improve the speed at which wireless infrastructure facilities are deployed on properties owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. The memorandum — titled “Streamlined Process for Commercial Broadband Deployment” — was signed by the Deputy Under Secretary …
Top U.S. towercos eyeing Deutsche Telekom’s towers in Germany
As America gets ready to celebrate Independence Day on Monday, considered by some to be the original Brexit, Deutsche Telekom is prepping the sale of thousands of its German towers in a potential $5.5 billion deal. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanly are organizing the sale of the structures. SBA Communications, American Tower and Crown Castle are on the invite list, according to …
