OSHA
has cited Calico Rock, Arkansas-based Pegasus Tower Co. (not affiliated
with Tazewell, VA-based Apex Towers, formed by merging another Pegasus
Tower Company six years ago) for exposing employees to falls after a
2019 fatality at a Starkville, MS, worksite. The tower building company
faces $140,720 in penalties.
In November of 2019, 43-year-old John Wayne Womack of Mountain View,
Arkansas, died as the result of a fall from a communications tower while
attempting to connect two sections during the construction. OSHA cited
the company for failing to ensure employees used fall protection, and
designating, identifying and training employees to provide rescue in the
event of an emergency.
The OSHA citing read:
Type of Violation: Serious OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):
“The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to a suspension trauma: (a) Jobsite - On or about November 16,
2019 the employer failed to designate, identify, and train employees
responsible for providing rescue in the event an employee falls and is
left suspended, exposing the employee to suspension trauma. Among other
methods, a feasible and acceptable means of abatement would be to
develop and implement a site-specific rescue plan.” Continue Reading
UPDATE Expect action on the WIA and CTIA cell tower site petitions at the FCC’s June 9 meeting. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a Connect (X): All Access interview
with WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein Tuesday the Commission wants
to fix “uncertainty” in section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act in order to
speed up the review process state and local governments use to allow
wireless infrastructure siting.
“Now it’s up to the FCC to breathe more life into that petition,” said
the Chairman, speaking specifically about the WIA request. Siting
wireless infrastructure “could be a bottleneck if we don’t reform our
rules,” he explained, noting that industry needs “a more consistent,
more certain set of rules.”
Also during Connect (X) on Tuesday, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr
further explained: “These actions are meant to separate difficult
project approvals from the easier ones. One of the keys with this 5G
Upgrade Order is that we're addressing existing tower sites. It is about
ensuring that swapping out or upgrading existing antennas (say 3G or 4G
ones) to 5G antennas can be done quickly as Congress envisioned.” (See story below for details of the order and reaction.) Continue Reading
Memphis
police and the fire department have determined that a fire set Monday
night at a cell tower near the University of Memphis on Southern Avenue
was set deliberately, according to WMC-TV. Authorities have
still not determined the arsonist’s motives but have urged anyone with
information to call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH or the state arson
hotline at 1-800-762-3017. Tipsters could qualify for a cash reward.
The fire department said the blaze caused $100,000 in damage but service
to cellular customers did not seem to be affected. No one was reported
hurt. Continue Reading
Melody
Investment Advisors, an asset manager focused on communications
infrastructure, yesterday announced the acquisition of 90 percent of
Uniti Towers, the wireless tower business of real estate investment
trust Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ: UNIT). The purchase totals approximately
$220 million in cash and includes over 500 towers based in the U.S.
Melody Investment Advisors will fund the purchase from Melody
Communications Infrastructure Fund II.
Through an investment in an affiliate of Melody, Uniti will retain a 10
percent investment interest in the tower business and will receive an
incremental earnout from Melody for each additional pipeline tower
completed in 2020. In addition, as part of the transaction, Melody and
Uniti will enter into a strategic relationship to collaborate on
integrated solutions for wireless carriers requiring towers, fiber and
small cell infrastructure. The transaction is subject to various closing
conditions and is expected to close by the end of second quarter 2020. Continue Reading
More
than 35 House lawmakers are pushing chamber leadership to fund the
development and deployment of wireless 5G radio access networks (RANs)
as part of upcoming coronavirus relief legislation. That’s according to
Spectrum Caucus heads Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY),
along with Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA).
RANs are virtual alternatives to physical 5G equipment. The technology
could make the U.S. more competitive against Chinese telecom giant
Huawei, these lawmakers say.
House Energy and Commerce staffers previously hinted at the next
coronavirus bill that would allocate $1 billion for RAN research and
development, notes Politico. The letter marks the biggest and
most explicit ask to secure money along these lines. The White House and
FCC discussed the merits of the technology earlier this year.
This month, an industry coalition was formed to promote it, with members ranging from AT&T to Facebook, reported Inside Towers.
The Open RAN Coalition is speaking to at least one FCC Commissioner
about its goals. “I salute its commitment to no mandates & vendor
neutrality!” tweeted FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly after speaking with
coalition leaders.
More than 30 tech companies yesterday announced the formation of the Open RAN Policy Coalition, a group that will advocate for the development of interoperable components for cell towers.
Members are working to change the way cell tower radio access networks
(RANs) work, so that multiple vendors’ open tower radios, hardware, and
software can be used interchangeably, rather than requiring proprietary
products from one vendor. The group will work to influence governments
worldwide.
However, members believe the U.S. government, “has an important role to
play in facilitating and fostering an open, diverse and secure supply
chain for advanced wireless technologies, including 5G, such as by
funding research and development, and testing open and interoperable
networks and solutions, and incentivizing supply chain diversity.”
Members say such a process could help new companies enter the RAN market
by lowering existing barriers to entry.
The security of the American telecom supply chain was an issue before
the COVID-19 pandemic affected industries and economies. U.S.
Administration security agencies allege that Chinese manufacturers
Huawei and ZTE cooperate with the Chinese government to use their
telecommunications gear and software to spy on the U.S. government and
citizens. The two companies deny the allegations. Continue Reading
Broadcasters
and cablecos want the FCC to take the COVID-19 pandemic into
consideration as the agency develops a cost catalog to reimburse them
for moving from the lower to the upper portion of the C-band. The FCC
intends to auction the spectrum their satellite and earth station
operators occupy now for future wireless use.
Earlier this year, the Commission adopted rules
to make 280 MHz of mid-band spectrum available for flexible use, plus a
20 MHz guard band. New 3.7 GHz Service licensees will reimburse what
the FCC calls “reasonable” relocation costs of incumbent licensees.
Public comments are due to the Commission by May 12 [to docket 18-122]
on the draft reimbursement cost catalog.
Representatives of Charter, Cox, Comcast, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, The
Walt Disney Company and ESPN, as well as the NAB and NCTA – The Internet
and Television Association, recently discussed specifics with
representatives of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the
Office of Economics and Analytics and the International Bureau.
Licensees highlighted the importance of quickly establishing a lump sum
payment amount, according to a filing. They urged the FCC to consider
costs for professional services; hardware and software; and potential
cost impacts from supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue Reading
Top
House Democrats Thursday expanded their more than $80 billion plan to
connect all Americans to affordable broadband. Top Dems, including Frank
Pallone, Jr. of NJ, Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee,
and Congressman James Clyburn of SC, House Majority Whip and Chairman of
the House Democratic Rural Broadband Task Force, said they welcome
recent reports that Republicans support the inclusion of broadband
investment in the next coronavirus response packages.
The House Democratic Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable
Broadband Internet invests $80 billion over five years to deploy secure
and resilient broadband infrastructure to connect unserved and
underserved rural, suburban, and urban areas. If passed, $5 billion over
five years would be invested for low-interest financing of broadband
deployment through a new program, so providers could apply for secured
loans, lines of credit, or loan guarantees to finance broadband
infrastructure build outs.
It also includes Dig Once, which promotes the installation of broadband
conduit during the construction of any road receiving federal funding.
The Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth would be established
within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to
streamline the application processes for broadband funding programs. Continue Reading
