Telecom CAPEX to Grow 3% in 2014

In a recently published carrier economics report conducted by the Dell’Oro Group, it was found that telecom CAPEX will grow around 3% in 2014, but it’s expected to decline $6 billion in 2015. “While we maintain our view that worldwideCAPEX will grow around 3% in 2014, we believe multiple factors will contribute to a decline in CAPEX during 2015,” said Stefan Pongratz, Dell’Oro Group’s Carrier Economics analyst. “Higher device penetration, decelerating mobile data growth rates, lack of new revenue streams, and increased competition in both the developing and developed markets have caused worldwide revenue growth to decelerate in the last couple of years. Continue reading here. 

“Willful” or “Act of God”?

That’s the debate between the FCC and Steckline Communications. Steckline Communications, owner and operator of radio stations, had been cited by the FCC for $5,600 for “willfully” violating the Commission’s fencing rules. The fencing structure around KIUL-AM in Garden City, Kansas, was in disrepair both times FCC agents inspected the site. However, Steckline Communications is contesting that they did this willfully; rather it was an “act of God.”Radio+Television Business Report (RBR) explained, “The fence is said to have gone down initially in April 2012. Steckline made temporary repairs the next month, but when the FCC inspected in July, parts were still down. Steckline said this was due to further wind storms in the interim. The FCC said the word willful refers to either a deliberate act ‘or omission’ that is associated with a violation. In this case, omission applies – Steckline failed to promptly fix the problem, hence the fine is both valid and willful. The FCC did reduce the fine from $7K to $5.6K based on Steckline’s prior history of compliance with FCC rules and regs.”

Aiken Technical College Receives $2.45M to Expand Tower Training Program

Aiken Technical College received a $2.45 million grant from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training competitive grant program to expand its tower-installation training program. Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the funding last week as part of $450 million in grants awarded nationwide to train Americans and connect them with businesses looking for skilled workers. The tower training program launched in November 2013, and prepares students for entry-level jobs in the wireless communications industry. The program was the first of its kind offering an indoor training facility, and now has over 70 graduates. Continue reading here.

1 in 10 Tower Sites Violates Federal Radio Frequency Rules

With the mobile data demand increasing at a steady rate, the towers that facilitate this technology are being thrust into the limelight more often. The Wall Street Journal reported that the antennas atop these towers are challenging federal safety rules regarding RF emissions because the rules were put in place when signals largely radiated from remote towers off-limits to the public. Now these antennas are everywhere: on rooftops, in parks, and placed throughout stadiums. Even though the federal rules require carriers to use barricades, post signs, and train their employees properly, the men and women who work on these sites can be at risk. According to The Wall Street Journal, “One in 10 sites violates the rules, according to six engineers who examined more than 5,000 sites during safety audits for carriers and local municipalities, underscoring a safety lapse in the network that makes cell phones hum, at a time when the health effects of antennas are being debated world-wide. Continue reading here. 

Crown Castle Doing Well as a REIT

Crown Castle is considered a newcomer to the REIT world, since they only began operating as such at the beginning of 2014, but analysts regard them as a heavyweight in the sector citing a good long-term outlook. “The secular growth trends in the tower industry are very impressive compared to most traditional types of real estate,” says Jim Sullivan, a managing director at real estate research firm Green Street Advisors. “The demand story for cell towers is as good a story as there is in the real estate business.” (Source: REIT.com) September 2013, Crown Castle decided to covert to REIT status following American Towers’ conversion in 2012. Continue reading here. 

Michigan Researchers Develop Robot to Restore Power at Cell Sites

No matter how prepared we are when a disaster strikes, there’s always a chance that our plan could go awry. Even when carriers bring in COWs and other temporary technology in case a tower site loses power, it’s still difficult for everyone in the community including the workers who need to get power back to the site. Researchers at Michigan Technological University are developing a team of robots that will be able to restore power to towers and other communication sites.  Continue reading here.

DoL Awards Virginia State University $3.25M to Create Wireless Workforce

The Department of Labor has awarded Virginia State University a $3.25 million grant to help develop a training program for the wireless workforce, which will focus on educating veterans, displaced workers, and others for careers working with wireless networks. PCIA has commended the DoL on this career training initiative and worked with VSU to develop and submit the grant application.  As part of the award, the DoL approved $750,000 which is specified in the application for PCIA to help create nationally recognized competencies and credentials in the field of wireless infrastructure deployment. “The American educational system has not kept pace with the fast growth of the wireless industry. This grant is part of our effort to jumpstart the academic community, with VSU in the lead, to develop training programs and curricula that will produce graduates that have the precise preparation we need to meet our burgeoning workforce needs. Continue reading here.