AM Owners Selling More Tower Sites

 UPDATE The warehouse industry is considering AM radio tower sites as their needs expand. Older AMs often have tower sites sited decades ago, before the urban core grew around them. As land for these tower sites grows more valuable than station revenue, some station owners are selling.
 
Inside Radio cites Family Radio as an example. The WFME-FM New York owner recently sold its five-acre-tower site to Prologis for $51 million. The industrial area site is located on the border of New York City boroughs Brooklyn and Queens and will be used by the buyer for parking and storage.
 
Prologis Senior VP Jeremiah Kent told Transport Topics the site is located in one of the most densely populated markets where demand for logistics real estate is high and land is scarce. Continue Reading

Labor Dept, NATE & FCC Partner to Improve Tower Worker Safety

 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a national strategic partnership with NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the FCC to improve worker safety in the communications tower erection industry.  

The goal of the three-year partnership is to eliminate worker injuries and fatalities while performing wireless and telecommunications, tower erection and maintenance operations. The partnership will address some of the industry’s frequently encountered hazards, including falls from height, electric, falling objects, tower collapses, and inclement weather. 

“Tower technicians do the hard, often gritty work to build, maintain and upgrade broadband networks throughout the country. The pandemic has further demonstrated everything our wireless workforce does to keep Americans connected, and it is imperative that we do everything we can to keep them safe,” stated FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “As the United States ramps up its 5G rollout, this national partnership agreement will only become more important. The FCC looks forward to working with OSHA and NATE to ensure the safe buildout of wireless infrastructure.” Continue Reading

Mediacom Sues to Stop City’s Google Fiber Partnership

 West Des Moines had planned to provide ultra-high-speed Google Fiber internet throughout the city, but the effort is being halted by a lawsuit from internet provider Mediacom. The legal action states the city violated multiple state laws in its pursuit of connectivity, according to the Des Moines Register. 

The arrangement with Google was applauded by city officials at the time, saying it met the goals the city set forth in their WDM 2036 strategic plan. West Des Moines would be the 19th city nationwide to receive a Google Fiber network and the first in Iowa, according to the account. 

The complaint cites an Iowa law designed to bolster development of blighted areas with fiber optic cable. Mediacom said the law was misused and misinterpreted to favor Google by issuing bonds worth more than $40 million to build out the network. The company, which employs about 400 workers in West Des Moines, contends the city never opened the project for competitive bids. Continue Reading

Some RDOF Winners’ Qualifications Questioned

 UPDATE The recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction was structured differently than traditional FCC spectrum auctions. “Bidders” in the reverse auction were awarded funds based on different criteria, such as latency, speed and how fast they believe a company can bring broadband to a rural area.

But now, some observers question whether some of the largest winners, like Charter and Starry Internet, can actually complete the task as originally stated in their FCC applications, reports Telecompetitor. It quotes MuniNetworks observer Christopher Mitchell as stating in a blog: “The auction resulted in far more gigabit - 85% of locations I believe - than anyone expected, at far lower subsidy than expected. However, there is a lot of frustration and confusion because it is not clear that some of the top bidders can deliver.” MuniNetworks is an advocacy group that provides resources for those who want to build municipal broadband networks. 

Inside Towers reported that Charter Communications, listed as CCO Holdings, won the most locations, just over 1.05 million. Other big bidders include Windstream, which was awarded $522.9 million for 192,567 locations in 18 states; Frontier, which won $370.9 million for 127,188 locations in eight states and CenturyLink, which won $262.3 million for 77,257 locations in 20 states, according to the Commission. Continue Reading

FCC Begins Process of Ending China Telecom’s U.S. Operations

The FCC believes, based on national security concerns, it has enough evidence to revoke China Telecom’s ability to do business in the United States. Thursday, the Commission began a proceeding to revoke the company’s authority to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services under section 214 of the Communications Act.

In April 2020, several executive branch agencies recommended that the FCC revoke and terminate China Telecom Americas section 214 authority based on “substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks associated with [China Telecom Americas’] continued access to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure.”

China Telecom Americas is indirectly and ultimately owned and controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China, according to the Commission. Continue Reading

Possible Ramifications of Deadlocked FCC

 UPDATE Now that the Senate has confirmed Nathan Simington as the next GOP FCC Commissioner, what is the likely outcome from a 2-2 deadlocked agency on key issues? Plenty, according to consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge.

Inside Towers reported that with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai set to leave the Commission on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021, Simington’s confirmation will prevent new President Joe Biden’s FCC from having a Democratic majority and pushing a new agenda early in the new administration. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr urged the Senate to quickly confirm Simington to thwart the Dems’ agenda, Fox reported.

Biden will ultimately get a majority, after the Senate eventually confirms another Democrat. But that could take a while, according to Harold Feld, a long-time telecom attorney and senior vice president of Public Knowledge. Continue Reading

C-Band Auction Begins

 After more than a year of jockeying, the FCC began the C-band auction Tuesday. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are all expected to be active bidders. The Commission is making available 280 MHz of mid-band spectrum in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band.

“WIA members are thrilled this historic auction will at last put this spectrum to its highest and best use to deploy 5G across the country. This band enables more than capacity alone – this large block is critical for 5G. Given how much effort it took to get this much spectrum to auction, we thank Chairman Pai and the FCC for their success in getting it done,” WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein told Inside Towers. 

There are 57 qualified bidders in Auction 107. Gross proceeds as of the first round yesterday were more than $1 billion, according to the FCC, at exactly $1,741,759,100. The auction kicks into higher gear today with three bidding rounds planned. Continue Reading

RDOF Auction Winners Are…

 The first portion of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund wrapped up last week and the FCC announced 180 winners on Monday. The allocation of $9.2 billion will be distributed over 10 years.

Charter Communications, listed as CCO Holdings, won the most locations, just over 1.05 million. Other big bidders include Windstream, which was awarded $522.9 million for 192,567 locations in 18 states; Frontier, which won $370.9 million for 127,188 locations in eight states and CenturyLink, which won $262.3 million for 77,257 locations in 20 states, according to the Commission.

A range of providers competed in the Phase I auction, including cable operators, electric cooperatives, incumbent telephone companies, satellite companies, and fixed wireless providers. For example, the Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium won $1.1 billion for 618,000 locations in 22 states. Continue Reading

Carr Urges Senate Confirmation of New GOP FCC Commissioner

 FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr endorsed Nathan Simington’s nomination to the agency last week. He told Fox he needs another Republican alongside him on the five-member commission come Inauguration Day to stymie Democrats. “It’d be very valuable to get Simington across the finish line to help forestall what really would be billions of dollars worth of economic damage that I think a [Democratic] FCC would look to jam through from Day 1,” said Carr.

With FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and fellow GOP Commissioner Michael O’Rielly set to leave, Carr would be the sole Republican on the dais as of January 20. The Senate Commerce Committee last week passed Simington’s nomination to the Senate floor over Democrats’ objections, Inside Towers reported.

Senate supporters are hoping for a floor vote to confirm Simington this week, according to Politico. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said he’d block the vote. If successful in appointing Simington to the Commission, the FCC could be deadlocked 2-2 on critical issues come January. In that scenario, it may be a while until President-elect Joe Biden can nominate and get confirmation for an additional Democrat to the agency to gain a majority, according to Politico.

“Magic” Runs Into FCC Over Tower Lighting Violations

 Magic Broadcasting, licensee of WILN(FM), Panama, City, FL, agreed to pay $125,000 to resolve an FCC investigation into whether the broadcaster violated several tower lighting regulations. To resolve the issue and end the Enforcement Bureau probe, Magic agreed to pay a civil penalty, admitted it violated part 17 of the Commission’s rules and certified that each tower it owns or operates from is compliant with part 17. The broadcaster also agreed to enter into a compliance plan.

The bureau said the Consent Decree will promote aviation safety near towers.

The case began last fall, when the agency received an anonymous complaint that the tower had not been properly lit for more than a year. An agent from the Miami Field Office began to investigate and found that the company registered on file as the tower owner was no longer in business. In researching the current owner, the agent discovered that WVFT was licensed to operate from the tower and that WVFT was licensed to Magic Broadcasting. Continue Reading

Utility Pole Attachment Fees Draw FCC Action

 The FCC determined that an electric utility in Maryland made Verizon pay unreasonable charges for attaching to their utility poles. The agency spelled out the maximum rate the utility company could charge the telecom.

Verizon Maryland filed a complaint with the Commission last fall, alleging the Potomac Edison Company was overcharging the telecom for utility pole access. Both companies have a Joint Use Agreement (JUA) that contains the rates, terms, and conditions for each party’s use of the other’s utility poles. Verizon complained the rates it was charged by Potomac Edison are “significantly higher” than the rates that Potomac Edison charges competitive local exchange carriers (LECs) and cable providers to attach to the same poles. Though the financial figures in the FCC’s decision were redacted, it shows Verizon pays more than its competitors.

Verizon contends that Potomac Edison used its “four-to-one pole ownership advantage” to charge Verizon rates that are more than the New Telecom Rate. It asked the agency to find the rates its being charged are “unjust and unreasonable,” require the utility to charge the telecom the New Telecom Rate prospectively and order Potomac Edison to give the telecom a refund of overages. Continue Reading

Pai Plans to Leave FCC

 By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Monday said he plans to leave the FCC on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. Stepping down when a new president is installed is an agency tradition. In a statement, he called being the first Asian-American to chair the agency “a particular privilege. As I often say: only in America.”

The Chairman listed accomplishments with his colleagues from his time at the helm of the Commission: “Together, we’ve delivered for the American people over the past four years: closing the digital divide; promoting innovation and competition, from 5G on the ground to broadband from space; protecting consumers; and advancing public safety. And this FCC has not shied away from making tough choices. As a result, our nation’s communications networks are now faster, stronger, and more widely deployed than ever before.” Continue Reading