NATE Asks CDC for Vaccination Priority Status for Tower Techs

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is asking the federal government to give telecom industry technicians priority status in the COVID-19 vaccination hierarchy the CDC has recommended. States are now tasked with vaccine distribution.  

NATE Wednesday sent letters to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Governors Association. NATE says the letters make it clear the association is not, in any way, advocating that communications infrastructure technicians should be given consideration before healthcare personnel or vulnerable populations, such as those in long-term care facilities. 

Given the designation provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that those engaged in communications infrastructure operations, maintenance and restoration are essential workers, NATE believes the industry’s essential service workforce should be elevated and included in the Phase 1b status along with other specifically identified frontline and high-priority service sectors.