NATE, CCA, WIA Urge Lawmakers to Fully Fund “Rip & Replace”

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Share Tweet Share

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, joined WIA, CCA and other telecom-related associations in stressing to Congress the need to fully fund “Rip & Replace.”   They explained that the program to support the carriers that remove and replace network equipment and services linked to the Chinese Communist Party is “significantly underfunded.” That’s a reference to the $3.08 billion shortfall. Continue Reading

China Tower Continues to Operate at Unprecedented Scale

By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor

Share Tweet Share

The size and scale of China Tower’s business is staggering. By year-end 2022, China Tower operated close to 2.1 million towers. That’s a net increase of 17,000 sites from the end of 2021. Compare that to American Tower which is the largest independent tower company in the world with 223,055 towers at year-end 2022, and almost 7,000 new tower builds for the year.  China Tower primarily serves the country’s state-owned telecommunications service providers (TSP) – China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Broadnet. The four TSPs accounted for a total of nearly 3.4 million tower tenants, a 102,000 year-over-year increase. The TSP tenancy ratio increased from 1.60 to 1.65 over the same period last year, showing a continuous increase in the level of site colocation. Continue Reading

New FCC Application Fees Effective Today

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Share Tweet Share

The FCC has revised its application fees to adjust for increases in the Consumer Price Index. The changes impact wireless and wireline operators and commercial AM, FM and television stations. The 11.6 percent price increase is effective today, March 2. Some of the new wireless telecom services fees for site-based applications are $150 for a special temporary authority (STA), $105 for a new license or major modification and $50 for extension requests. Continue Reading

House Passes Bill to Extend FCC Auction Authority

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Share Tweet Share

The House passed a bill to extend the FCC’s auction authority. Currently, it expires March 9. H.R. 1108 would lengthen the agency’s ability to conduct spectrum auctions through May 19. The legislation now moves to the Senate.  House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced the measure. Rodgers cited the need for legislative action on spectrum issues, Inside Towers reported. “American leadership matters, and we see a growing threat from China. China is making it very clear that they want to lead from an economic and technological standpoint, as well as a military power.” Continue Reading