Storm Takes Down a Famous 1,480-Foot Tower in South Dakota

By Jim Fryer, Inside Towers Managing Editor

Photos and video courtesy of VIKOR Teleconstruction A television tower, owned by Gray Media Group and the home of KDLT-TV, was one of many structures damaged in a storm that swept through South Dakota last week, according to the broadcaster. It is doubtful, however, any of the other weather-ravaged properties had achieved the world-wide attention of the iconic tall tower that dominated the plains twenty miles west of Sioux Falls. The loss of the 1,480-foot behemoth, built in 1976 and located near Salem, was mourned by the crews who climbed it and the companies that serviced it. VIKOR Teleconstruction CEO Craig Snyder said, “Sad to see it go. In the 1980s, we spent a lot of time working on that tower. The TV antenna got turned off after they built a new tower during the high definition transition.” He added, “But the owner didn't have the heart to take it down so the only work on the tower for years has been light bulb replacement and preventative maintenance.” Continue Reading

5G Obstacles and Opportunities Vetted at Connect (X)

By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor

The rate and reach of 5G deployments are a concern among mobile networks operators and their contractors and suppliers. That was the topic of discussion at Connect (X) this week in a panel moderated by Martha DeGrasse, Inside Towers contributing analyst and Network Builder Reports tech journalist. Participating on the panel were: Michael Pelletier, Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Arcosa Telecom Structures, Christian Hillabrant, Chief Operating Officer, Tillman Infrastructure, and Ross T. Krutchen, Vice President, Wireless Operations, Mears Group. The panel acknowledged the 5G opportunity in robust mobile data consumption that is expected to double over the next two to three years. That demand is driving extensive wireless infrastructure builds. But the timing and rate of deployment is under stress from a variety of factors. Continue Reading

View From the Top Panel Discusses Strengths, Weaknesses of Towers

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

Photo by J. Sharpe Smith   With three strong carriers, a fourth carrier actively building out nationally and a lot of spectrum, speakers on the “View From the Top” panel on the second day of Connect (X) in Denver, said the outlook is extremely good for towers and for wireless infrastructure. However, uncertainty in the economy, nationally and around the world, is having an impact more than in the past.  Moderated by Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO, the panel comprised Alex Gellman, CEO and Co-founder, Vertical Bridge; Steve Vondran, Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Tower Division, American Tower Corporation; Jeff Stoops, Director, President and CEO, SBA Communications; and Jay Brown, CEO, Crown Castle International. Continue Reading

Adelstein Highlights Wins, Expansion as He Opens Connect (X)

 By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Photo by J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers

As he opened his last Connect (X) show as the President and CEO of WIA, Jonathan Adelstein said he’s most proud of the advocacy organization’s successes at all levels of government, including on Capitol Hill, at the White House, at the FCC, and in state legislatures. “We’ve had huge wins in Congress over the past 10 years. We expanded colocation, and compound expansion, by right under Section 6409. We saved the industry $250 million on unnecessary tower marking rules,” he said in Denver on Tuesday.

Adelstein also cited the FCC’s adoption of rules to streamline wireless infrastructure siting, and two-thirds of the states have enacted small cell bills that follow WIA’s model. The lobbying organization won a framework in Congress for a flexible, all-the-above approach, including fixed and mobile wireless, along with fiber. Continue Reading

Connect (X) Kicks Off Live From Denver

The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) 2022 Connect (X) conference got underway in Denver yesterday with its Annual Golf Tournament followed by an Infrastructure Developers Forum Meeting and a TEC Workshop on the Impact of 5G on Wireless Infrastructure. A full range of sessions begins today that run the gamut from Densifying the 5G Network to State of the State Wireless Associations.

WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein will provide the opening remarks followed by keynote addresses from Mark Dankberg, Co-founder, Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman at Viasat, Inc and Dave Mayo, Executive Vice President - Network Deployment at DISH Network. Various breakout sessions include: Connecting the Unconnected – From Smart Cities to Satellites; WiFi and Private Cellular Network Coexistence; Can Rural Deployments Make Money and Bridge the Digital Divide? and more. Tuesday events will conclude with the Sixth Annual Music Movement & Connect (X) Charity Concert.  For a full schedule of events, click here.

Inside Towers will be there with staff and provide coverage of the event with Technology Editor Sharpe Smith; Business Editor John Celentano; Managing Editor Jim Fryer and Advertising Account Executive Tony Louis.

Canada Joins the Exodus from Huawei, ZTE 5G Equipment

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

Huawei and ZTE will soon see another international customer slam its door on their 5G technology. The Government of Canada is banning the use of equipment supplied by them because it has “serious concerns” that they could be directed by foreign governments in ways that would harm Canadian interests.  “Today, the Government of Canada is ensuring the long term safety of our telecommunications infrastructure,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Canada Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “As part of that, the government intends to prohibit the inclusion of Huawei and ZTE products and services in Canada’s telecommunications systems.” Continue Reading

NTIA: 34 States and Territories Sign Up for Internet for All Initiative

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Source: NTIA The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) says 34 states and territories plan to participate in the Administration’s Internet for All initiative, which will invest $45 billion to provide affordable, reliable high-speed internet for everyone in the country by the end of the decade.     Since NTIA began accepting applications for the initiative last Friday, the following states and territories have sent in their letter of intent or indicated they will participate: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, United States Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Continue Reading