what a divided congress means for telecom · 2019. 12. 18. · click here for the online version....
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Thursday, November 8, 2018 Volume 6 | Issue 219
What a Divided Congress Means for TelecomBy Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau ChiefA Democratic House and Republican Senate can, in theory, align on issues that affect telecom. However the windowis short due to the looming 2020 presidential election. Infrastructure has a chance at bipartisan cooperation, butaccording to Roll Call, Democrats want to spend more federal government dollars than Republicans, who prefer torely more on private-sector investment. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who hopes to regain her role as House Speaker,committed to pursuing broadband development as one of her goals in the new session of Congress.
That goal dovetails with what the Wireless Infrastructure Association would like to see. While still sorting through theresults yesterday, WIA Head of Legislative Affairs Matt Mandel told Inside Towers that, in general, “Our job remainsthe same regardless of who controls Congress: to educate all members on the important role wireless infrastructureplays in economic growth, broadband deployment, and global competitiveness. I think infrastructure will certainly be apriority and our belief, which is shared by members of both parties, is that broadband infrastructure should be a partof any comprehensive infrastructure package.” Continue Reading
Florida Commission Postpones Cell Tower DebateThe request for a 100-foot monopole by Vertex Development LLC has been put on hold at the request of theapplicant. Hometown News, reported the controversial project, presented in May 2018, has support from residentsbut may not meet county code requirements, specifically the required 100-foot fall radius.
According to County Development Review Coordinator Linda Pendarvis, “The proposed conditional use may have anadverse effect on the nearby properties because the proposed telecommunications tower will not comply withsetbacks and separation requirements. The tower may fall outside the property boundaries and may impact thesurrounding land uses and obstruct access on Gilson Road.” Continue Reading MexicoBringing Broadband to Indigenous UsersIgnored by larger telecom companies who see no profit in reaching out to remote communities, Oaxaca, Mexico hasfound what it says is a creative solution to get connected. Indigenous Community Telecommunications (TIC for itsSpanish initials) is a non-profit community based cell phone network. As described in NYMag.com, a participating
location installs a solar powered base receiver station that can transmit local calls and access WiFi to make out-of-network calls.
Bringing wireless to Mexico's indigenous people has been a long process with a history of court battles. Following alegal victory in 2014, smaller providers have begun to expand their service. Industry giant, Telcel, controlsapproximately 70 percent of the market but TIC, Movistar, and Unefon, which cater to rural areas, are growing. “ForTelcel, it’s not profitable to come out to these communities. When they have to do repairs, it’s very costly becausethey are so remote,” Erick Huerta, representing non-profit organization Rhizomatica, explained to NYMag.com.
Huerta pointed out what a difference cell service has made to Oaxacan residents, who can now reach both medicalproviders and clients by phone. “The change has been radical,” said Huerta. “We’ve talked to taxi drivers who saytheir business has gone up 30 percent because now people who live outside the town have a way to call them toorder a cab.” Operating the service as a non-profit makes it an affordable option that further reduces costs by doingits own maintenance work, according to Huerta. TIC currently has 3,400 subscribers.
Carriers Asked How They Cooperate During DisastersFCC Chairman Ajit Pai began a review of the Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework, a voluntary carriercommitment to cooperate in restoration efforts during disasters. FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security BureauChief Lisa Fowlkes sent letters to participating carriers, asking them to supply information regarding how they’veimplemented the framework over the past two years.
Americans expect quick recoveries from natural disasters, says FCC Chairman Pai. “That’s why we are re-examiningthe last Administration’s framework to make sure all wireless carriers are meeting communities’ needs and doingeverything they can to promptly restore service.”
In the letters, Fowlkes asks participating wireless carriers to summarize how they use the framework. The lettersrequest detailed lists of mutual aid and roaming agreements carriers have established with each other, as well as anyinstances where such agreements were modified, impeded, or even declined outright. Letters were sent to AT&T,Sprint, US Cellular, Verizon, GCI, Southern Linc and T-Mobile. The carriers were asked to respond by November 26.
Netflix Tests Its System Using Tower PowerIn addition to creating its own programming, Netflix also has its own “cell towers” to field test its connectivity,Variety.com reveals. What Netflix really uses, is portable site-based equipment equivalent to the power of six celltowers. This arrangement allows Netflix to test mobile devices simulating worldwide conditions to measure the
effectiveness of its app under different scenarios. “We can make a box look like India, we can make a box look likethe Netherlands,” director of mobile streaming, Scott Ryder told Variety. It’s telecommunications, "Minus the towers,”he said.
The Netflix mobile device lab contains the equipment one would find at base of towers in specially designed units inFaraday cage-like boxes, that allow the company to run various tests without interfering with local phone reception. Over 125,000 tests are run each day, allowing Netflix to gather data on different mobile and WiFi conditions. Netflixboasts a connection availability rate of almost 100 percent. Engineering Director Katharina Probst explains, "Weintentionally introduce chaos into our systems." Rigorous testing of support technology and an open relationship withconsumers keep Netflix as a top dog in streaming content.
November 7, 2018 at Close
DISH Reports Q3 EarningsDISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH) yesterday reported revenue totaling $3.40 billion for the quarter ending
September 30, 2018, compared with $3.58 billion for the corresponding period in 2017. Subscriber-related revenuefor the quarter totaled $3.35 billion, compared with $3.55 billion of subscriber-related revenue for the year-ago period. Net income attributable to DISH Network totaled $432 million for the third quarter 2018, compared with net income of$297 million during the same quarter in 2017. DISH's net income for the third quarter of 2018 was positively impactedby non-cash adjustments related to the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard, net of related taxes,of $31 million. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ending September 30, 2018, were $0.82, compared with$0.57 during the same period in 2017. Continue Reading
NebraskaAin’t Gonna Budge: Verizon Stands Firm on OK’d Tower LocationVerizon Wireless is constructing an 80-foot, evergreen-shaped camouflaged tower in a neighborhood park. It wasapproved by a unanimous council vote, but now city officials want a compromise. The Columbus Telegram reportedofficials agreed to ask Verizon to move the tower to the center of the park, further away from houses, schools, adaycare, and busy streets.
But Verizon is not negotiating, according to the account. In an email to the Interim City Administrator, the telecomcompany wrote, “Verizon is committed to following all local, state and federal regulations when building a new cellsite. Verizon will continue to move forward with the location that was approved by the city council.” Continue Reading
Family Contribution Sites Set For David FernandezFollowing the tragic death of tower tech David Joseph Fernandez near Albuquerque,NM, several sites have been set up to help his family. Fernandez died Friday in a fallfrom a water tower during an antenna installation.
The GoFundMe site set up by his family stated: “We recently lost a dear friend and co-worker in a tragic work accident. He was a very bright and strong young man wholeaves behind a son David Joseph Fernandez II, a loving mother and many familymembers and friends. We are asking for your support to help his mother, Monica Nava,
raise money for expenses the family will incur during this difficult time.”
Donations can be sent to:
Hubble Foundation
Tower Family FoundationGoFundMe
Carr Urges Utility Crews to Reduce Fiber Cuts After DisastersHurricane Michael’s nearly unprecedented winds bent towers, knocked antennasout of alignment, and ripped communications lines off poles. The loss of wiredconnections — including the backhaul needed to connect a tower to the network — exacerbated the problem on the wireless side, according to FCC CommissionerBrendan Carr.
More than 7,000 power company contractors and crews cleared downed wires andplaced pole after pole into the ground in the Florida Panhandle after HurricaneMichael devastated communications. Better coordination among utility firstresponders should be a priority, writes Carr in a blog post.
Carr penned the post this week after spending 48 hours with telecom crews working to restore communications inFlorida last week. “It takes countless small wins to get the job done — locating a single cut line within a mile-long run,trenching fiber by hand, splicing thousands of fibers one strand at a time, getting a single customer back online andthen building on that to connect an entire block,” writes Carr. Even with significant communications outages in thewake of Hurricane Michael, many portions of the wireline network, including fiber and cable plant, showed “notableresiliency,” he states. Continue Reading
MichiganDISH Plans for 226-Foot Guyed Tower on Suicide Hill to Be DiscussedThe City of Negaunee’s Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing to consider a special land use permitfor an addition to the cell tower located near “Suicide Hill,” a nearby ski resort. Details can be viewed here.Opportunity for public comment will be provided at the meeting at 5:30 p.m. November 20, at the Negaunee SeniorCenter. Source: City of Negaunee
How to Make PIM over CPRI Measurements with a BTS Master MT8220T Base Station Analyzer
Learn how PIM over CPRI option for the BTS Master MT8220T is the first line of defense to determine if a tower crewneeds to be called to fix PIM problems at the top of a tower or on a roof top.
No site turndown required – use live traffic over CPRI link to test for PIMTests any radio frequency as measurement is based on CPRI (baseband) data, not at RF frequencyTest at ground level – no tower crew requiredTest for self-generated and harmonic PIMSupports SISO, 2x2 MIMO and 2x4 MIMODetermine if PIM is Internal or External to the antennaCompatible with Nokia/ALu, Samsung, and Huawei radios
To download the white paper click here.
Ericsson, SBA Working on DISH IoT NetworkDISH Network signed agreements with Ericsson and SBA Communications for the Internet of Things network DISHplans to build, the first vendors revealed for the project.
Ericsson will supply a radio access and core network slated for 2020 completion. "Ericsson's wireless expertise hasbeen central to our initial deployment," said DISH EVP Corporate Development Tom Cullen in a press release. "Inaddition to planning and deployment, Ericsson will be a key partner in certifying compliance with DISH's coveragespecifications."
Separately, SBA Communications CEO Jeff Stoops said on the earnings call on Monday, the company will supplysome of the towers for the DISH IoT network. “We are actually seeing a fair amount of activity from DISH,” saidStoops, according to a Seeking Alpha transcript.
Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said, “SBAC is the first tower company to acknowledge that DISH had signedleases waiting to be deployed,” in a client report. “The size and impact of DISH's network plans remain to be seen.”
John Legere, Ajit Pai to Speak at WIA’s Infrastructure Hall of Fame CeremonySpeakers and guests including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and T-Mobile CEO John Legere, will be at next Wednesday’sinaugural Mobile Infrastructure Hall of Fame Ceremony in Washington, D.C. The ceremony, hosted by WIA, willhonor, “trailblazers who have shaped the wireless infrastructure landscape and support the Foundation’s mission to
create a stronger wireless workforce through training and education,” according to the association.
A complete run of show and list of speakers can be found below. The first class of inductees includes: ContinueReading
Save The Date: TXWA Holiday PartyDecember 4, 2018 - Fort Worth, TX
Save the date for this years TXWA Holiday Party. The event will be held at Whiskey Ranch in Fort Worth onDecember 4 from 5:30 - 10 p.m. The event will include a happy hour, dinner and performance by the Josh Lee Band.Click here for more information.
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: 2000 Timberland Erectors Hoist
Sioux Falls Tower & Communications is selling a Timberland hoist it purchased in 2006from another entity. It has been used intermittently for the past 12 years. Since Sioux FallsTower has lessened its focus on full-service tall-tower work, it is looking to sell it with orwithout the trailer and wire rope. For more details and asking price, click here and call605.331.6972. Ask for Mike Fowler or Bart Roberts.
Tower + Civil Foreman, Lead Technicians and Technicians
VERTICOM has been an industry leader in Real Estate, Engineering,Wireless & Small Cell Construction and Fiber Construction for over 17years. We are currently looking for Tower and Civil Foreman, Lead
Technicians and Technicians in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. We offer a $2,000 sign on and $500 referralbonuses along with full benefits after 30 days. In addition, we pay $100 per day per diem, provide paid in-house crewsafety certification and training, and quarterly performance bonuses.
Apply online here or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to you joining our team!
MasTec Network Solutions is Hiring Multiple Positions
MasTec Network Solutions is holding career fairs across the country and hiring for multiplepositions! Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to be the first to see our opportunities. Apply online atmnscareers.mastec.com.
Daley Tower Service, Inc. – Tower Technician
A mainstay in the communications industry for over 50 years, Daley Tower Service, Inc. is nowhiring experienced tower technicians based out of our Carencro, LA office. We offer a competitivecompensation package for qualified individuals based on knowledge and experience. Interestedparties should email [email protected] for more information, or apply here.
Rize Solutions is a certified Minority Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, providingprofessional staffing, recruiting and telecom development services. Rize Solutions is actively seeking an A&E ProjectManager in Denver and a Construction Manager in Connecticut. Please click for more information/ to apply:
A&E Project Manager - Denver
Construction Manager - CT
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A Phoenix Tower International Self Support Tower named Soula in Macouria, French Guiana.
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