Tower Talks With Inside Towers

‘Data analytics’ and ‘digital twins’ are becoming commonplace terms as the telecom business changes and grows. These terms refer to more and better digitized site information about towers and other wireless infrastructure. Better information means accurate details about the site structure, the installed equipment, and the condition of that equipment.Better site information ultimately means better decision-making by tower companies and their wireless service provider customers on dispatching tower crews to install, modify, or maintain wireless equipment at any site. Capturing site data and analyzing that data is no longer just nice to have. Increasingly such data is required as the pace and associated cost of wireless deployments picks up. New companies are undertaking the site data gathering tasks, then organizing and presenting that data in ways to support the decision making.Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor in conversation with Dan Ciprari, co-Founder & CEO and Sam McGuire, Director of

Announcements of companies buying or selling towers, either as a standalone transaction or as part of a larger infrastructure deal, are happening on a regular basis.The wireless industry is in an active period with demand growing for towers and other infrastructure assets to support 5G roll outs and various wireless broadband applications.Recent valuations on towers are as high as they have been for some time.But what is a tower worth? And what does a typical tower buy or sell transaction look like?Clayton Funk, Managing Director at Houlihan Lokey joins John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor to share his insights on how to set a price on a tower, and the mechanics of a tower deal.Support the show

The telecom industry is in a high cycle of new wireless infrastructure construction of macro towers, small cells, and fiber for 5G and broadband applications.Through the pandemic, the infrastructure work continued as telecommunications proved to be the essential service.While all the field work is good news for engineering and installation firms that build the network for the carriers, these companies have their hands full with managing work activity to meet schedule and budget deadlines.Typically, they are handling multiple projects for a range of customers, often in geographically dispersed markets.Rowena Okialda, Director of Organizational Development at MODUS joins John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor to discuss the issues and challenges of managing multiple frontline infrastructure projects and how they’ve integrated the Sitetracker into every day operations. Support the show

Before building towers or small cells, wireless carriers must obtain approvals from the local government in whose jurisdictions the infrastructure is being deployed.Increasingly, carriers want to install small cells on telephone or utility poles, on streetlights or in rights-of-way.More than just reviewing and approving carrier plans, municipalities must adhere to FCC rules that govern the process including the ‘Shot Clock’ timing mandate, and the Small Cell Order.Often, what the carriers want and what the municipalities are willing to approve are at odds, leading to litigation.Part of the problem is that local governments generally lack a basic understanding of telecommunications or are not adequately staffed to handle the volume of requests. COVID-19 compounded the problem as many government offices were closed.John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses the situation with David Witkowski, Founder and CEO of Oku Solutions, an advisor and educator to both municipalities and carriers on navigating

Kathy Gill, CEO of Tower Safety, founded the company in 2013. Today, it offers a wide variety of safety and rescue training options, from cell tower certifications to drone inspections. According to Gill, “we stand for workplace safety by providing training that empowers individuals. This enables our trainees to do whatever it takes to return home safe, every day.” In just 20 minutes, Gill and Reed cover a multitude of topics, including the inaugural Tower Rodeo, a rescue app (WRAT) in development, their Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) involvement and of course, the ever-evolving world of safety training.Support the show

Inside Towers begins a new series of Tower Talks by focusing on the men and women who, for decades, have not only survived, but thrived as independent operators in the wireless infrastructure field. “Tower Masters” is an apt term for those who have seen “all the Gs,” the rise of the big towercos, the merger of carriers, the influx of new technologies, new FCC rules and, yet, have kept building towers through it all.John Paleski, Founder and CEO of Subcarrier Communications, is the epitome of an independent tower builder, with over 300 macro towers and 800 rooftop leases to his name and an unquestionable master of his trade. Join John and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer as they discuss the unique and candid perspective from, for lack of a better term, “the middle tier” of tower providers. How have they survived the consolidations in both the tower and carrier sector and how do they view the future of the market? Support the show

Join WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer at the Wireless Water Cooler with their special guest FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as he reflects on his tenure. What does he consider his greatest accomplishments? What work is left to be done? Does he have regrets? (Spoiler alert, he does not.) What’s in store for him after the FCC?Support the show

We all rely heavily on our internet service and wireless devices to stay connected, especially through this pandemic.With mobile data demand surging and 5G deployments ramping up, the need for qualified tower technicians to install and test wireless network infrastructure is greater than ever.Yet there is a critical shortage of tower techs. Thousands more are needed.NATE- The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association recently conducted its 2020 Workforce Survey to find out where its members stand on handling increased field work and importantly, the challenges these contractors face in hiring and sustaining field force levels.John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses with Todd Schlekeway, NATE President and CEO, and Dr. Gemma Frock, consultant to NATE, what the survey findings mean for wireless workforce development.Support the show

Talk around the water cooler this month centered on workforce development and the current infrastructure legislation being debated in Congress. Podcast show co-hosts Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and the Managing Editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer, were lucky enough to snag some time with a Congressional leader in the thick of it all: U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY). The Congresswoman is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce serving on the Communications & Technology subcommittee. She is a leader in the tech and media policy space as co-chair of the Smart Cities Caucus and believes smart technology will make communities more sustainable, resilient and livable. As the Representative of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, Congresswoman Clarke has dedicated herself to continuing the legacy of excellence established by the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm.  Support the show

Connected data usage from both mobile devices and fixed IoT sensors is growing exponentially.To meet that growth, wireless infrastructure must be expanded greatly with more macrocells, small cells and fiber backhaul to support the multitude of 5G applications and use cases that operate on a mix of low-, mid-, and high-band frequencies.Advanced wireless technologies need qualified and certified men and women to do the job properly. Yet there are not enough trained technicians to perform the work that needs to be done in the next few years. In turn, these workforce shortages are driving the need for comprehensive and customized training programs.John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, discusses with Cesar Ruiz, CEO, Learning Alliance Corporation the current state of wireless workforce, and training programs available to develop that workforce.Support the show

Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless. This is especially true for 5G that uses a range of low-, mid- and high-band frequencies.What and how much spectrum is allocated for commercial and government use is handled through an interagency process between the FCC and NTIA, part of the Department of Commerce. For the most part, the interagency process works but at other times, not so much.John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor fosters a lively discussion on the battle for 5G spectrum and the role that government agencies have in the spectrum allocation process with Joel Thayer, Associate at the law firm of Phillips-Lytle and Daniel Goldin, former administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and now a Distinguished Fellow of the Council on Competitiveness.Support the show

Part III of this three part series discusses developing field technician fiber installation and testing skills. Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor as he continues this informative and in-depth discussion with industry experts Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer from Viavi Solutions and Scott Jackson, National Market Manager with Graybar. Hear this and much more on the podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes.Support the show

Fiber optics technology is integral to the high-speed operation of modern telecom networks.In an exclusive three-part series, Tower Talks dives into the subject of how, where, and why fiber is deployed in telecom. Part I covered a high-level view of fiber optic technology and fiber terminology, the current market environment and how fiber is adapted for use in different parts of the telecom network. Part II address specific fiber uses in the wireless network.Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor as he continues this informative and in-depth discussion with industry experts Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer from Viavi Solutions and Scott Jackson, National Market Manager with Graybar.Support the show

Hosts Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of WIA, and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer got to spend a few minutes with tower-climbing FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr recently for the fourth edition of the Wireless Water Cooler.    Carr discussed the latest happenings in wireless workforce development and how the industry needs to double its workforce to get the necessary jobs accomplished over the next few years. Adelstein asked the Commissioner about the effects the recent 9th Circuit Court decision has had on buildout schedules and how the industry has responded to the new rulings favoring wireless development. Support the show

“It takes a lot of wires to make wireless work.” Today, that means fiber optic cable.Fiber handles high-speed multimedia traffic over long distances more efficiently and cost-effectively than copper cables.Fiber use in wireless is growing – at cell sites, for backhaul, in data centers and for long-haul transport.Though light weight and easier to handle than copper cable, fiber installation and testing must be precise with skilled technicians using specialized tools and test sets to ensure peak performance.In a special three-part series, Tower Talks discusses fiber in telecom applications, and associated installation and testing practices.PART I – Fiber in Telecom OverviewPART II – Fiber in Wireless ApplicationsPART III – Developing Field Technician Fiber Installation and Testing SkillsJohn Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor hosts industry experts from Viavi Solutions, Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer and from Graybar, Scott Jackson, National Market Manager for an inform

Spectrum is more valuable than ever. For 5G, spectrum is needed in low-band, mid-band and high-band frequencies, the so-called ‘Layer Cake’, to enable a whole new set of high-speed, low latency mobile data applications and use cases.The results of the recently concluded FCC Auction 105 for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz CBRS mid-band spectrum show who won and where they will use this spectrum.Auction 105 is unique given the unusually large number of bidders vying for a large number of licenses across all U.S. counties.In the latest Tower Talks, John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor and his guest, Brian Goemmer, President of Allnet Insights & Analytics engage in an interesting and informative conversation on the CBRS auction’s results and the implications of those outcomes.Support the show

When an event like the court ruling that occurred on August 12 is hailed as a “major victory” by the FCC Chairman and a “game changer” by others, it deserves a deeper dive. The 9th Circuit Court issued an industry-favorable ruling in the face of strong opposition by a collaboration of cities and utilities across the country. The man in court speaking for the FCC, General Counsel Thomas Johnson, Jr., Esq., met with Jonathan and Jim at the Wireless Water Cooler this week to give his insider view of what it means for wireless infrastructure moving forward. How will this expedite the rollout of 5G? What new advantages do developers have? Does the opposition still have some wiggle room? Support the show

This month the podcast of The Wireless Water Cooler, hosted by WIA CEO and President Joanthan Adelstein and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer, got to chat with Leticia Latino, CEO of Neptuno USA and Adria Horn, Vice President of Workforce for Tilson. Workforce development was the subject of the day, exploring the state of the workforce in our industry, what’s been done recently to develop it and how successful has it been?   Additionally, Jonathan and Jim discussed the recent agreement reached between the FCC, the ACHP, and the NCSHPO.Support the show

In our latest Tower Talks edition, John Celentano, Business Editor and his guest, Duane Macentee, Executive Director of the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) discuss NWSA's role in developing a professional tower technician workforce through its trade certification programs. Support the show

To celebrate and continue the conversation that has occurred around the long-time office staple, the water cooler, WIA's President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein and Inside Towers' Managing Editor Jim Fryer have launched the first episode of their new monthly podcast series that will center on industry discussion, “The Wireless Water Cooler.” Support the show