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Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Volume 6 | Issue 125

Qualified CAF II Auction Bidders RevealedMore than 200 bidders have been deemed qualified to take part in FCC Auction 903 for Connected America Phase IIfunding. The auction, set to begin on July 24, will award up to $1.98 billion over 10 years to telecom providers thatcommit to offer voice and broadband services to fixed locations in unserved high-cost areas. Large, incumbent carriers like Verizon, Frontier, Cincinnati Bell and U.S. Cellular made the list, as did rural telcossuch as Red River Cellular Telephone Corporation. Wireless companies like Skywave Wireless and Surf Air Wirelessare on the list. Satellite broadband providers like Hughes Network Systems and Viasat made the cut. So too, didcable companies such as Altice, Cox and Troy Cablevision. Rural electric companies like Paul Bunyan RuralTelephone Cooperative and Wells Rural Electric Company are on the list, as are several Wireless Internet ServiceProviders. Continue Reading

IowaWhen Cell Towers Fail In An Emergency, the “Hams” Kick In to HelpEmergency preparedness isn’t the reason everyone in the “ham” operator hobby gets involved, but it is a majorcomponent, and it’s one of the ways the community benefits from having these volunteers around. Recently,members of the Ottumwa Amateur Radio Club participated in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise at theWapello County 4-H Expo grounds, reported the Ottumwa Courier.

After simulating an emergency, a challenge offered annually by the American Radio Relay League, the associationreleased a statement stating, “Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions fromalmost any location and create an independent communications network.”

According to the League, 35,000 people around the world got involved last year. “Ham radio functions completelyindependent of the internet or cell phone infrastructure...and can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. That’s thebeauty of amateur radio during a communications outage,” said Paul Cartwright, spokesman for the Ottumwa club.

When a disaster slams into a community and knocks down phone lines and power to cell towers, they may be theonly people who can get the word out. “We work on it because we think it’s fun. To me, there’s got to be anotherreason to do it besides being prepared; we give back to the community,” said Cartwright.

Former NTIA Officials tell Lawmakers How to Update Broadband MapBy Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

From left: Michael Gallagher, John Kneuer & Joanne Hovis

Former leaders of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration say Congress and NTIA need tothink more expansively about NTIA’s mission when it comes to closing the digital divide. The bipartisan House Energyand Commerce telecom subcommittee debated its discussion draft to reauthorize the NTIA for the first time since1992. Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called the legislation a rural broadband bill that includes “goodstewardship” of federal dollars. The measure would establish an office within NITA to coordinate rural broadbandefforts across federal agencies.

Some of the Democrats on the subcommittee say the measure does not go far enough. Ranking Member FrankPallone (D-NJ) said the draft "fails to provide NTIA the authority and direction it needs to address America's 21stCentury needs.” Mike Doyle (D-PA) used stronger language, saying: “This is a good start,” but to help further ruralbroadband deployment especially in Tribal communities, “we need to put our money where our mouth is. If wecontinue to just sit here these problems are not going to solve themselves.” Continue Reading

Crane Operator Certification Comment Period Extended to July 5The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) last week announced that itwill extend the comment period on the proposed rule on crane operator certification. Comments will now be acceptedthrough July 5. This extension allows stakeholders more time to review the proposed rule.

Comments may be submitted electronically to docket (OSHA-2007-0066) at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federale-Rulemaking Portal, or by facsimile or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.

Some industry groups have raised objection to new rules developed by OSHA, contending that certification isinsufficient by itself to ensure an operator is qualified. Organizations that requested an extension are AGC of

America, NationsBuilders Insurance Services, the Coalition for Crane Operator Safety, Edison Electric Institute, andthe American Petroleum Institute.

June 26, 2018 at Close

Africa

Tanzania’s Broadband Auction Nets $20MTanzania (that’s in East Africa y’all) held its first broadband spectrum auction last week and garnered $20 million inbids, according to Reuters. Vodacom Tanzania, the established carrier in the market, and newcomer Azam Telecom,won the spectrum auction for the 700 MHz band.

“Vodacom Tanzania Plc acquired 2 x 10 MHz for a total price of $10.005 million and Azam Telecom (T) Ltd acquired 2x 10 MHz for a total price of $10 million. The total auction proceeds is $20.005 million,” the state-run TanzaniaCommunications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said in a statement on Saturday.

The nation's internet penetration is up to 45 percent in 2017, from 40 percent in 2016, according to the regulator. TheTanzanian government wants to generate more revenue from the telecoms with mandatory listing rules, hiking taxeson mobile money transfers and tightening monitoring of companies, Reuters reported.

Organizations Approve of Communications and Jobs Training BillUPDATE A coalition of communications industry organizations endorsed H.R. 5639 – The Communications and JobsTraining Act of 2018. Organizations supporting the legislation include CTIA, the Government Wireless Technology &Communications Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Association of Tower Erectors,the Rural Wireless Association, the Telecommunications Industry Association, the Utilities Technology Council andthe Wireless Infrastructure Association.

This bipartisan legislation introduced recently by Congressmen Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)is designed to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding for job training to enhance communicationstower service. Specifically, the bill would have the FCC direct a grant program so funds would be available tocommunity colleges, post-secondary vocational and technical schools and any organization that provides career andtechnical education to veterans to establish or expand job training programs for communications tower service,construction and maintenance. The legislation would authorize $20 million per year in fiscal years 2019-2021.Continue Reading

Pennsylvania County Supports Towers and Broadband Initiatives Cambria County communities are working to improve cell service in their area, reported WTAJ. Recently, WestmontHilltop School District officials met with Vogue Towers to discuss building a tower on school property; they expect aformal proposal by August. Additionally, members of the Cambria County Planning Commission delivered a proposalfor the county's comprehensive plan which has not been updated in six years.

The Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission wants to create a task force to assess whichregions need better broadband and cell phone coverage. Supporters of the broadband and cell phone coverage

initiatives believe it will ensure safety, plus increase both convenience and property values.

"It affects property values. There was a time in 1955, 1960 where people thought it hindered property values. Now,being connected is one of the things that drives property values. If you're not connected, it's going to hurt yourproperty value," said Jim Penna, the director of external affairs for AT&T.

KGPCo to Acquire Assets in Hutton Communications of CanadaKGPCo entered into a non-binding agreement to buy some assets and assume certain operating liabilities of HuttonCommunications of Canada. The move comes as part of KGPCo’s expansion of its communications services into theCanadian market. KGPCo said the leaders of both companies approved the acquisition and they expect it to befinalized in the coming weeks.

“To keep up with the rapid demands of the modern consumer, our customers everywhere are focused on acceleratingthe deployment of the latest next-generation networks to market,” said President of KGPCo and KGPCo CanadaTrevor Putrah. “The team at Hutton Communications of Canada shares our unyielding commitment to a customer-firstculture and operational excellence, which will enable us to deliver our portfolio of advanced supply chain, networkservices and network integration, and cloud solutions to the Canadian market.”

MissouriAs Copper Prices Hit a Five-Year High, Robbers Hit AT&T and Sprint TowersTwo towers, only a few miles apart, were robbed of copper wires in Jefferson County, MO near Barnhart, according toKMOV-TV. The county sheriff's department said the thefts occurred in the early morning hours of June 13.

Approximately 240 feet of copper cables were taken from the site at 6600 block of St. Lukes Church Road that isshared by AT&T and T-Mobile. A few miles away, at the 3700 block of Wedde Road tower owned by Sprint, 70 feet ofcopper wires were stolen.

A spokesman for T-Mobile told KMOV-TV, they are seeing a rise in copper thefts nationwide over the last six monthsand the resulting loss of service is not just an annoyance but a safety issue. A review of copper prices by MarketInsider shows a recent spike in the value of copper in June that matches five-year highs. Continue Reading

Building Permits

Longview, TX, June 14-20: Carlson Telecom Services, 1613 W. Loop 281, cell toweralterations, $35,000 Source: Longview News Journal Springfield, IL, June 20: American Towers, LLC, cell tower modifications at 1021 SouthGrand Ave. East. The contractor is SAC Wireless of Schaumburg and the project isvalued at $15,000. Source: Springfield Business Journal

Start-Up Showcase Wants New Innovators at CCA's 2018 Annual ConventionReturning this year, the Start-Up Pavilion* at CCA's 2018 Annual Convention September 28-October 3 in Orlando,Florida will be a central location where the most promising new companies can showcase their innovative productsand services, make connections with carriers, and share their vision for the future of mobile. Show promoters saidtoday's start-ups are “driving innovation, adoption, and the exciting new technology developments that are changingwireless.”

If you are interested in being featured in the Pavilion, you can get the details here. The Start-Up Package includes:

Exhibit Space (5' x 5') in the Start-Up Pavilion including a cocktail table (2' in diameter) and two high-top chairsTwo full CCA registrationsAccess to the CCA attendee list pre- and post-showIn addition, the first eight start-up companies to apply will have the opportunity to pitch their product or servicein a special session attended by carrier executives and CCA attendees

APC Towers - Positions Open

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, APC Towers is a privately held owner, operator anddeveloper of wireless communications infrastructure throughout the United States. APC

Towers collaborates with wireless carriers to provide solutions to extend their coverage and capacity, ultimatelyenhancing their wireless networks. They are currently looking to hire for the following positions, click for moreinfo:

Senior Director, Development

Project Director Spectrum Antenna Services, Inc. – Foreman or Lead Installer

Lee’s Summit, Missouri based Spectrum Antenna Services, Inc. is a privately heldowner/operator serving wireless carriers' needs in the KS/MO market. Looking to hire aforeman and/or lead installer experienced in VZW and TMOB work. Email to apply or call(913) 522-0050 for more information.

Pikeville, KY tower owned by American Tower contributed by Justin Prater.

Email your tower shots or upload them here. Please be sure to include the tower location.Remember to follow us on Instagram!

Keep current throughout the day.

INSIDE TOWERS TOWER-PRO.COM

Managing Editor: Jim FryerWashington Bureau Chief: Leslie Stimson

Reporters: Keara M. PiekanskiMarketing: Megan Reed Creative: Cara Aston

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