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Subscribe • Advertise Friday, January 15, 2021Volume 9 | Issue 10

T-Mobile to Expand and Advance 5G NetworkOn Tuesday, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced five-year, multi-billion-dollar agreements with both Ericsson(NASDAQ: ERIC) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) to continue advancing and expanding its 5G network. Part of the networkinvestment following last year’s merger with Sprint, T-Mobile says these deals enable the telecom to add more 5Gcoverage, capacity, speed and advanced technical capabilities across all of its spectrum bands.

“T-Mobile already has the largest 5G network in the country,” said Neville Ray, T-Mobile President of Technology.“These agreements with our longstanding 5G partners Nokia and Ericsson will help us take our 5G leadership evenfurther, delivering ever-better experiences for our customers for years to come.” Continue Reading

FloridaSchool District Searches for Tower Management PartnerSarasota (FL) County School officials are looking to increase district revenue from cell tower contracts. The Observerreported that five towers currently exist across district school campuses, and contracts created 20 or more years agoare up for renewal.

Chief Operations Officer Jody Dumas recommended hiring a third party to control the district’s towers, subleases, andliaise with residents. “At the end of the day, we don’t have the expertise in the cell tower industry to know that we’redoing the right things at the right time and maximizing our use of these assets,” Dumas said. Continue Reading Do You Want That (Network) Slice To Go?By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business EditorLet’s talk pizza! Suppose a mixed group of eight people go to a pizza shop. They order a large pizza, but everyonewants something different on their slice. Everybody pays the shop owner directly for their special slice which is servedto each person sitting at their own table (social distancing!).

On the next Zoom call, the group again orders pizza from the same shop only this time everyone pays a differentthird-party service to have their special slice delivered to their specific location.

With 5G, mobile network operators similarly can partition their networks in software to serve distinct use cases andapplications in specific locations. Pizza is a rough analogy for sure, but you get the idea. Continue Reading

WIA Seeks “Essential” COVID Vaccine Designation for Communications WorkersBy Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau ChiefThe Wireless Infrastructure Association is working to help communications workers be considered “essential” when itcomes to COVID vaccine distribution. The association is working with its state lobbyists on this effort, beginning withWisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

WIA is sending a letter template to its state contacts to help them make the case. “It’s ultimately up to governors ineach state to determine the vaccine schedule. We’re trying to get a higher priority for communication workers,” WIAVP Government and Public Affairs Matt Mandel told Inside Towers. “We’d like communications workers to be part ofthe ‘essential worker’ category.” But to be clear, the association is not asking to jump ahead of medical and otherfrontline workers. Continue Reading

Command the Network: Meet the Viavi Fiber Command Team

In a world that demands to stay connected and where bandwidth needs are ever-expanding, fiber is everywhere. Youare at the center of it, battling to ensure networks are running smoothly to meet the requirements of today’s – andtomorrow’s – gigabit world.

Here to help you save the day is the VIAVI Fiber Command: champions for higher speed, lower latency, and thenetworks of tomorrow.

The VIAVI Fiber Command is a global team that provides expert knowledge and best-in-class tools so you cancommand the network. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join them -- from now until April 30, 2021,you can take part in missions and earn rewards.

Ready to go? Good. First, meet the team and sign up for your first mission!

Read official rules for points and participation here.

January 14, 2021 at Close

SBA Announces Offering of $1.5 Billion of Senior Notes Due 2029

SBA Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SBAC) announced yesterday that it hascommenced a private offering of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes due2029.

On January 12, 2021, SBA delivered a redemption notice with respect to all $750 million of its outstanding 4.000percent Senior Notes due 2022. SBA intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fully redeem all of the 2017Notes and to pay all premiums and costs associated with such redemption, to repay amounts outstanding under itsRevolving Credit Facility and for general corporate purposes. The 2017 Notes will be redeemable on February 11,2021.

MaineCity Faces $1K Per Day Fine If Found In Contempt of Court UPDATE Bay Communications III LLC filed a motion with a federal court on Wednesday to find Rockland (ME) incontempt. According to The Free Press, the city failed to follow through on a negotiated settlement reached in 2020regarding a 120-foot tower project.

Bay Communications is asking the court to fine the city $1,000 for every day it fails to approve the tower. If theapproval is not granted by February 4, the company seeks $77,038 in reimbursement from the city. BayCommunications is also asking the court to appoint a third party to authorize the project should the city fail to grantapproval. The Press reported that the contempt hearing does not have a scheduled court date.

The Rockland Planning Board remains adamant in its refusal to approve the project, despite the City Council and cityattorney's insistence. The Board was not involved in the settlement and said specific findings were “false.” The CityCouncil is scheduled to meet with the Planning Board later this month, reported The Press.

NWSA Info for First Practical Examiner Accreditation Workshop of 2021The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is encouraging industry employers, trainers and workers to register forthe Telecommunications Tower Technician Practical Examiner Accreditation Program (PEAP) Workshop scheduledfor March 2-4, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted by RAKM Tower Rescue.

NWSA-accredited Practical Examiners are NWSA-certified personnel who have been trained and authorized byNWSA to administer the practical examinations for NWSA certification programs. In order to become an NWSA-accredited Practical Examiner, you must: Continue Reading

Commerce Department Issues Interim Rule to Secure Communications Supply ChainU.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross issued an interim final rule to address the national security,economic security, and public health and safety concerns related to the nation’s communications supply chain. Therule identifies six foreign governments or foreign non-government persons as foreign adversaries: the People’sRepublic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,the Republic of Cuba, and Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro. “Aggressively securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) supply chain willprotect American citizens and businesses from vulnerabilities that could undermine the confidentiality, integrity, andavailability of their personal information or sensitive data by malicious foreign adversaries and those who wish harmon the United States,” said Ross. Continue Reading

FCC Proposes 12 GHz Flexible UseThe FCC earlier this week approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to open up the 12 GHz band for 5G. Theunanimous vote came before Thursday’s monthly meeting. Chairman Ajit Pai circulated the item to his colleagues fora vote in late December, Inside Towers reported.

The NPRM came in response to a request from the Multichannel Video and Data Distribution Service (MVDDS) 5GCoalition. DISH and the Competitive Carriers Association are part of the group. They recently asked Pai to approveflexible use in the MVDDS band between 12.2-12.7 GHz for two-way 5G mobile and fixed wireless broadbandservice.

There are no tentative conclusions in the NPRM. Rather, it seeks input on whether and how to allow terrestrial usewhile protecting incumbent users. The band is currently used for DBS, fixed satellite service multichannel videodistribution, and data service (MVDDS).

Verizon, UPS, and Skyward Partner on Connected Drone DeliverySkyward, a Verizon company, and UPS Flight Forward are collaborating to deliver retail products with dronesconnected to Verizon 4G LTE; they’re also testing 5G and integration for delivery, they said at CES 2021 this week.

“We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, flying simultaneously, dispatched from a centralizedlocation, operating in a secure and safe environment. To do this at scale, alongside Verizon and Skyward, we’ll needthe power of 5G,” said UPS CEO Carol Tomé.

“We’re just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way businesses operate,” saidRima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we canlearn from each other’s expertise and collaborate to create solutions that help move the world forward.” ContinueReading

PhilippinesWhich Came First, Towers or Improved Internet Speeds?Internet speeds in the Philippines broke records in December 2020, due to increased tower buildouts. The BusinessMirror reported that last August, President Rodrigo Duterte called for local governments to “streamline and speed upthe [tower build] process or face sanctions.”

Since towers take three to four months to build, and some are still in the construction process, the country’s internetspeeds are expected to be sustained as telecom infrastructure is further fast-tracked. On average, 929 permits arebeing issued per month, according to the Mirror. As of November 2020, the total approved since last July equaled4,644.

According to data from Ookla, the Philippines saw a 297.47 percent average improvement in download speeds forfixed broadband (31.44 Mbps) and a 202.41 percent uptick for mobile broadband (22.50 Mbps). Along with improvedinternet service, consumer rates are expected to drop as competition increases among DITO, RED Broadband, andConverge.

WIA’s Connect(X) Hosts Policy Summit February 23-25

The Wireless infrastructure Association (WIA) announced yesterday they will host the Connect(X) All Access PolicySummit February 23-25. The virtual event will cover implications for policy and regulation under a new Administrationand issues of critical importance for all stakeholders in 5G and integrated communications infrastructure.

Sessions include:

FCC Watch: Expectations from the Incoming FCC Chairman and New CommissionerImplications of the Emerging Policy Framework focused on Open RANImplications and Opportunities in a New Infrastructure BillState and Local Level for 5G Siting and Infrastructure DevelopmentSolving the Rural Coverage Gap: Wireless Networks, Infrastructure and InvestmentThe 5G Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Turning Training from a Cost into a Competitive Advantage

The conference will generate live content daily from 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m. ET. Registration is complimentary. Toregister click here.

Pro Panel: 5G Infrastructure Strategy

Save your spot and register today.

DATE: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 TIME: 2:00 p.m. ET

PANELISTS:

Danny Agresta, President & CEO, APC TowersJennifer Alvarez, CEO, Aurora Insight Scott Jackson, National Market Manager, Broadband, GraybarJim Neuens, VP/General Manager, Wireless Field Test Instrumentation, VIAVI Solutions

TOPIC: 5G Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. Sub-topics include but are not limited to observations, trends andinsights regarding spectrum, RAN, edge computing, fiber and network commissioning.

Members of the audience will be able to submit their questions and share their opinions real-time through interactiveQ&A and polling features. Register here.

Business Development Manager

TWR Lighting is seeking a Business Development Manager. Houston, TX location (flexible). To apply email RaudelBarrera or call 713.973.6905 ext. 125.

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Managing Editor: Jim FryerWashington Bureau Chief: Leslie Stimson

Business Editor: John CelentanoReporter: Keara M. Piekanski

Marketing & Advertising: Megan Reed Creative & Advertising: Cara Aston

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