New OTMR Rules Still Come up Short for Tower Industry the FCC Confined Its New One-Touch, Make-Ready Rules to Simple Pole Attachment Work

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Wednesday, August 15, 2018 Volume 6 | Issue 159

New OTMR Rules Still Come Up Short for Tower Industry The FCC confined its new One-Touch, Make-Ready rules to simple pole attachment work. Utilities and attachers told the Commission this will apply to most of the upcoming pole work. The agency also updated its other pole attachment rules in the Report and Order. (See more about what the new OTMR rules entail further down.)

Like the BDAC, it defines complex make-ready as: “transfers and work within the communications space that would be reasonably likely to cause a service outage(s) or facility damage, including work such as splicing of any communication attachment or relocation of existing wireless attachments.” Complex work is not part of OTMR “at this time,” says the agency in the order.

The FCC interprets all pole replacements as complex, agreeing with commenters such work is not usually routine and more likely to cause service outages or facilities damage. The Commission also recognizes that wireless attachments involve unique physical and safety complications that existing attachers must consider because wireless configurations cover multiple areas on a pole, considerably more equipment is involved, and RF impacts must be analyzed. Continue Reading

Minnesota Taxpayers on the Hook for $25M Broadband Network The Lake County Board of Commissioners approved a $3.5 million purchase agreement for Lake Connections, the county's municipal broadband internet project, and bidder Pinpoint Holdings, reported the Lake County News Chronicle. The issue is that the Lake Connections project has a $48.5 million debt and may leave taxpayers on the hook for more than $25 million.

In 2010, the board received a $56 million loan and $10 million grant from the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to construct the network. Over the next three years, more than 1,200 miles of a fiber network was built and by 2015, the network was complete.

According to the county's 2016 financial statement, the broadband enterprise fund owed more than $14.3 million to the general fund and $3.3 million to the Health and Human Services fund due to challenges and cost overruns during and after the construction of the network. Continue Reading

This Is The Next Step for OTMR Pole Attachments By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Now that the FCC is proceeding with pole attachment policy updates, how will that affect broadband deployments?

In the final 120-page text, the Commission discusses its new One-Touch, Make- Ready pole attachment process, how it will treat overlashing, and outdated rate disparities. The agency makes clear new attachers are not responsible for pre- existing violations. It also states that moratoria are generally not protected. There’s a handy chart describing what’s changing on page 9.

The Commission says the updates are needed for 5G, as fixed wireless providers are increasingly deploying small cells on poles and these wireless services depend on wireline backhaul. The agency estimates some 100,000 to 150,000 small cells will be deployed by the end of this year; those numbers are projected to reach 455,000 by 2020, and 800,000 by 2026. Continue Reading

Wrong Lights, No Ownership Change Papers, Dog MA Tower The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau warned Eversource Energy it’s in violation of tower rules for a structure built in 1979, on Shoot Flying Hill in Barnstable, MA.

Two things got Eversource in hot water: the wrong lights on the tower and an ownership change not documented with the agency. Following an inspection in May, the FCC agent discovered its records indicate Commonwealth Electric is responsible for the tower. However Eversource is the real owner. The company should have notified the agency within five days of the structure changing hands, said the FCC in its Notice of Violation.

The 255 foot AGL tower (ASR No. 1065307) is subject to FAA painting and lighting requirements. Chapter 8 of FAA Circular Number 70/7460-1H indicates that towers of that height require a dual lighting system with medium intensity white obstruction lighting during the day and red obstruction lighting at night. During the inspection, the agent saw the tower displayed medium intensity white obstruction lighting when it should have displayed red obstruction lighting. Eversource confirmed the nighttime lighting malfunctioned.

Within 20 days, Eversource must respond to the notice and explain the circumstances that led to each violation; the company must also include actions it will take to correct each violation and include a timeline for completion.

FirstNet Sets Operating Budget as Live Network The FirstNet board okayed its first budget as a live public safety mobile broadband network. The board Monday set $81 million as the operating budget for FY 2019. The Board also gave the FirstNet Authority the go ahead to explore reinvestment opportunities in network enhancements and innovation for public safety.

It reserves $81 million and allocates $78 million to network reinvestment. This is the first year that the FirstNet Authority is being directly funded by annual sustainability payments from its network contractor, AT&T, as part of the public-private partnership.

The board passed a resolution recognizing Sue Swenson for serving four years as Chair of the FirstNet board. Swenson’s second two-year term as chair expires this month. She will continue to remain on the board and Chair the Governance and Personnel Committee.

August 14, 2018 at Close

T-Mobile’s Legere Will Webcast Live Today On “What’s Next” T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) CEO John Legere will announce what’s next for the Un-carrier and how the company will continue to “change wireless for good” today August 15, at 8 a.m. Pacific, 11 a.m. Eastern. The live webcast can be accessed at http://live.t-mobile.com/ucnext. An on- demand replay will be available on the T-Mobile Newsroom page shortly after the conclusion of the presentation at https://www.t-mobile.com/news.

Florida “Dead Zones,” Airports and Outcry: Manatee Tower Project Still on Hold UPDATE A controversial, 185-foot 911 communications tower project, which was put on hold in May, is stirring controversy again between Manatee County Commissioners, county staff, and residents, reported The Bradenton Times. The tower being built by Motorola is intended to address a communication "dead zone" hampering first responders in the University Parkway corridor.

However, construction on the $1 million tower was stopped by the board after public outcry that no notice was given to residents regarding the project, near Kinnan Elementary. According to Paul Alexander, Manatee County's director of information technology services, all procedures have been followed to a tee and further meetings are not required. Commissioners disagreed and accused staff of using a loophole. Continue Reading

Vertical Bridge Awards $60,000 in College Scholarships, Honors Military Vertical Bridge ended the second quarter with two philanthropic initiatives: Honoring, Inspiring & Celebrating our Military, an event for active and retired military personnel, and the awarding of $60,000 in college scholarships. Both initiatives were organized by the company’s philanthropic arm, the Vertical Bridge Charitable Network (VBCN).

“Honoring, Inspiring & Celebrating Our Military” took place at the firm’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida on August 13. Active and retired members of the U.S. military, Florida public service officers and families were invited to hear New York Times bestselling author and retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne give an inspirational speech and enjoy an afternoon of games, raffles, food and fun. Over 160 Vertical Bridge employees volunteered throughout the afternoon, helping to coordinate and host the event.

In coordination with the event, VBCN also made private donations to several organizations dedicated to helping and supporting military personnel including Operation Homefront and The Travis Mills Foundation. Continue Reading

Tower Work “Not Even Close” to Being “Most Dangerous Job” Says Reader When editor Tom Butts wrote a story for TV Technology in May following the tower collapse in Missouri and titled it “The Most Dangerous Job in America,” he got pushback from Mike Pappas of Parker, Colorado.

Pappas responded to the article by saying tower climbing isn’t “the most dangerous occupation in the U.S. It’s not even close.” He cited the major strides in tower climbing safety training and improved best practices by the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE). Those improvements, according to Pappas, “have substantially reduced the number of accidents and deaths. The biggest change has been the adoption of 100 percent tie-off at all times,” he told TV Technology. “On the 2016 BLS listing of civilian occupations with high fatal work injury rates, tower climbing doesn’t even make the list.” Pappas said in the TV Technology letter, his 21-year-old son Miles is a newly NATE-certified tower climber and “working with an experienced crew that has a spotless safety record on a 1,000-foot TV tower as part of the repack. I can tell you as a parent I am confident that the company and crew he is working with are adhering to all OSHA and NATE requirements and best practices.”

Delaware State Officials Plan to “Light Up” Rural Areas with Broadband Pilot Over the next 24 months, Delaware officials hope to leverage existing fiber infrastructure and a successful wireless broadband pilot to connect rural areas through public-private partnerships, reported Government Technology.

Gov. John Carney announced that the state will release an RFP this month seeking private-sector partners to expand wireless broadband in rural Kent and Sussex counties and in “desert” areas. Delaware hopes to enhance economic development and improve educational opportunities.

Delaware CIO James Collins said the state consistently delivers some of the fastest internet connections in the nation and has been able to leverage the Delaware Broadband Fund, investing in a two-phase broadband pilot.

In the first phase, the state used the fund to “incentivize providers” to serve rural areas, investing $1.5 million since 2015. Companies including Crown Castle have installed around 700 miles of fiber across the state, reported Government Technology. Continue Reading

Verizon Workers Agree to Four-Year Labor Agreement The union that represents many Verizon employees announced the ratification of a four-year extension of their labor contracts on Friday, paving the way for an 11.2 percent increase in wages over the four year period, according to Reuters.

The contract covers 34,000 employees in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions and includes better retirement benefits, the Communications Workers of America said in a statement.

Arizona Two Towers to Bloom in the Mohave Valley The Mohave Valley Planning & Zoning Commission approved a permit last week for a 120-foot cell tower in the Lagoon Estates subdivision, according to the Mohave Valley Daily News. Sprint and two other unnamed carriers will occupy the site, according to the developer.

Sprint will also be the lead tenant on an 180-foot cell tower recently approved by the commission on an 18.8-acre property north of Boundary Cone Road. The county supervisors will have final approval of the projects at their September 4 board meeting.

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NWSA Announces Dates and Locations for Fall 2018 PEAP Workshops The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) is encouraging industry employers, trainers and workers to register for several upcoming Telecommunications Tower Technician Practical Examiner Accreditation Program (PEAP) Workshops scheduled for this fall. NWSA recently announced that it is facilitating workshops in Minnesota and California on the following dates:

October 1-5 – Eagan, MN (Hosted by Vertical Limit, LLC) October 22-26 – Vista, CA (Hosted by Pacific Safety Solutions LLC)

Industry stakeholders who attend the workshops will be provided an opportunity to complete both the NWSA practical exam to become certified as a Telecommunications Tower Technician (TTT) while also obtaining official accreditation from the NWSA as a Practical Examiner. NWSA Practical Examiners are authorized to administer practical exams to anyone seeking technician certification from the organization. Click here to learn more.

"Verizon - 850 MHz RRH installation to upgrade from Hard frame CDMA 850" in Chestnut Ridge, New York contributed by Paul Haskin.

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Managing Editor: Jim Fryer Washington Bureau Chief: Leslie Stimson Reporter: Keara M. Piekanski Contributing Analyst: John Celantano Marketing & Advertising: Megan Reed Creative & Advertising: Cara Aston Advertising & Classifieds: Phil Cook

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