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Subscribe • Advertise Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Volume 7 | Issue 181

FCC Authorizes SAS Deployments in 3.5 GHz CBRS Band

The FCC, in coordination with the National and Information Administration and the Department of Defense, on Monday certified that five Spectrum Access Systems (SAS) satisfied the Commission’s laboratory testing requirements and are approved to begin their initial commercial deployments in the 3.5 GHz CBRS band (3550-3700 MHz ). The approved SAS are operated by: Amdocs, CommScope, Federated , , and Sony.

The companies will conduct field tests and the Commission will assess whether each SAS can operate under actual deployment conditions. Each company must tell the agency when its deployment begins and whether it will operate with an approved Environmental Sensing Capability. The notification must include a primary point of contact for incumbent operators to report potential interference issues to the SAS. Initial commercial deployments must last at least 30 days and test several CBRS devices. The companies must report results to the government for final review. Stakeholders plan full commercial launches to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The promise of the CBRS band is that new entrants will use dynamic spectrum sharing to co-exist with federal U.S. Navy radar systems operating along the coasts. Using SAS to let them know when a channel is occupied will enable new entrants to operate on different CBRS channels to avoid interfering with naval operations. The news opens the door to a market opportunity for operators, enterprises and industrial players, according the CBRS Alliance, an industry organization focused on driving the development, commercialization, and adoption of OnGo™ shared spectrum solutions. AT&T, and Verizon have developed technology and services to support the use of OnGo. Commercial services are planned for thousands of sites. Continue Reading Arizona RV Park Residents Get Their Tower After Contacting Senator

Residents of an RV Park called “Sunscape” in Pinal County, AZ, felt their cellular coverage was underserved and contacted their U.S. Senator about it. Residents wrote Senator Kyrsten Sinema earlier this year and explained how they lacked consistent cell service, preventing them from calling 911 in the event of an emergency. According to Sinema’s office, she visited the “RV Resort” and drew attention to their concerns in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. After the hearing, Verizon Wireless confirmed it would build a cell tower to provide service for the park. Sinema met with residents last week and discussed how the newly-built cell tower is working.

“We are working to close the ‘digital divide’ between urban and rural communities in Arizona and make sure communities like Sunscape have access to services that keep them safe, deliver high-quality health care, allow for world-class education, and foster a climate in which businesses can grow,” said Sinema.

The Sunscape RV Resort is a community of residents age 55 and older. Depending on the time of year, between 850 and 1,000 residents live at Sunscape. The Senator said the area has lacked reliable cell phone service for 15 years.

Category: Smart Pole Forward-Thinking Landowners are Building for Carrier and Community Wireless Needs FlexGrid™ helps them create a comprehensive, long-term solution

For a carrier deploying small cells in places like the City of Lancaster in California or the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in Texas, it doesn’t get much easier. These landowners took the lead and shaped the build out of technology on their properties. Unlike many such plans, these were made with both consumer needs and carrier needs in mind.

Lancaster and DART each wanted to create a long-term, comprehensive solution for wireless technology and densification. With the increasing demand for service and connectivity, many authorities are overwhelmed by the number of small cell applications coming in.

“Places get caught off-guard with the volume. Each carrier submits a lot of applications and there isn’t coordination between carriers,” explains Jared Pickerell, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Landmark Dividend, LLC. “Without a smart plan, they’re facing a lot of stress and visual clutter. But with a plan, they can take control. They can act rather than react.”

Landmark worked with the city and with DART to develop their plans and supporting infrastructure. “We have a long history in the telecommunications industry,” says Jeff Mulrennan, Landmark’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. “We know what the carriers need for their technology. But we also understand real estate and landowners—they want good-looking, value-added solutions.” Continue Reading

Senators Urge FCC to Review China Telecom, China Unicom Licenses

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) asked the FCC on Monday to consider if two Chinese telecoms — China Telecom and China Unicom — should be barred from operating in the U.S. Their licenses give them the right to use networks in this country, reports the New York Times.

The request builds on a letter the pair sent to the Department of Defense last week expressing spying concerns regarding the two companies. China Telecom denied it’s a security threat to the U.S. while China Unicom did not respond to a NYT request for comment.

National security officials have been worried for years that the Chinese government could use its companies to gain access to telecommunications infrastructure. Those concerns have become more prominent as U.S. and Chinese carriers race to launch 5G. Continue Reading

FCC OKs CO WEA Test Gunnison County, Colorado received FCC permission to test Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The test is slated for 2 p.m. Mountain Time on September 26.

The Gunnison County Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Gunnison – Hinsdale Emergency Telephone Service Authority and the Gunnison Regional Communications Center, will conduct the test. The county is susceptible to wildfires and flash flooding and county emergency management officials told the Commission they want a, “clear understanding of how alerts would perform” in their mountainous area.

Gunnison County also has a large number of tourists year-round, who most likely would not have subscribed to the county's emergency alert system. WEA might be the only system that could reach them, especially in large crowds at special events, according to county emergency management officials. The WEA test message to be delivered to mobile devices is: “Gunnison County OEM: TEST emergency msg. Feed-back to [email protected] TEST only.” Continue Reading

September 16, 2019 at Close New York Long Island Mayor Says Ban Small Cells and See What Happens Next

Manorhaven, NY has a temporary ban on cell nodes in place, and the Manorhaven Board of Trustees is angling to make it permanent. Such action is likely to provoke a lawsuit, reports TheIslandNow.com, but local politicians are gambling on their own jurisdiction to win.

In the words of Mayor Jim Avena, “why don’t we just prohibit it and see where the ball falls.” Although there are not currently any cell nodes placed within the village, there is a cell tower that was erected in 2012, after it was first approved in 2007. The construction of the cell tower was an inflammatory issue for the community, and further wireless development promises to be contentious as well.

In an effort to be proactive, attorney Jonathan Fielding suggested the village enact a permanent resolution. Waiting in the wings is ExteNet, an infrastructure provider associated with Verizon to install the cell nodes. Other towns in the area have pushed back against the telecoms, denying more applications than they approve. Manorhaven's temporary ban expires on September 26. CITCA Names Diane Mueller as Sales Representative

The Communications Industry Training Academy (CITCA) added Diane Mueller as a sales associate. Mueller spent the past 20 years as a sales rep for Primus where she worked with tower companies, dealers and vendors supporting the wireless industry in areas including sales, service, marketing, data, and more.

In addition to her role with Primus, Mueller also served in various volunteer leadership roles with NATE. Mueller was a volunteer on the Member Services Committee, as the Illinois Liaison for NATE’s Wireless Industry Network program, and as a member of Women of NATE. She was recognized with the distinguished service award for Outstanding Achievement for, “demonstrating direct and individual contributions to the mission of NATE, and whose performances has proven so exceptional that it profoundly affects the success of the Association.”

Georgia County is State’s First to Be “Broadband Ready”

If you live in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, you are a resident of the first region in the state to be designated as a "broadband ready community.” According to AJC.com, the town passed an ordinance designed to make it easier to install high speed lines.

Once the county verifies that an application for a broadband network project is complete, Oglethorpe County has mandated a ten day turn-around time on the processing of that application. Applicants will receive their "yea" or "nay" within that ten day timeframe. The county has also made the process more enticing by keeping the application fees under the $100 mark. Continue Reading North Carolina Online Tool Used To Help With Broadband Coverage Accuracy

Rural state and local officials nationwide run into issues with coverage maps that wireless providers submit to the FCC, including overreporting claims. Now, North Carolina is seeking a portion of the $20 billion the Commission committed to rural broadband, and the $600 million available via the USDA ReConnect program, reported StateScoop. However, per the FCC, 95 percent of North Carolina’s population is served by at least three broadband providers, making it difficult for the state to apply for funds based on current coverage maps.

Instead, North Carolina officials are asking residents to self-report internet speeds. As part of the process, the state is streamlining its online tool by working with Measurement Lab, or M-Lab according to Jeff Sural, director of the North Carolina Department of Technology’s broadband infrastructure office. The results of the self-reporting are intended to represent the state’s broadband coverage maps more accurately. Continue Reading

New York Stabbing at Tower Site Leaves One Worker in Serious Condition

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 49-year-old Howard C. Williams of Bronx, NY Wednesday following a knife assault on a co-worker in Otselic, NY, according to WBNG-TV. The sheriff’s office says, the victim, a male, was stabbed “multiple times” at a tower site on Flanagan Road and is now in serious but stable condition at SUNY Upstate Hospital.

A Sergeant Miller of the Sheriff's Office told Inside Towers he did not know the names of the company or companies the men worked for and that they may have been independent contractors at the site.

Williams reportedly fled following the attack but was located and taken into custody at a motel in the town of McGraw by members of the New York State Police and Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with assault in the second degree and remanded on a $10,000 bond. The victim was treated by members of the Otselic Volunteer Fire department before being airlifted to the hospital, WBNG-TV reported.

FCC Greenlights Nexstar-Tribune Deal

The FCC approved Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tribune Media Co. on Monday. The agency’s action means the deal can go forward since the Justice Department signed off on July 31. The $6.4 billion purchase was announced last November but was reliant on regulator approval.

In order to come in compliance with the agency’s local and national television ownership rules, Nexstar agreed to divest some stations to Scripps Broadcast Holdings, TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, and CCB License. In Indianapolis and Norfolk, the Commission found that the transfer of preexisting combinations of two, top-four ranked broadcast television stations to Nexstar and Scripps, respectively, would be in the public interest. After the spins, Nexstar will own 144 full-power stations in 115 markets, according to Broadcasting and Cable. Pre-divestitures, Nexstar owns 135 towers, per the FCC. Continue Reading

Carrier Conference Begins Sessions Today in Providence

While early arrivals at CCA’s Annual Convention got to network and get in touch with their inner race car driver yesterday at a local karting track, exhibitors set up at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence in anticipation of today’s attendees.

FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks will be featured keynote speakers along with CCA CEO/President Steve Berry. Inside Towers recently interviewed Berry about the conference and other issues in a Tower Talks podcast.

For more information on the event and how to register, use this link. Outdoor Small Cell Sites: Tackle Densification Issues With Smaller, Local Solutions

CommScope's Outdoor cell site solutions are designed to help wireless networks increase their capacity and coverage quickly by integrating a technical solution in an aesthetic package to mitigate the challenging zoning and permitting environments. Our Metro Cell portfolio of outdoor small cell solutions are designed to meet both the thermal and aesthetic requirements of multiple types of radios and environments. They can quickly be installed on existing street furniture or come in kitted solutions to include new poles and RF components.

CommScope provides you with everything you need to deploy metro cells—from base station antennas, combining solutions to RF transmission systems and concealment solutions that conform to local municipal codes.

When it comes to expanding your network in urban and suburban environments, trust CommScope. Our array of inventive connectivity solutions can address your specific situation no matter how complex. To help you take your to the next level, connect with us and together we can figure out how to best unlock your current potential and future possibilities. Learn more here. Click on the image above to access the link featured in the tweet

Upcoming Industry Events

9/19 Kentucky Wireless Association Golf Tournament 9/25 - 9/26 TC3 Carrier Connections 9/26 5G Antenna Systems Program 10/1 WIA Awards 10/8 - 10/10 TowerXchange Meetup Africa 10/9 TXWA Fall Social & Charity Golf Tournament 10/14 - 10/15 Edge USA

To submit your event, click here. Seeking Sub-contractor Partners Nationwide

Empire Telecom, a QualTek Company, is looking for sub-contractor partners nationwide to support our current and upcoming projects. Email Robert Calabrese, call 856.685.0418, or visit www.qualtekservices.com for more information.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: 2000 Timberland Erectors Hoist

VIKOR is selling a Timberland hoist it purchased in 2006 from another entity. It has been used intermittently for the past 12 years. Since VIKOR has lessened its focus on tall-tower work, it is looking to sell it with or without the trailer and wire rope.

Timberland has made all repairs and updates and repainted and re-certified the equipment.

For more details and asking price, email VIKOR or call 605.331.6972. Ask for Mike Fowler or Bart Roberts. Merida, Venezuela contributed by Luigy Ochoa. Email your tower shots or upload them here. Please be sure to include the tower location. Remember to follow us on Instagram!

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