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Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Volume 6 | Issue 187

With Lidar, Cell Towers, Fiber Could be Part of ‘Virtual’ Border Wall In South , along the border of Mexico and the United States, sits a lidar sensor atop a metal pole. Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, uses the same laser-based technology that gives sight to self- cars and captures a three-dimensional image of anyone who walks into the area, day or night.

The sensor belongs to Silicon Valley startup Quanergy, hoping to build a “virtual wall” along the U.S./Mexico border. The devices require both electrical power and a network connection. Quanergy has tested its sensors with solar panels, which eliminate the need for power lines. Still, along most parts of the border, the authorities would have to install new fiber lines or cell towers, reported The Times.

Working with the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office, Quanergy has spent the last year testing its lidar sensors in Del Rio, angling for a contract with United States Customs and Border Protection, reported The New York Times. According to Louay Eldada, a founder and the chief executive of Quanergy, border control is an “obvious candidate” for expansion of lidar technology.

The concept of a virtual wall would not offer a physical deterrence, but some people believe it would be cheaper to build and maintain. “The only way to have operational control of the border is to look at all 2,000 miles of it at the same time,” said Representative Will Hurd, a Republican who represents Val Verde County. “And the only way to do that is through technology.”

“Hands Free” Law Being Pushed For Legislature A Tennessee law firm has begun a petition to urge the state legislature to pass a Hands Free Bill in their state, according to WTVC-TV. The bill would join Tennessee with , , , , , , , , , , , New York, , , , and West (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands). All these jurisdictions prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving.

“We’ve had too many families come to us who have experienced harm to a loved one because of ,” C. Mark Warren of law firm Warren & Griffin, told WTVC-TV. “We want to do more than bring reactive justice. Rather, we want to do all that we can to proactively protect drivers on Tennessee roads.” The firm cited an estimated 3,000 deaths occur each year nationally, as a result of distracted driving. A recent Georgia law prohibits drivers not only from texting while driving but also from touching or holding their phone while operating a vehicle.

“We can’t wait for this issue to harm our own families before we make a change,” said Warren. “Waiting to respond to a text message or call is a small price to pay in order to save a life.”

FCC Highlights Local Support for Easing Small Cell Siting UPDATE Ahead of the FCC’s planned vote tomorrow on an order to streamline small cell siting, the agency issued statements of support for the item. More than “several dozen mayors, local officials and state lawmakers” called on the Commission to act, said Commissioner Brendan Carr in a statement.

“They want the FCC to build on the common sense reforms adopted in state legislatures and town councils across the country so that every community—from big city to small town —gets a fair shot at next-generation connectivity,” said Carr, who spearheaded the item. “As they put it, FCC action will help spur investment and infrastructure buildout in their communities, while helping the U.S. win the race to .”

Several large and small municipalities oppose the changes, saying the application processing deadlines are too draconian. They also say the suggested prices the industry would pay for siting small cells in a public right-of-way are too low, Inside Towers reported

AT&T Fights DOJ to Keep TW Acquisition Alive AT&T on Thursday asked a federal appeals court to deny the Justice Department’s challenge to its acquisition of Time Warner. The carrier said the federal government offered no support for questioning an earlier ruling upholding the deal, Reuters reported.

U.S. Judge Richard Leon ruled in June, that AT&T’s $85.4 billion acquisition of Time Warner could proceed. The DOJ is appealing, saying the merger would lead to higher prices for consumers and violates antitrust law.

AT&T has said it would it would manage Time Warner’s Turner Cable TV network as a separate business unit until February 2019, or when the government’s appeal ends. The carrier said the DOJ did not meet the burden of proof, calling the government’s claims “narrow and fragile,” in a brief, Reuters reported.

Sheriff Richard Stanek is New Vice Chair of FirstNet Board The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) has a new vice chair of its board. FirstNet appointed Sheriff Richard Stanek, who serves in Hennepin County, MN, to the post. Jeffrey Johnson, who previously held the position, resigned in August.

Stanek has been on the FirstNet board since 2014, three years before the group awarded AT&T the contract for the network buildout of the nation’s first broadband public safety network. The action leaves FirstNet with six open slots to fill out its 15-member board.

Life and This Issue Are Like a Box of Chocolates by Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer

Welcome to our Fall Showcase, which similar to our Spring Showcase, is a like a Whitman’s Sampler of the wireless industry. While this issue may not not have the “solid chocolate” tower story in the middle, the other stories provide for an interesting selection and you won’t know what they’re about until you bite into them. The make up and diversity of the industry has evolved and improved over the years and yet all play a connected role to each other. Continue Reading on page 3.

September 24, 2018 at Close

Crown Castle Declares Quarterly Preferred Stock Dividend Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE: CCI) announced that the quarterly dividend on its 6.875 percent Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock will be paid November 1, 2018 to holders of record on October 15, 2018. The dividend will be paid in cash at a rate of $17.1875 per share of Preferred Stock.

AT&T to Release Q3 Earnings October 24 AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced Monday, the company’s third-quarter 2018 results will be released around 7 a.m. ET before the New York Stock Exchange opens on Wednesday, October 24. At 8:30 a.m. ET the same day, AT&T will host a conference call to discuss the results. The company’s earnings release, investor briefing and related materials will be available at AT&T Investor Relations. The public can hear a live webcast of the call at that website, and the webcast replay will be available until December 28.

Virginia Small Wins: Supervisors Approve Shorter Tower on School Grounds UPDATE The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved the construction of an 80-foot cell tower on Western Albemarle High School grounds, after denying a proposed 145-foot monopole cell tower last year. County staff members said the location, height, and design of the taller pole would make it too visible to surrounding properties.

According to The Daily Progress, the tower company proposing the project, Milestone Partners, said they plan to apply for a one-time, 20-foot increase in height to 100 feet tall.

As previously reported by Inside Towers, the tower will help to provide broadband access to approximately 400 homes. School staff members said that about 60 percent of students in the area could not afford broadband connectivity. Jamie Foreman, interim head of the school division’s department of learning, access, engineering, and design, said in a statement, that the school division appreciates the support from the Board of Supervisors for a project that will “contribute to meeting the school division’s priority to continue to eliminate the learning opportunity gap.” Continue Reading

Wireless CapEx – What to Expect in the Second Half by John Celentano for Inside Towers Playing with wireless carriers’ financial numbers is always an interesting exercise.

We pay particular attention to the carriers’ capital expenditures (capex), for two main reasons. One, capex shows how the carriers are investing in their networks, both expanding and modernizing, and maintaining. Second, wireless capex is the prime indicator for infrastructure equipment vendors and service providers; it’s how they all get paid. So it’s important to understand carrier capital spending patterns and trends, and what to expect for business planning purposes.

The current year is turning out to be a surprise.

The beginning of the year was positive given 2018 full-year guidance tallying $31 billion, up 12 percent over the $28 billion spent in 2017. The breakdown is roughly $10 billion each for AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless, and $5 billion each from Sprint and T-Mobile, with the balance from US Cellular and other regional wireless carriers. Continue Reading

Women at Work in Telecom By Tiffany Keller, Sr. Marketing and Communications Manager at MasTec Network Solutions August 26, 2018, marked the 98th anniversary of women in the United States winning the right to vote. And although the leadership at MasTec Network Solutions embraces diversity and equality in the workplace, many people still struggle with the concept of women doing tough, grueling, and challenging work.

I spoke with three of our female tower technicians to find out what drew them to our male- dominated industry and what inspires them to climb.

Adria Brunn is a Tower Technician I who works out of the East Syracuse, NY region.

“For eleven years I worked in a factory conducting electrical testing,” Adria said. After working and going to school full time to earn an electrical engineering technology degree, she knew she needed something more challenging. She was drawn to tower climbing. Continue Reading

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Recent Releases Latest posting from the FCC 9/20/18 Click Here

Projects Are Life: Eugene Spiegle

Eugene Spiegle, or Gene, as his colleagues call him, is the Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Pathways to Partnerships at Rutgers University. The majority of Gene’s life has been spent running projects, with more than 45 working years spanning projects in construction, design, telecom, international security, and more.

Gene founded the Cambridge Group, a project management consulting firm and has managed projects for and worked with AT&T, Bechtel, Black & Veatch, Boeing, Chrysler Corporation, City of Los Angeles DWP, and U.S. Corp. of Engineers, Datek Online Inc., General Motors, Hewlett Packard, MIT National Labs, Xerox Corporation, the United Nations, and more. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Psychology, as well as a Masters and Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. Continue Reading

EasTex Tower LLC -- Tower Foreman or Tower Tech

EasTex Tower LLC is actively looking to add new members to our exciting and growing Team. We are currently seeking a Tower Foreman or Tower Tech for our Springs, CO and Longview, TX locations. We would prefer experience in Tower Construction, Antenna and Line Installations, Microwave Installations, and Tower Modifications. Successful candidates can look forward to an energetic, family atmosphere in a very prosperous and growing industry. For more information and to apply, click here.

MasTec Network Solutions -- Multiple Positions

MasTec Network Solutions is actively seeking Bilingual (Spanish) Construction Managers in Tennessee and . We also need a Site Acquisition Project Manager and a Zoning and Permitting Specialist in Kent, Washington.

We are always looking nationally for qualified Tower Foremen and Tower Technicians, including Microwave Tower and Radio Technicians. Search by job title and location on our job site mnscareers.mastec.com

Pearland, TX contributed by Jesus Perez.

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Keep current throughout the day.

INSIDE TOWERS TOWER-PRO.COM

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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