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Tower Talks with Inside Towers — Technology
Tower Talks with Inside Towers

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer shares the Ethernet with some of Telecom’s key players in this Tower and Wireless Infrastructure News Podcast. Subscribe to the Inside Towers daily newsletter here: https://insidetowers.com/subscription/

Copyright: ℗ & © 2019 Tower Talks with Inside Towers

Latest Episodes:

Meeting Health & Safety Standards using Power-Ascenders Oct 28, 2024

Tower climbers work in all kinds of weather that affect their health and safety, especially in hot and humid conditions. Industry and government agencies are making a concerted effort to establish appropriate Heat Injury and Illness Prevention safety standards and practices in construction industries but some of these may be difficult to adhere to as written for our tower climbers.
Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin Revolution, and Kathy Stieler, Director of Safety, Health & Compliance at NATE -The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association speak with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about a proposed OSHA standard for heat injury and illness protection, and how it applies to tower climbers.

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#233 - Mobile Tower Siting Case with Husch Blackwell Sep 23, 2024

We often hear about municipalities or individuals pushing back on new cell tower developments in their communities over location or aesthetics. A recent case involved two competing tower companies that went to court over a siting dispute with an interesting outcome.

Rod Carter, Partner, Jake Remington, Senior Counsel, and Joe Diedrich, Senior Associate, all with Husch Blackwell’s Telecom Law Practice, offer a briefing on the case and what transpired in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#232 - Private Tower Company Opportunities and Challenges Aug 26, 2024

In the U.S., large public tower companies hold a substantial portion of the communications towers in operation. The remainder are owned and managed by numerous smaller private companies that support a range of mobile network operators and other wireless service providers. Private tower companies often can be more agile and offer custom services to their customers. But there are challenges.
Yannis Macheras, CEO of Harmoni Towers discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, some of the opportunities and challenges for private tower companies.

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#231- Symphony on the State of the Wireless Industry Aug 12, 2024

The digital infrastructure business continues to be dynamic and challenging. Bernard Borghei, tower company veteran and CEO of Symphony Wireless, shares his perspectives and outlook on the wireless market and overall digital infrastructure ecosystem with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#230 - Weekly News Recap - August 5 - 9, 2024 Aug 12, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 5, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#229 - The Fiber Market: An Overview & Outlook Aug 05, 2024

Fiber optic systems are used everywhere to provide high speed connections to buildings, towers, and data centers. Increasing demand for high-speed data, streaming video and burgeoning AI-enabled services is driving construction and expansion of fiber routes to provide more connectivity. At the same time, the market has become a mix of large and small fiber operators, all competing for a piece of the business.

Tyler Coates, Chief Revenue Officer at FiberLight discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor the fiber market’s opportunities and challenges.

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#228 - Weekly News Recap - July 22 - 26, 2024 Jul 30, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 22, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#227 - Navigating Cell Site Structural Challenges Jul 29, 2024

Steel structural elements are designed to support the weight and wind loading that macrocell antennas and radio units create on a tower. More important, structural elements must be designed and installed to minimize passive intermodulation interference, or PIM, that is generated from transmitted and received RF signals reflecting off of these elements.

CommScope’s Chuck Mann, Senior Director, Engineering R&D and Jared Haines, Director of Product Line Management-Structures, talk to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about structural design considerations, available products and innovations.

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#226 - Telecom Common Language Jul 22, 2024

iconectiv TruOps Common Language® is a distributed data registry that increases corporate revenues by streamlining network planning, service activation and technology rollouts via industry standard location and equipment identification codes. Using Common Language codes streamlines communication and management across the data network and telecom interconnection ecosystem and enables critical information exchange via operations support systems and other interface mechanisms. The platform is particularly applicable to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Juan Carlos “JC” Ortiz, Principal-Corporate Business Development, and Mykola “Myk” Konrad, Senior Vice President-Head of Product at iconectiv, join John Celentano, Inside Towers, Business Editor to discuss Common Language codes and their benefits for the telecom industry.

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#225 - Weekly News Recap - July 15 - 19, 2024 Jul 16, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 15, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#224 - The Telecom Infrastructure Services Business Trajectory Jul 08, 2024

Planning and building digital infrastructure is hard and requires technical and project management capabilities and skills that few organizations can offer at scale.
Fullerton is an established engineering and construction management firm that handles projects for tower companies and communications service providers to deploy wireless or fiber networks, outdoors and inside buildings. The company takes a project from the architectural and engineering phase through coordinating and managing the flow of materials and labor needed to complete the job to customer specifications.
Kelly Lazuka, CEO at Fullerton shares her perspectives and outlook on the telecom infrastructure services business in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers, Business Editor.

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#223 - Weekly News Recap - June 10 - 14, 2024 Jun 17, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 10, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#222 - 5G Non-terrestrial Network Opportunities with Kratos Jun 03, 2024

Satellite-based services for decades have provided a variety of applications across commercial, industrial and government markets. Different satellite systems – GEO, MEO, LEO - serve different purposes.

Recent discussions on direct satellite to cell phone connections or broadband internet connectivity address just a part of the broader satellite-based communications business.

Greg Quiggle, Senior Vice President at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions shares with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, his insights and outlook on the satellite communications business and non-terrestrial network opportunities.

For information on Kratos’ Open Space Platform, visit https://www.kratosdefense.com/systems-and-platforms/space-systems/dynamic-ground/platform.

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#221 - Weekly News Recap - May 28 - 31, 2024 Jun 03, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 28, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#220 - Weekly News Recap - May 13 - 17, 2024 May 20, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 13, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#219 - Power & Tel: A Supply Chain of Events May 13, 2024

Telecom equipment distributors play a pivotal role in supplying all the infrastructure elements that make broadband and mobile networks work. Distributors stock their warehouses with thousands of products from hundreds of manufacturers and deliver orders for these products from network operators and their contractors to wherever the equipment is needed in the field.
Melissa Seibring, Director of Marketing and Gus Vasilakis, VP-Global Business Development and VP-Canadian Operations at Power & Tel in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discuss the important role that distributors play in the telecom supply chain and how that role is evolving.

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#218 - Clearfield - Novel Solutions for Fiber Deployments May 06, 2024

There is more and more fiber being deployed in the middle mile and deeper into the network to interconnect data centers and enterprises, provide wireless carriers with cell site backhaul, and enable telco and ISP deployments.

Clearfield, a fiber management and connectivity provider, designs and builds the products needed to power active equipment at the edge and manage and deploy the fiber cables all the way to the premises. Clearfield bills itself as ‘the fiber to anywhere company.’

Kevin Morgan, Clearfield’s Chief Marketing Officer, Roberto Vargas, Technology Platform Manager, Active Cabinets, and Michael Wood, Market Manager discuss with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor the company’s role in the fiber business and its outlook on the fiber market.

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#217- Weekly News Recap - April 29 - May 3, 2024 May 06, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 29, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#216- Weekly News Recap - April 15 - 19, 2024 Apr 22, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 15-19, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#215 - Wireless Water Cooler - Congressman Buddy Carter Apr 17, 2024

Co-hosts Patrick Halley, WIA CEO and President, and Jim Fryer, Inside Towers Managing Editor recently chatted with U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) on the Wireless Water Cooler podcast. The five-term Congressman is Chair of the Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee and was formerly Vice Chair of the Communications & Technology subcommittee.

In this lively and candid half hour talk, Rep. Carter discusses a variety of issues including how BEAD money will connect his constituents across the coastal region of Georgia. The conversation also covered how Congress works with NTIA and the FCC to ensure federal money results in timely and quality deployment. Rep. Carter discusses how Georgia has an excellent Broadband Ready Cities certification program that gives guidelines to cities and counties to streamline permitting for broadband, with 49 communities already certified.

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#214 - Everest Infrastructure Partners: Global Growth Through Acquisitions Apr 09, 2024

The tower business is alive and well, despite the slower pace of network builds among the U.S. mobile network operators. While the public tower companies are guiding to low single-digit growth in 2024, there is movement among the smaller, private tower companies.

Private tower deals tend to be small, from a few towers to a few hundred towers at a time. Still, tower acquisitions are taking place, both domestically and internationally. In the process, a few mid-size tower companies are growing their business through these acquisitions.

Everest Infrastructure Partners is one such company.

Matt Newton, CEO and Mike Mackey, President of Everest Infrastructure Partners along with Clayton Funk, Managing Director at Houlihan Lokey talk to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the company’s business model and its success to date, along with the outlook for the tower business.

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#213 - Weekly News Recap - April 1 - 5, 2024 Apr 08, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 1, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#212- Weekly News Recap - March 4 - 8, 2024 Mar 12, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 4, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#211- Weekly News Recap - February 26 - March 1, 2024 Mar 04, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 26, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#210- Weekly News Recap - February 19 - 23, 2024 Feb 26, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 19, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#209 - The Tower Family Foundation with Jim Tracy Feb 26, 2024

Jim Tracy has worked in the wireless infrastructure business for many years, from climbing towers to running his own tower contracting business, to serving as Board Chairman of NATE and now as President of the Tower Family Foundation (TFF).

In conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, Tracy shares insights gained from his long experience in the tower contracting business, his unwavering advocacy for better and safer tower climbing work practices, and the outstanding charitable work that TFF is doing to support families of tower climbers in times of need.

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#208 - Weekly News Recap - January 29 - Feb 2, 2024 Feb 05, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 29, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#207- TIF Takes on Industry Safety Issues Feb 05, 2024

Tower climbing is inherently hazardous and dangerous. More than that, tower technicians must be knowledgeable and skilled at constructing towers, and installing and testing RF, fiber, and related power systems. The tower industry has always been concerned that more training and certification is needed to ensure tower technicians can work safely at heights while building high-quality networks.

Telecommunications Industry Foundation (TIF) is addressing a number of issues arising from the rapid advancement and deployment of the telecom infrastructure. Michelle Kang, TIF Chair and Scott Kisting, TIF Founding Board Member/Government Liaison discuss key tower industry issues and TIF initiatives with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#206 - Weekly News Recap - January 22 - 26, 2024 Jan 29, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 22, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#205 - Weekly News Recap - January 15 - 19, 2024 Jan 22, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 15, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#204 - Weekly News Recap - January 8 - 12, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 8, 2024. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#203 - Weekly News Recap - December 4 - 8, 2023 Dec 11, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of December 4, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#202 - Weekly News Recap - November 27 - December 1, 2023 Dec 04, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 27, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#201 - Developing Land for Data Center Use with Husch Blackwell Nov 14, 2023

The digital infrastructure ecosystem including towers, fiber, data centers and small cells all operate under a similar ‘shared infrastructure’ business model. But deploying these assets, particularly data centers, comes with very different land use requirements compared to erecting towers.

Jake Remington, Senior Counsel, and Sandy Gomez, Partner, both with the law firm, Husch Blackwell, discuss with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, the intricacies and requisite planning considerations for new data centers, particularly in small town or rural jurisdictions.

Read a related Case Study on this topic here.

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#200 - Weekly News Recap - November 6 - 10, 2023 Nov 13, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 6, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#199 - Weekly News Recap - October 30- November 3, 2023 Nov 06, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 30, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#198 - Weekly News Recap - October 23- 27, 2023 Oct 30, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 23, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#197 - Wireless Water Cooler - Alex Gellman of Vertical Bridge Oct 25, 2023

Co-hosts Patrick Halley, WIA CEO and President, and Jim Fryer, Inside Towers Managing Editor recently chatted with Alex Gellman, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Vertical Bridge on the Wireless Water Cooler podcast.

In this lively and candid half hour talk, Gellman discussed a variety of issues including recent slowdowns in MNO activity and how Vertical Bridge is responding. He shared how the company is handling new macro tower builds and M&A strategy. In his first interview since being inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame, Gellman reflected on the state of the industry, how it has progressed in the past decade and where it has fallen short.

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#196 - Weekly News Recap - October 16 - 20, 2023 Oct 23, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 16, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#195 - Learning Alliance Corporation Pivots with the Industry Oct 18, 2023

With the slowdown in tower construction and RAN installation work, the challenge for infrastructure operators and their contractors is how to reallocate those skills and human resources to other new activity on the ground, particularly, fiber and increasingly, EV charging station projects. Learning Alliance offers a range training and certification programs that help field technicians expand their qualifications and skills to work in multidisciplinary environments.

Cesar Ruiz, CEO of Learning Alliance shares with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, his perspectives on how his firm is helping with this workforce transition.

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#194 - Weekly News Recap - October 9 - 13, 2023 Oct 16, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 9, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#193 - StratCap Wireless: Infrastructure Investor and Owner-Operator Oct 11, 2023

With continuing demand for broadband and mobile data connectivity, and the specter of artificial intelligence having a big upside impact, there are opportunities for infrastructure companies that are focused on a vertical market like towers, or a portfolio of assets that includes fiber, small cells, and data centers. At the same time, there are challenges to acquiring and owning and operating infrastructure assets. StratCap Wireless is a company that is steadily building its digital infrastructure portfolio. Todd Rowley, CEO of StratCap Wireless talks about the company’s progress and outlook with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#192 - Weekly News Recap - October 2 - 6, 2023 Oct 09, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 2, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#191 - Spartaco Acquires Ronin Revolution Oct 04, 2023

In August, Spartaco Group announced that it acquired Ronin Revolution, the designer and manufacturer of battery-powered ascenders.
Nick Skrobot, CEO of Spartaco and Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, to discuss the acquisition, where Ronin and its battery-powered ascenders fit in Spartaco’s lineup of professional tool manufacturers, and what the deal may mean for both companies going forward.

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#190 - Weekly News Recap - September 25 - 29, 2023 Oct 02, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 25, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#189 - Weekly News Recap - September 18 - 22, 2023 Sep 25, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 18, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#188 - Weekly News Recap - September 11 - 15, 2023 Sep 18, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 11, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#187 - Weekly News Recap - September 5 - 9 2023 Sep 11, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 5, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#186 - Weekly News Recap - August 14-18, 2023 Aug 22, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 14, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#185 - Weekly News Recap - August 7 - 11, 2023 Aug 14, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 7, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#184 - Weekly News Recap - July 31- August 4, 2023 Aug 07, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 31, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#183 - Wireless Water Cooler - FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Jul 31, 2023

Co-hosts Patrick Halley, President and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and Jim Fryer, Managing Editor of Inside Towers, chat with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr as part of their informal, monthly “Wireless Water Cooler” discussions with industry leaders.

In this lively half-hour conversation, Commissioner Carr discusses a range of topics, including the success of fixed wireless as the fasted growing home broadband service, workforce development, his appreciation and regard for tower workers, and the bipartisanship inherent in the FCC and Congress over wireless infrastructure issues.

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#182 - Weekly News Recap - July 24-28, 2023 Jul 31, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 24, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#181 - Weekly News Recap - July 17-21, 2023 Jul 24, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 17, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#180 - Weekly News Recap - July 10-14, 2023 Jul 18, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 10, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#179 - Pointivo Makes a Good Point: Data Analytics + Towers Jun 26, 2023

The tower business is increasingly data intensive. Engineers and network planners need to know what RAN equipment is installed, where on the tower, how much space is available for new equipment, and the condition of the equipment and the tower itself.

All this data can be gathered, and drones are revolutionizing the process. Data analytics is not a buzz word but an important capability to support critical decision making for planning, building, and maintaining wireless infrastructure like towers.

Jacob Garland, CTO and Colin Blake, Director-Solutions Engineering at Pointivo discuss with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, how data analytics are increasingly important in the tower business.

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#178 - Weekly News Recap - June 19-23, 2023 Jun 26, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 19, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#177 - Weekly News Recap - June 12-16, 2023 Jun 19, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 12, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#176 - Weekly News Recap - June 5-9, 2023 Jun 12, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 5, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#175 - Boldyn Networks Organizes for Growth Jun 05, 2023

BAI Communications in recent years has established itself as a provider of shared communications infrastructure used in public transportation systems, sports and entertainment venues, real estate and hospitality facilities, military bases, and smart cities, through different operating groups. BAI now is rebranding its operations in the northern hemisphere as Boldyn Networks.

Christos Karmis, CEO of Boldyn Networks talks about the new organization with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#174 - Weekly News Recap - May 30 - June 2, 2023 Jun 05, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 30, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#173 - Weekly News Recap - May 22-26, 2023 May 22, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 22, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#172 - Weekly News Recap - May 8-12, 2023 May 15, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 8, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#171 - Deploying In-Building Wireless Systems May 09, 2023

There are over 5.9 million commercial buildings and large venues in the U.S., according to the EIA Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey. Roughly 80 percent of all mobile voice and data calls originate or terminate inside buildings. With so many buildings and structures of varying shapes and sizes, there is a massive challenge for mobile network operators and building owners alike to ensure that wireless signals can be transmitted and received inside these buildings. But getting wireless signals inside buildings can be tricky and the costs are high.

Ryan Hanson, President, and Eric Hudson, Vice President of Engineering, at Ontivity’s Mountain Wireless Construction business unit discuss with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about what’s involved in designing and installing big in-building wireless systems.

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#170 Wireless Water Cooler - NTIA’s Scott Harris & Sarah Morris May 04, 2023

What does the current landscape of the NTIA and $42 billion in BEAD funds look like? Hosts of the Wireless Water Cooler, WIA CEO and President Patrick Halley and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer find out as they interview two of the agency’s top executives. Listen in on this exclusive interview with NTIA’s Scott Harris, its Director National Spectrum Strategy and Sarah Morris, its Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary.
Topics include a dive into the goals of the national spectrum strategy and how we should be thinking about the future of low, medium and high bands moving forward. Are we still on track for the June 30 allocation deadline? How does fixed wireless fit into the BEAD program as a viable tool for connectivity?

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#169 - Weekly News Recap - April 10-14, 2023 Apr 17, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 10, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#168 - Weekly News Recap - April 3 - 7, 2023 Apr 11, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 3, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#167 - Weekly News Recap - March 27 - 31, 2023 Apr 03, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 27, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#166 - Weekly News Recap - March 20 - 24, 2023 Mar 27, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 6, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#165 - Weekly News Recap - March 6 - March 10, 2023 Mar 13, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 6, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#164 - Data Centers as Digital Infrastructure with Husch Blackwell Mar 06, 2023

The digital infrastructure ecosystem includes towers, fiber, data centers, small cells, edge infrastructure and power. While the various digital infrastructure asset classes operate under a similar ‘shared infrastructure’ business model, deploying these assets, particularly data centers, involves very different requirements.

Jake Remington, Senior Counsel, and Rodney Carter, Partner, with the telecom practice at the law firm, Husch Blackwell, are in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, about the issues and considerations involved in data center planning, deployment and operation, and the outlook for the data center business in 2023.

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#163 - Weekly News Recap - February 22 - March 3, 2023 Mar 06, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 27, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#162 - Crowe on Uncomplicating Tower Operations Feb 27, 2023

Running a tower business is complex. It involves everything from managing towers and equipment they support, to scheduling and tracking labor and material costs, to marketing the site and administering tenant leases for large numbers of towers. For some time, businesses have used enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to manage their operations. Now there is an ERP system specifically for tower companies.
Luis Lopez Garay, Consulting Senior Manager at Crowe discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, the Crowe Tower Accelerator, tailored ERP solution for tower companies.

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#161 - Weekly News Recap - February 20 - 24, 2023 Feb 27, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 20, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#160 - Weekly News Recap - February 13 - 17, 2023 Feb 20, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 13, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#159 - Ronin Revolution - Power Ascender Acceptance Feb 16, 2023

Tower climbing has been cited as one of the most dangerous jobs anywhere. A big part of the challenge for working at heights is just the physical toll that climbing up and down tall structures demands. Often the fatigue factor raises the injury risk level for workers.
Power ascenders are being incorporated into tower climbing training courses and safety standards as a tool that can enhance climber health and safety.
Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin Revolution, developer of the RONIN LIFT power ascender joins John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, with an update on power ascender acceptance and use in tower climbing.
Learn more from the NATE/SEMC White Paper: “Powered Ascender Use on Antenna Supporting Structures”. Stop by booth 326 at NATE Unite to meet with Ronin.

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#158 - Weekly News Recap - February 6 - 10, 2023 Feb 13, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 6, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#157 - Weekly News Recap - January 30 - February 3, 2023 Feb 06, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 30, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#156 - Weekly News Recap - January 23 - 27, 2023 Jan 30, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 23, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#155 - Weekly News Recap - January 16 - 20, 2023 Jan 23, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 16, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#154 - Weekly News Recap - January 9 - 13, 2023 Jan 16, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 9, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#153 - Weekly News Recap - January 3 - 6, 2023 Jan 09, 2023

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 3, 2023. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#152 - A Discussion on Using Data for Informed Decisions Dec 13, 2022

Managing wireless and wireline telecom networks involves monitoring and interpreting a lot of data from thousands of sites and dozens of data points at each of those sites.

Network managers need to know the status of their sites at all times, especially when power outages or equipment failures occur. They rely on detailed site data to make informed decisions for appropriate corrective actions or to dispatch field technicians.
Jon Baars, Director-Sales & Marketing at Asentria discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, the business of site monitoring and how capturing and displaying large volumes of information helps to manage networks efficiently and cost-effectively.

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#151 - Weekly News Recap - December 5 - 9, 2022 Dec 12, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of December 5, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#151 - Weekly News Recap - November 28 - December 2, 2022 Dec 05, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 28, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#150 - Weekly News Recap - November 7 - 11, 2022 Nov 14, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 7, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#149 - Weekly News Recap - October 31- November 4, 2022 Nov 07, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 31, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here

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#148 - Weekly News Recap - October 25-28, 2022 Oct 31, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 25, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#147 - Weekly News Recap - October 17-21, 2022 Oct 24, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 17, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#146 - Workforce Development Discussion with FordCom Wireless Oct 24, 2022

With a high level of 5G and fiber deployments underway, teams of field technicians are needed to do the installation and testing. This activity requires a workforce of trained and skilled technicians that the wireless carriers, their equipment suppliers, and tower companies typically contract to do the work. Workers often are in the field for days at a time and may have to travel to where the work is needed.
FordCom Wireless is a field services organization with a specific strategy in what it offers and where it operates. FordCom’s CEO Brian Ford and John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discuss what makes FordCom unique in the infrastructure business and how the company develops its field force.

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#145 - Ontivity’s Outlook on the Wireless Infrastructure Workforce Oct 17, 2022

Despite the daily news about a weak economy, the wireless infrastructure business is in a high cycle of activity. Mobile network operators are pushing ahead with 5G cell site construction, mid-band spectrum build-outs, and supporting fiber deployments.
All this activity requires a large, skilled workforce to get the job done. Marshaling and managing a workforce in hiring, training, and retaining skilled technicians to handle all the work that needs to be done is a challenge.
Previous podcasts with training organizations and trade associations have covered workforce development issues.
Ian Stringfellow, Vice President of Operations at Ontivity talks to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about what it takes for a contracting organization like Ontivity to put, and keep, boots on the ground.

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#144 - Weekly News Recap - October 10-14, 2022 Oct 17, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 10, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#143 - Milestone Towers is Going the Extra Mile Oct 10, 2022

A lot of discussion in the tower business involves the big three publicly held tower companies and what they do to support their major mobile network operator tenants.
But in the United States, there over a hundred privately-owned tower companies that provide specialized services, either in specific geographic regions or for specific customer needs. Milestone Towers is one such company. Len Forkas, Milestone Towers’ founder and CEO talks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about how his company differentiates what it does from other tower companies.
Len also shares some anecdotes on his Antarctic mountain climbing adventure, detailed in his book, ‘Cold Hard Truth.’ Profits from the sale of the book are donated to support his charity Hopecam’s work connecting children with cancer to their friends at school.

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#142 - Weekly News Recap - October 4-7, 2022 Oct 07, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 4, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#141 - Weekly News Recap - September 26-30, 2022 Oct 03, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 26, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#140 - Weekly News Recap - September 12-16, 2022 Sep 19, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 12, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#139 - Weekly News Recap - September 6-9, 2022 Sep 12, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 6, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#138 - Weekly News Recap - August 22-26, 2022 Aug 29, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 22, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#137 - Weekly News Recap - August 15-19, 2022 Aug 22, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 15, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#136 - Weekly News Recap - August 8-12, 2022 Aug 15, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 8, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#135 - CommScope Shares C-band Small Cell Challenges & Solutions Aug 08, 2022

C-band deployments are underway with the major carriers, particularly Verizon and AT&T, that each got an early start with Phase 1 rollouts in December 2021. The Phase 2 activities are underway to meet a December 2023 deadline.

C-band is a valuable mid-band spectrum for its bandwidth capacity and reach. The early carrier activity has focused on macrocells but is moving to small cells for network densification in populated areas and for new fixed wireless access applications.

Mounting C-band radios on small cells, however, poses a host of challenges and understandably, not one size fits all.

Kat Brooks, Sr. Director-Sales at CommScope talks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about C-band small cell deployment challenges and some novel solutions.

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#134 - Weekly News Recap - August 1-5, 2022 Aug 08, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 1, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#133 - Weekly News Recap - June 20-24, 2022 Jun 27, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 20, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#132 - Weekly News Recap - June 13-17, 2022 Jun 20, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 13, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#131 - Weekly News Recap - June 6-10, 2022 Jun 13, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 6, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#130 - Navigating the Municipal Zoning and Permitting Process May 30, 2022

Wireless carriers are in high gear with their 5G deployments at towers, small cells, and distributed antenna systems. Physical construction of these sites only comes after carriers are granted zoning licenses and permits from the local jurisdictions that must review and approve carrier applications for site location and design. That process must follow FCC rules for the timing of these approvals but the municipalities, and their citizens, want a greater say in what sites are proposed and where they will be located.

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses telecommunications land use requirements and some of the challenges in meeting them with Greg Rapisarda, Partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr and Chair of the law firm’s Telecommunications practice, and a board member of the Maryland-DC Wireless Association.

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#129 - Weekly News Recap - May 23-27, 2022 May 27, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 23, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#128 - Weekly News Recap - May 16-20, 2022 May 23, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 16, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#127 - Weekly News Recap - May 9-13, 2022 May 13, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 9, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#126 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - DAS Passive RF Components with Wireless Supply May 09, 2022

Often when we hear mention of distributed antenna systems or small cells, the main components that come to mind are radios and antennas.

In fact, a DAS is a complex system of active and passive RF components that work together in a highly engineered manner.

A faulty component design or improper installation of any part of the RF path can result in either poor performance or worst case, failure.

Jeff Hall, General Manager at Wireless Supply talks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the types and importance of passive RF components used in indoor and outdoor, commercial and public safety DAS applications.

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#125 - Weekly News Recap - May 2-6, 2022 May 06, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 2, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#124 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - RONIN Lift Power Ascender Showcased at NATE Unite May 02, 2022

Power ascenders are a fairly recent product on the wireless infrastructure market but are getting attention. They are designed to assist tower climbers in getting up and down towers safely and efficiently with less physical stress and fatigue.
Ronin Revolution is the company behind the Ronin Lift power ascender. The company exhibited the Ronin Lift at the recent NATE Unite conference in Las Vegas where it had the opportunity to showcase the product and more importantly, to hear from the tower climber community about its application and use.
Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin Revolution, and John Lamond, National Sales Director, GME Supply share user feedback and perspectives from that conference with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#123 - Weekly News Recap - April 24-29, 2022 Apr 29, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 24, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#122 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Wireless Workforce Development Update with Learning Alliance Apr 25, 2022

The wireless industry has placed a major emphasis on wireless workforce development to address the shortage of skilled technicians needed to install and maintain wireless networks.

Industry associations have made the case to federal and state lawmakers, and there has been a positive response.

New, expanded training and certification programs are being offered by training companies, both on their own and in conjunction with wireless mobile network operators and with educational institutions and community colleges around the country.

Cesar Ruiz, CEO at Learning Alliance Corporation talks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the progress being made in wireless workforce development.

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#121 - Weekly News Recap - April 18-22, 2022 Apr 25, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 18, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#120 - Weekly News Recap - April 11-15, 2022 Apr 18, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 11, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#119 - Weekly News Recap - April 4-8, 2022 Apr 11, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of April 4, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#118 - Weekly News Recap - March 28- April 1, 2022 Apr 04, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 28, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#117 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Supporting Wireless Network Builds with Arcosa Telecom Structures Mar 30, 2022

All the wireless carriers are in full 5G buildout mode. Most of that buildout, at least in the current stages, involve macrocells on towers and other support structures.
But every location is different and requires a tower that fits the available land, and yet supports the current and future equipment required to deliver wireless coverage from that site.
This means that different types of towers are needed in different situations.
Michael Pelletier, Vice President-Sales & Business Development at Arcosa Telecom Structures discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor the various tower designs that are available to address current and future macrocell site needs, and some novel solutions to overcome deployment challenges.

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#116 - Weekly News Recap - March 21-25, 2022 Mar 29, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 21, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#115 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Extending Cellular Signals Inside Buildings with WilsonPro Mar 23, 2022

The use of mid-band spectrum in the 1-6 GHz range and specifically in the 3-4 GHz range, has been the focus among mobile network operators for their 5G buildouts. Mid-band spectrum offers an attractive balance of wide area coverage and high-speed connections needed for 5G.

Verizon and AT&T each spent a lot of money acquiring C-band spectrum and are already deploying A-block licenses in the 3.7-3.8 GHz range.

While C-band works well outdoors, like all cellular signals, it encounters propagation problems inside buildings. Since studies show that a high percentage of all cellular calls either originate or terminate inside buildings, that’s a problem.

Todd Fariss, Product Line Director, WilsonPro at Wilson Electronics talks to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about C-band in-building signal propagation challenges and how signal boosters address them.

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#114 - Weekly News Recap - March 14-18, 2022 Mar 21, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 14, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#113 - Weekly News Recap - March 7-11, 2022 Mar 14, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of March 7, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#112 - Weekly News Recap - February 28 - March 4, 2022 Mar 07, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 28, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#111 - Weekly News Recap - February 21-25, 2022 Feb 25, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 21, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#110 - Weekly News Recap - February 14-18, 2022 Feb 21, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 14, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#109 - Weekly News Recap - February 7-11, 2022 Feb 11, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of February 7, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#108 - Weekly News Recap - January 31- February 4, 2022 Feb 06, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 31, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#107 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Streamlining Network Deployments with CommScope Jan 30, 2022

Wireless carriers are in full 5G buildout mode. New radio equipment is being added to towers within multiple new frequency bands, each with either a dedicated or multiband antenna. Every new radio and antenna requires new fiber and power cables.
All this equipment adds significantly to the tower load, even as 4G and some 3G networks are still operating. Deployments include small cells in dense urban areas and fixed wireless access increasingly for broadband in suburban and rural areas.
New construction brings different challenges for site placements and connections. Material and labor must be coordinated efficiently and cost-effectively.
Kat Brooks, Director of Mobility Network Engineering at CommScope discusses ways to streamline network deployments with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#106 - Weekly News Recap - January 24-28, 2022 Jan 29, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 24, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#105 - Weekly News Recap - January 17-21, 2022 Jan 25, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 17, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#104 - Weekly News Recap - January 10-14, 2022 Jan 17, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 10, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#103 - Weekly News Recap - January 3-7, 2022 Jan 10, 2022

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of January 3, 2022. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#102 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Phillips Lytle on Navigating International Investment Jan 03, 2022

The United States has always been an attractive market for foreign investment and trade, mainly due to its size and pro-business practices. Yet there are rules and regulations to which foreign investors must adhere before they can take an ownership stake in any American company.

At the same time, there are trade restrictions on foreign sourced equipment and technology that may be coming into the country. This has been a big talk point in wireless in recent years.

Navigating these rules and regulations can be daunting for most businesses, as changes and revisions are made regularly.

Jim Wholey, Partner, and International Attorney at Phillips Lytle shares his expertise and insights on U.S. foreign investment and trade with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#101 - Weekly News Recap - December 13-17, 2021 Dec 20, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of December 13, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#100 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Allfasteners’ Takes On the Nuts + Bolts of the Tower Industry Dec 13, 2021

To look at a tower, the structure itself is obvious, as are the antenna mounts high up on the tower and the antennas themselves.

What few people appreciate is the actual nuts and bolts needed to assemble and secure towers and other types of cell site locations, so these sites perform as designed. Many of these fastening elements and piece parts are standardized and can be procured from various suppliers and distributors.

But there is also an ongoing need for specialty items and customized designs that feature in cell site assembly and construction.

Bruce Carmichael, Sales Manager at Allfasteners talks to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the challenges in constructing wireless infrastructure and some novel solutions that Allfasteners has developed.

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#99 - Weekly News Recap - December 6-10, 2021 Dec 13, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of December 6, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#98- 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Assessing Telecom Site Automation with Asentria Dec 06, 2021

Mobile network operators are in the midst of rapid network expansion and upgrades to 5G to meet increasing user demand for mobile data. Network reliability and resiliency have become paramount as was evident during the pandemic, and after natural disasters. If cell sites go off the air either due to equipment failure or loss of power, calls cannot get through and lives could be endangered in emergency situations.

Managing thousands of cell sites is a challenge for any network operator. Basic alarm monitoring is no longer sufficient. Today’s telecom systems are complex and require some level of automation and remote control to keep them on the air.

Jon Baars, Director-Sales & Marketing at Asentria talks telecom site automation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#97 - Weekly News Recap - November 29 - December 3, 2021 Dec 06, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 29, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#96 - Wireless Water Cooler #7 - Congressman Bob Latta Nov 29, 2021

After a brief hiatus, The Wireless Water Cooler, a podcast hosted by Inside Towers Managing Editor, Jim Fryer, and WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein, restocked and met with Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH). Latta is the Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology and has prioritized innovation in the telecommunications industry while pushing for increased access and deployment of high-speed broadband. He was first elected in 2007 to the same northwestern Ohio district his father once held for 30 years.

Listen in on this candid half-hour conversation with the Congressman as he discusses his work on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he and his colleagues introduced a comprehensive package of 28 bills aimed at improving the digital divide. Latta discusses how important it is to reduce unnecessary barriers to build out and to streamline siting. The recent actions by the FAA to delay the rollout of C-band was also on the agenda and the Congressman spoke frankly about actions that may be necessary to expedite the process.

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#95 - Weekly News Recap - November 15-19, 2021 Nov 22, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 15, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#94- 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Making Metro Markets Reliable with PowerShift - CommScope Nov 18, 2021

Market projections are robust for small cells that will be needed in coming years as mobile network operators densify their networks, particularly in populated metro markets. Small cells typically are deployed on street furniture such as utility poles, streetlights, and custom-built poles installed along city streets.
The challenge for network operators is to figure out where to place these small cells, how to power them, and how to connect them back into the network, all in a cost-effective and efficient manner. More importantly, how to keep these small cells functioning during a power outage.
Tom Craft, Engineering Director for Metrocell, Integrated Solutions and Microwave at CommScope, discusses centralized power solutions for small cells with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#93 - Weekly News Recap - November 8-12, 2021 Nov 15, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 8, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#92 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Private Wireless Networks with JMA Wireless & Druid Software Nov 08, 2021

The notion of private wireless networks has gained prominence with concepts such as Industry 4.0, smart cities, campus networks, and Enterprise IT/OT integration and critical communications.

Private wireless networks are enabled by cost-effective, open-standard radio and core equipment that can be programmed for specific user needs, built to 4G and 5G specifications, and having access to shared-spectrum such as CBRS or dedicated licenses.

What is a private network, which vertical markets are candidates, and what does it take to build and operate such networks?

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses opportunities for private wireless network adoption with Todd Landry, Corporate Vice President, Product & Market Strategy at JMA Wireless and Mick O’Dwyer, Sales & Marketing Director at Druid Software.

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#91 - Weekly News Recap - November 1-5, 2021 Nov 08, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of November 1, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#90 - Special Edition - A Peek into Inside Towers Intelligence™ Nov 01, 2021

This Tower Talks special edition highlights the Inside Towers Intelligence Q2 2021 issue that is jam-packed with high-quality information and analysis that can be readily used by decision makers and investors in the wireless infrastructure business.

Feature articles “Inside the Tower Business” and “Dish Network: a Strategic Analysis” dive deep into the tower business models and dish’s strategic opportunities and risks.

Contributed input from thought leaders and outside experts includes:

M&A advisory from Michael DeMita, CEO at Tower Capital Advisors on how the tower business has become a seller’s market.
D.C. Watch by Husch Blackwell telecom attorneys Rodney Carter and Michael Long who unpack the infrastructure investment and jobs act.
Investor perspective from stock analyst Colby Synesael of Cowen who offers his take on trends in the tower, small cells, and data center sectors.

Hear excerpts from our interview with Colby and more.

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#89 - Weekly News Recap - October 24-28, 2021 Nov 01, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 24, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#88 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - VIAVI Solutions Oct 25, 2021

Deploying cell sites is complex. Radios, antennas, cables, and power must be installed properly, then tested to verify the site is functioning as designed before the installation crew leaves.

Herein lies a problem. Whether testing RF, fiber, PIM or other parameters, test equipment is very sophisticated, and proper testing takes time. Contractors working on tight deployment schedules, may or may not have sufficient training to conduct the required tests.

This means tests often are incomplete or conducted improperly. Dispatching another crew to complete the testing just adds time and costs to get cell sites on the air.

Kashif Hussain, Solutions Marketing Director at VIAVI Solutions discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor these testing issues and ways to streamline them.

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#87 - Weekly News Recap - October 18-22, 2021 Oct 25, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 18, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#86 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Electro Rent Oct 18, 2021

A key aspect of building and maintaining advanced wireless networks is that everything must be tested - RF, fiber, PIM, and other parameters. Network operators must demonstrate to the FCC and to their customers that the network is performing to design specifications.

Portable test equipment used in the field and benchtop instruments used in development labs are very sophisticated, can be very expensive, and must be calibrated periodically to maintain accuracy.

Electro Rent, a leading supplier of test equipment from a variety of manufacturers, offers rental and leasing options while providing calibration and logistics support services.

Jim Platner, VP-Business Operations at Electro Rent speaks to John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor on how a test equipment rental/leasing model benefits carriers, tower companies and their contractors.

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#85 - Weekly News Recap - October 11-15, 2021 Oct 18, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 11, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#84 - Weekly News Recap - October 4-8, 2021 Oct 11, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of October 4, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#83 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Helios Tower Oct 04, 2021

Helios Towers, one of the leading tower companies in Africa, recently announced acquisitions that will expand its operations to 11 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The deals include buying existing towers and a commitment for build-to-suit sites over the next several years.

Helios Towers counts Africa’s leading mobile network operators as tenants that are expanding and upgrading their networks.

Managing towers in the region is not easy, though. The carrier networks cover vast territory that includes dense urban centers and sparsely populated rural areas. More important, electric power to many tower sites is not always available.

Kash Pandya, CEO, Helios Towers speaks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, about the opportunities and challenges to operating a tower company in Africa.

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#82 - Weekly News Recap - September 27 - October 1, 2021 Oct 04, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 27, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#81 - Weekly News Recap - September 20-24, 2021 Sep 27, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 20, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#80 - Weekly News Recap - September 13-17, 2021 Sep 20, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 13, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#79 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Jonathan Adelstein Sep 15, 2021

The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s annual Connect (X) conference is billed as “the only business technology event in North America uniting the industry to deliver infrastructure solutions for universal connectivity.”

After running a virtual show last year due to the pandemic, WIA will be hosting Connect (X) 2021 as an in-person event on October 4-7 at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, FL.

Connect (X) this year promises to be a lively session with many people looking forward to the presentations and exhibits and getting together again with friends and colleagues.

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses with Jonathan Adelstein, WIA President & CEO this year’s Connect (X) program, show highlights, and what attendees can expect. (Jonathan promises some rockin’ tunes on his harmonica!)

For more information about Connect (X) and how to register, visit: https://www.connectivityexpo.com/

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#78 - Weekly News Recap - September 7-10, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of September 7, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#77 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Federated Wireless & Learning Alliance Corporation Sep 08, 2021

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), a 3.5 GHz mid-band shared spectrum, offers a low-cost, high-speed broadband option for rural and underserved communities, and for cost-effective private network deployments.

As the demand for this type of wireless infrastructure increases, so does the demand for a trained and certified workforce. And importantly, CBRS installation and performance are governed under FCC Part 96 rules.

To meet this need, Federated Wireless and Learning Alliance Corporation have partnered to provide a CBRS Certified Professional Installer (CPI) certification program. Mobile network operators, wireless internet service providers or even individuals seeking a career in telecom now have access to CPI training that Learning Alliance and Federated Wireless have created to help spawn the market for shared spectrum connectivity.

Kurt Schaubach, CTO, Federated Wireless and Cesar Ruiz, CEO, Learning Alliance Corp. discuss the partnership’s goals and objectives with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#76 - Weekly News Recap - August 23-27, 2021 Aug 27, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 23, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#75 - Weekly News Recap - August 16-20, 2021 Aug 22, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 16, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#74 - Tower Masters #3 - Jimmy Chiles Aug 18, 2021

Join Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer in this third installment of “Tower Masters”. This series focuses on the men and women who, for decades, have not only survived, but thrived as independent operators in the wireless infrastructure field.

Inside Towers talks with longtime developer in the wireless infrastructure space, Jimmy Chiles. Although Chiles is now an Operating Partner with Digital Bridge, his career spans the gamut from 600-site towerco owner to founding and developing several fiber and data center operations.

Chiles began his career in the late ‘70’s with Motorola and went on to found Netlink, a facilities based 850 MHz CMRS operator which he sold to Sprint in 1999. He then started TPI, a provider of metro fiber and enterprise data centers he later sold to ExteNet Systems. Next was his towerco venture, Broadcast Towers, which sold to Global Signal (now Crown Castle). Following that, Chiles founded Aspen Communications, an ethernet based metro fiber business in Dallas, then Alpheus, a provider of metro fiber and enterprise data centers. Most recently, prior to joining DigitalBridge, Chiles was an Executive VP with ExteNet. (Whew!)

Listen in on this lively half-hour discussion between two long-time acquaintances in the industry as they cover the myriad of issues facing the tower sector.

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#73 - Weekly News Recap - August 8-13, 2021 Aug 13, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 8, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#72 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Vikor Aug 11, 2021

Do you know what it really takes to build wireless and wireline networks?

Bringing together equipment and workers, whether installing fiber optic systems on the ground or activating cell sites on towers, must be well choreographed to meet installation deadlines and service delivery schedules

We see videos of tower climbers in their safety harnesses and helmets high up on structures. But in fact, it’s when they get to that height the real work begins – everything from assembling steel structures to installing and testing RF, fiber, and power systems.

Craig Snyder, Founder and CEO of VIKOR Teleconstruction (he’s climbed 2,000 feet!) talks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the intricacies of constructing the network infrastructure that makes wireless work.

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#71 - Weekly News Recap - August 2-6, 2021 Aug 06, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of August 2, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#70 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Supply Chain Discussion PerfectVision Aug 04, 2021

The telecommunications industry is in a high cycle of demand for broadband infrastructure. 5G network builds, fixed wireless access deployments, fiber to the home, and digital divide solutions are all happening at the same time.
In this environment, questions often come up about the capability of the supply chain. Is there adequate equipment inventory, or are there shortages that will create long delivery times? How will installations and new service activation be affected?
There are misunderstandings about how the supply chain works, the companies involved, and the important role they play in enabling broadband deployments.
John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses the wireless supply chain role and challenges with Chris Pleibel, Vice President-Infrastructure and Scott Stekr, Vice President-U.S. Engineering at PerfectVision.

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#69 - Weekly News Recap - July 26-30, 2021 Jul 30, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 26, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#68 - Weekly News Recap - July 19-23, 2021 Jul 25, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 19, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#67 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Commscope Jul 19, 2021

As wireless service providers deploy more frequency bands on towers, the incidence for interference increases dramatically.
While we refer to interference from radios at other cell sites as active interference, signals reflected from RF transmissions within a tower site create harmonics that are equally of concern. This type of RF interference is referred to as passive intermodulation interference or simply, PIM. PIM can originate from poor or worn cable connectors at radios or antennas.
We are finding now that PIM also can be produced from what we call “non-RF sources” such as mechanical or structural elements on or around the tower.
Chris Stockman, Product Line Manager, CommScope discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor the various sources of non-RF PIM and how to mitigate this type of interference problem.

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#66 - Weekly News Recap - July 12-16, 2021 Jul 16, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 12, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#65 - T-Mobile + Husch Blackwell Discuss the Digital Divide Jul 12, 2021

Rural connectivity remains a hot topic.

Tens of millions of Americans in underserved or unserved live without quality broadband service.

Certainly, the pandemic amplified the need for reliable broadband connections, especially in small towns and rural communities.

Much government funding for rural broadband has gone towards fiber cable solutions deployed over long distances to serve relatively few customers. Yet cost-effective wireless solutions often have limited capabilities.

Is 5G a viable alternative to fiber for reliable broadband connections? What are the infrastructure challenges for deploying 5G in these markets? And what are the related process challenges for acquiring sites, obtaining municipal approvals, and building the sites?

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses these important rural connectivity challenges with Edwige Robinson, T-Mobile Senior Vice President, Central Region, Network Engineering & Operations, and Rodney Carter and Michael Long, Attorneys and Team leaders in the Telecom Law Practice at Husch Blackwell.

Learn about T-Mobile’s home internet service:

https://www.t-mobile.com/isp

For information about Husch Blackwell’s Telecom Law Practice: https://www.huschblackwell.com/industries_services/Telecommunications

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#64 - Weekly News Recap - July 6-9, 2021 Jul 09, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of July 6, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#63 - Weekly News Recap - June 28 - July 2, 2021 Jul 02, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 28, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#62 - Weekly News Recap - June 21-25, 2021 Jun 25, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 21, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#61 - Weekly News Recap - June 14-18, 2021 Jun 18, 2021

This is your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 14, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#60 - Weekly News Recap - June 7-11, 2021 Jun 11, 2021

Your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 7, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#59 - Inside Towers Workforce Development Pro Panel Jun 07, 2021

If you missed last week's highly-attended Pro Panel you can now capture the key takeaways here on our Tower Talks Podcast. Panelists included Cesar Ruiz, President & CEO, Learning Alliance Corporation, Todd Schlekeway, President & CEO, NATE, Heather Gastelum, Sr. Manager, National Site Safety, T-Mobile, Jonathan Eastman, President, VIKOR ,

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#58 - Weekly News Recap - June 1-4, 2021 Jun 06, 2021

Your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of June 1, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#57 - Tower Talks Special Edition - Intelligence Discussion with Inside Towers Co-founders Jun 01, 2021

In a Special Edition of Tower Talks, Inside Towers’ co-founders, George Reed and Eddie Esserman, join Business Editor John Celentano to discuss the introduction of a new publication.

Inside Towers is launching ‘Intelligence by Inside Towers’ or simply, ‘Intelligence’. This new publication is a significant departure from our regular daily newsletter.

Rather, it is a quarterly publication that offers a ‘deep dive’ into the wireless infrastructure ecosystem to identify market trends, evaluate mobile network operators and infrastructure company capital expenditures, offer investor perspectives, assess relevant M&A transactions, and more.

As an annual subscription service, Inside Towers Intelligence includes four quarterly reports and an exclusive Intelligence briefing following each published report.

Join the call to gain some interesting insights into Inside Towers’ newest publication or visit www.insidetowers.com/intelligence for more information or to subscribe.

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#56 - Weekly News Recap - May 24-28, 2021 May 29, 2021

Your Inside Towers Weekly Recap for the week of May 24, 2021. For more wireless infrastructure news, subscribe to our newsletter here.

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#55 Tower Masters #2 - Tarpon Towers CEO, Ron Bizick, ll May 12, 2021

Join Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer in this second installment of “Tower Masters” as he talks with Tarpon Towers CEO, Ron Bizick, ll. This series focuses on the men and women who, for decades, have not only survived, but thrived as independent operators in the wireless infrastructure field. They have a unique perspective to share and Mr. Bizick is certainly no exception.

Bizick is the Co-founder and CEO of Tarpon Towers, a Florida-based company he started in 2007 that now has roughly 400 sites in its portfolio. Prior to that, he was the COO and Executive Vice President of Global Signal. He began his tower career joining SBA in the first six months of their inception in 1990 and rose to Executive Vice President and COO before departing 12 years later.

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#54 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Ronin Revolution May 05, 2021

Tower climbing has been cited as one of the most dangerous jobs anywhere.

Even though industry associations and government agencies go to great lengths to establish safety standards and practices, working above ground level is still dangerous.

Beyond just working at heights, a big part of the problem is the physical toll that climbing up and down tall structures demands. Fatigue becomes a critical factor and raises the risk level for workers.

Tools are available to assist climbers in a variety of at-height work activities on cell towers, wind turbines, utility high-power transmission towers, and more.

Bryant Bertrand, CEO of Ronin Revolution has been instrumental in developing such tools. He discusses with John Celentano, Inside Towers’ Business Editor, his company’s invention of, and applications for, the Ronin Lift, an ascender product designed to assist climbers.

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#53 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Steel in the Air Apr 26, 2021

Tower leasing is a big topic these days.
U.S. mobile network operators, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, are upgrading or modifying master lease agreements with the Big 3 public tower companies, American Tower, Crown Castle and SBA Communications, as these MNOs implement their 5G network builds.
Big 3 towercos cater to MNO near- and long-term needs. But mid-tier and small tower owners and landowners often get into uncomfortable negotiations when MNOs want to locate on their tower or build a tower on their land.
What leasing terms and conditions should apply? What are appropriate lease rates? And how are these rates determined?
Ken Schmidt, President, Steel in the Air, an expert on site leasing, unpacks these issues in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#52 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Andy Seybold Apr 20, 2021

First responders – fire, police, emergency medical services - have for years relied on dedicated communications during emergencies using land mobile radios, those walkie talkie devices they all wear.

These narrowband voice communications systems now work together with broadband 4G LTE systems from FirstNet for a whole new way for first responders to communicate via voice, data, and video.

New technologies are providing first responders with enhanced capabilities for communicating both outdoors and inside buildings. Next generation 9-1-1 dispatch architecture is being launched to support these broadband advancements, and whether spectrum should be dedicated to public safety applications or shared with the mobile network operators is debated at many government levels.

Andy Seybold, an authority on public safety communications, shares his insights on these points and more in conversation with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor.

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#51 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Pointivo Apr 14, 2021

‘Data analytics’ and ‘digital twins’ are becoming commonplace terms as the telecom business changes and grows. These terms refer to more and better digitized site information about towers and other wireless infrastructure. Better information means accurate details about the site structure, the installed equipment, and the condition of that equipment.
Better site information ultimately means better decision-making by tower companies and their wireless service provider customers on dispatching tower crews to install, modify, or maintain wireless equipment at any site. Capturing site data and analyzing that data is no longer just nice to have. Increasingly such data is required as the pace and associated cost of wireless deployments picks up. New companies are undertaking the site data gathering tasks, then organizing and presenting that data in ways to support the decision making.
Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor in conversation with Dan Ciprari, co-Founder & CEO and Sam McGuire, Director of Business Development at Pointivo, a data analytics company.

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#50 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Clayton Funk of Houlihan Lokey Apr 07, 2021

Announcements of companies buying or selling towers, either as a standalone transaction or as part of a larger infrastructure deal, are happening on a regular basis.

The wireless industry is in an active period with demand growing for towers and other infrastructure assets to support 5G roll outs and various wireless broadband applications.

Recent valuations on towers are as high as they have been for some time.

But what is a tower worth? And what does a typical tower buy or sell transaction look like?

Clayton Funk, Managing Director at Houlihan Lokey joins John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor to share his insights on how to set a price on a tower, and the mechanics of a tower deal.

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#49 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Modus Mar 22, 2021

The telecom industry is in a high cycle of new wireless infrastructure construction of macro towers, small cells, and fiber for 5G and broadband applications.

Through the pandemic, the infrastructure work continued as telecommunications proved to be the essential service.

While all the field work is good news for engineering and installation firms that build the network for the carriers, these companies have their hands full with managing work activity to meet schedule and budget deadlines.

Typically, they are handling multiple projects for a range of customers, often in geographically dispersed markets.

Rowena Okialda, Director of Organizational Development at MODUS joins John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor to discuss the issues and challenges of managing multiple frontline infrastructure projects and how they’ve integrated the Sitetracker into every day operations.

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#48 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Oku Solutions Mar 15, 2021

Before building towers or small cells, wireless carriers must obtain approvals from the local government in whose jurisdictions the infrastructure is being deployed.

Increasingly, carriers want to install small cells on telephone or utility poles, on streetlights or in rights-of-way.

More than just reviewing and approving carrier plans, municipalities must adhere to FCC rules that govern the process including the ‘Shot Clock’ timing mandate, and the Small Cell Order.

Often, what the carriers want and what the municipalities are willing to approve are at odds, leading to litigation.

Part of the problem is that local governments generally lack a basic understanding of telecommunications or are not adequately staffed to handle the volume of requests. COVID-19 compounded the problem as many government offices were closed.

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses the situation with David Witkowski, Founder and CEO of Oku Solutions, an advisor and educator to both municipalities and carriers on navigating and managing the cell site approval process. His handbook on the topic, titled “Bridging the Gap”, can be reviewed here.

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#47 - Tower Safety & Rescue Mar 08, 2021

Kathy Gill, CEO of Tower Safety, founded the company in 2013. Today, it offers a wide variety of safety and rescue training options, from cell tower certifications to drone inspections.
According to Gill, “we stand for workplace safety by providing training that empowers individuals. This enables our trainees to do whatever it takes to return home safe, every day.”
In just 20 minutes, Gill and Reed cover a multitude of topics, including the inaugural Tower Rodeo, a rescue app (WRAT) in development, their Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) involvement and of course, the ever-evolving world of safety training.

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#46 - Tower Masters #1 - John Paleski of Subcarrier Communications Mar 01, 2021

Inside Towers begins a new series of Tower Talks by focusing on the men and women who, for decades, have not only survived, but thrived as independent operators in the wireless infrastructure field. “Tower Masters” is an apt term for those who have seen “all the Gs,” the rise of the big towercos, the merger of carriers, the influx of new technologies, new FCC rules and, yet, have kept building towers through it all.

John Paleski, Founder and CEO of Subcarrier Communications, is the epitome of an independent tower builder, with over 300 macro towers and 800 rooftop leases to his name and an unquestionable master of his trade. Join John and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer as they discuss the unique and candid perspective from, for lack of a better term, “the middle tier” of tower providers. How have they survived the consolidations in both the tower and carrier sector and how do they view the future of the market?

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#45 Wireless Water Cooler #6 - FCC Chairman Ajit Pai: The Exit Interview Jan 11, 2021

Join WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer at the Wireless Water Cooler with their special guest FCC Chairman Ajit Pai as he reflects on his tenure. What does he consider his greatest accomplishments? What work is left to be done? Does he have regrets? (Spoiler alert, he does not.) What’s in store for him after the FCC?

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#44 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Workforce Discussion with NATE's Todd Schlekeway and Consultant Dr. Gemma Frock Dec 14, 2020

We all rely heavily on our internet service and wireless devices to stay connected, especially through this pandemic.

With mobile data demand surging and 5G deployments ramping up, the need for qualified tower technicians to install and test wireless network infrastructure is greater than ever.

Yet there is a critical shortage of tower techs. Thousands more are needed.

NATE- The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association recently conducted its 2020 Workforce Survey to find out where its members stand on handling increased field work and importantly, the challenges these contractors face in hiring and sustaining field force levels.

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor discusses with Todd Schlekeway, NATE President and CEO, and Dr. Gemma Frock, consultant to NATE, what the survey findings mean for wireless workforce development.

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#43 - Wireless Watercooler #5 - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke Dec 02, 2020

Talk around the water cooler this month centered on workforce development and the current infrastructure legislation being debated in Congress. Podcast show co-hosts Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, and the Managing Editor of Inside Towers, Jim Fryer, were lucky enough to snag some time with a Congressional leader in the thick of it all: U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY).

The Congresswoman is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce serving on the Communications & Technology subcommittee. She is a leader in the tech and media policy space as co-chair of the Smart Cities Caucus and believes smart technology will make communities more sustainable, resilient and livable. As the Representative of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, Congresswoman Clarke has dedicated herself to continuing the legacy of excellence established by the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm.

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#42 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Learning Alliance Corporation Oct 20, 2020

Connected data usage from both mobile devices and fixed IoT sensors is growing exponentially.

To meet that growth, wireless infrastructure must be expanded greatly with more macrocells, small cells and fiber backhaul to support the multitude of 5G applications and use cases that operate on a mix of low-, mid-, and high-band frequencies.

Advanced wireless technologies need qualified and certified men and women to do the job properly. Yet there are not enough trained technicians to perform the work that needs to be done in the next few years. In turn, these workforce shortages are driving the need for comprehensive and customized training programs.

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, discusses with Cesar Ruiz, CEO, Learning Alliance Corporation the current state of wireless workforce, and training programs available to develop that workforce.

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#41 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Spectrum Discussion with Former NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin and Joel Thayer of Phillips-Lytle Oct 13, 2020

Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless. This is especially true for 5G that uses a range of low-, mid- and high-band frequencies.
What and how much spectrum is allocated for commercial and government use is handled through an interagency process between the FCC and NTIA, part of the Department of Commerce. For the most part, the interagency process works but at other times, not so much.
John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor fosters a lively discussion on the battle for 5G spectrum and the role that government agencies have in the spectrum allocation process with Joel Thayer, Associate at the law firm of Phillips-Lytle and Daniel Goldin, former administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and now a Distinguished Fellow of the Council on Competitiveness.

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#39 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Fiber discussion with Graybar & Viavi Solutions, Part 3 Oct 07, 2020

Part III of this three part series discusses developing field technician fiber installation and testing skills. Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor as he continues this informative and in-depth discussion with industry experts Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer from Viavi Solutions and Scott Jackson, National Market Manager with Graybar. Hear this and much more on the podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes.

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#38 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Fiber Discussion with Graybar and Viavi Solutions, Part 2 Sep 30, 2020

Fiber optics technology is integral to the high-speed operation of modern telecom networks.
In an exclusive three-part series, Tower Talks dives into the subject of how, where, and why fiber is deployed in telecom. Part I covered a high-level view of fiber optic technology and fiber terminology, the current market environment and how fiber is adapted for use in different parts of the telecom network. Part II address specific fiber uses in the wireless network.
Join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor as he continues this informative and in-depth discussion with industry experts Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer from Viavi Solutions and Scott Jackson, National Market Manager with Graybar.

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#40 - Wireless Water Cooler #4 - FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Sep 28, 2020

Hosts Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of WIA, and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer got to spend a few minutes with tower-climbing FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr recently for the fourth edition of the Wireless Water Cooler.
Carr discussed the latest happenings in wireless workforce development and how the industry needs to double its workforce to get the necessary jobs accomplished over the next few years. Adelstein asked the Commissioner about the effects the recent 9th Circuit Court decision has had on buildout schedules and how the industry has responded to the new rulings favoring wireless development.

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#37 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - A Fiber discussion with Graybar & Viavi Solutions, Part 1 Sep 23, 2020

“It takes a lot of wires to make wireless work.” Today, that means fiber optic cable.

Fiber handles high-speed multimedia traffic over long distances more efficiently and cost-effectively than copper cables.

Fiber use in wireless is growing – at cell sites, for backhaul, in data centers and for long-haul transport.

Though light weight and easier to handle than copper cable, fiber installation and testing must be precise with skilled technicians using specialized tools and test sets to ensure peak performance.

In a special three-part series, Tower Talks discusses fiber in telecom applications, and associated installation and testing practices.

PART I – Fiber in Telecom Overview

PART II – Fiber in Wireless Applications

PART III – Developing Field Technician Fiber Installation and Testing Skills

John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor hosts industry experts from Viavi Solutions, Mike Dee, Sr. Field Engineer and Jeff Harmon, Sr. Systems Engineer and from Graybar, Scott Jackson, National Market Manager for an informative, in-depth discussion.

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#36 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband - Brian Goemmer of Allnet Insights & Analytics Sep 14, 2020

Spectrum is more valuable than ever. For 5G, spectrum is needed in low-band, mid-band and high-band frequencies, the so-called ‘Layer Cake’, to enable a whole new set of high-speed, low latency mobile data applications and use cases.

The results of the recently concluded FCC Auction 105 for Priority Access Licenses in the 3.5 GHz CBRS mid-band spectrum show who won and where they will use this spectrum.

Auction 105 is unique given the unusually large number of bidders vying for a large number of licenses across all U.S. counties.

In the latest Tower Talks, John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor and his guest, Brian Goemmer, President of Allnet Insights & Analytics engage in an interesting and informative conversation on the CBRS auction’s results and the implications of those outcomes.

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#35 - Wireless Watercooler #3 - FCC, General Counsel Thomas Johnson, Jr. Aug 25, 2020

When an event like the court ruling that occurred on August 12 is hailed as a “major victory” by the FCC Chairman and a “game changer” by others, it deserves a deeper dive.
The 9th Circuit Court issued an industry-favorable ruling in the face of strong opposition by a collaboration of cities and utilities across the country. The man in court speaking for the FCC, General Counsel Thomas Johnson, Jr., Esq., met with Jonathan and Jim at the Wireless Water Cooler this week to give his insider view of what it means for wireless infrastructure moving forward. How will this expedite the rollout of 5G? What new advantages do developers have? Does the opposition still have some wiggle room?

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#34 - Wireless Water Cooler #2 - Leticia Latino and Adria Horn Jul 27, 2020

This month the podcast of The Wireless Water Cooler, hosted by WIA CEO and President Joanthan Adelstein and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer, got to chat with Leticia Latino, CEO of Neptuno USA and Adria Horn, Vice President of Workforce for Tilson. Workforce development was the subject of the day, exploring the state of the workforce in our industry, what’s been done recently to develop it and how successful has it been?
Additionally, Jonathan and Jim discussed the recent agreement reached between the FCC, the ACHP, and the NCSHPO.

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#33 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband: National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) Jul 07, 2020

In our latest Tower Talks edition, John Celentano, Business Editor and his guest, Duane Macentee, Executive Director of the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) discuss NWSA's role in developing a professional tower technician workforce through its trade certification programs.

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#32 - Wireless Water Cooler Episode 1 - Jonathan Adlestein & Jim Fryer Jun 23, 2020

To celebrate and continue the conversation that has occurred around the long-time office staple, the water cooler, WIA's President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein and Inside Towers' Managing Editor Jim Fryer have launched the first episode of their new monthly podcast series that will center on industry discussion, “The Wireless Water Cooler.”

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#31 - 3 Questions with Johnny Broadband: Essentia Jun 01, 2020

In the latest Tower Talks podcast, John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor and his guest Lindon Hayes, CEO & Founder, Essentia, Inc. engage in an interesting and informative conversation on how Essentia’s eSpeed Technology Platform works for its fiber cable and small cell customers.

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Tower Talks #30 - WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein May 14, 2020

Inside Towers Managing Editor, Jim Fryer, had a chance to talk with the President and CEO of WIA, Jonathan Adelstein about next week's virtual Connect (X) All Access event. Fryer and Adelstein also announced a new monthly podcast venture (as yet unnamed) that will center on the wireless infrastructure market with a lively, topical and insightful look at the industry. The podcast may also feature invited guests ranging from top tower and carrier execs to key players in Congress and at the FCC.

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Tower Talks #29 - Jennifer Fritzsche of Wells Fargo Apr 16, 2020

John Celentano discusses with Wells Fargo Senior Analyst Jennifer Fritzsche the latest COVID-hued analysis of the tower market, the outlook for carrier capital investment through year-end and the prospect of tower companies expanding their infrastructure play beyond towers.

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Tower Talks #28 - Industry Outlook with Sitetracker Apr 06, 2020

Tower project management platform provider, Sitetracker released an extensive survey of the wireless infrastructure market. Entitled 2020 Telecom Infrastructure Provider Outlook, the survey covered a wide range of issues facing the tower market. John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor spoke with Sitetracker VP Marketing Brett Chester about the report centered around site deployment and maintenance. Sitetracker surveyed hundreds of participants from around the world posing 50-plus questions including the impact of COVID-19 on the industry.

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Tower Talks #27 - Shane Ward, CFO of CTI Towers Apr 01, 2020

Inside Towers managing editor Jim Fryer interviews Shane Ward, CFO of CTI Towers in the first episode of a series on mid-sized tower companies and their perspective on the market.

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Tower Talks #26 - with FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Feb 21, 2020

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr brought his climbing gear to NATE Unite 2020. He needed it when he went to Raleigh-based Tower Engineering Professionals for a couple of safety training climbs before speaking at the show. Carr spoke with Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson about that and his workforce development efforts to grow 5G infrastructure apprenticeships, on our Tower Talks podcast.

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Tower Talks #25 - with NATE chairman Jimmy Miller Feb 19, 2020

With the news that the National Association of Tower Erectors changed part of its name and branding, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson spoke with Jimmy Miller during NATE UNITE 2020 in Raleigh, NC. Miller is the Chairman of NATE and the president and chief executive officer of MillerCo in Gulfport, MS. The re-branding is part of a larger NATE effort to attract young people to the telecommunications workforce and better explain the job roles of tower workers.

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Tower Talks #24 - From the Beltway with Todd Schlekeway Jan 28, 2020

Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson sits down with NATE Managing Director Todd Schlekeway to discuss the testimony presented by industry representatives on Capitol Hill last week and the upcoming NATE UNITE 2020 Conference in Raleigh, NC.

Also, the upcoming NATE show (February 17-20) is the association’s 25th convention and the first time the event is coming to North Carolina. NATE has special sessions on the evolving nature of the industry and surprise speakers in store for attendees. To register for NATE Unite click here.

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Tower Talks #23 - ConnectX Executive Producer, Tim Downs Jan 23, 2020

Jim Fryer interviews ConnectX Executive Producer, Tim Downs to discuss what to expect at the upcoming show this May 18-21 in Miami, FL.

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Tower Talks #22 - A Year in Review Dec 19, 2019

The Inside Towers editorial staff via podcast covers the top stories of 2019, with Managing Editor, Jim Fryer; Washington Bureau Chief, Leslie Stimson; and Contributing Analyst, John Celentano.

Here are the Top 5 stories in Inside Towers for 2019, based on reader interaction, as mentioned in the podcast:

Note: a “clicked” story is one that has a “continue reading” link following the initial three paragraphs. The link directs readers to the rest of the story on our website.

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Tower Talks #21 - Jennifer Fritzche Nov 05, 2019

Inside Towers caught up with Wells Fargo Securities Managing Director Jennifer Fritzsche at the recent Mobile World Congress in Los Angeles. While part of the podcast was recorded on site at MWC, an additional interview was scheduled to include recent Q3 statements of the major towercos and carriers.

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Tower Talks #20 - Peter Pitsch of the C-Band Alliance Oct 08, 2019

As head of Advocacy & Government Relations for the C-Band Alliance, Peter Pitsch has a front row seat to the fierce debate going on right now over the future of C-band spectrum. Pitsch leads the CBA’s advocacy program, working with government agencies and Capitol Hill to ensure stakeholders understand why the satellite companies behind the alliance believe their proposal is the quickest way to make mid-band spectrum available to enable the deployment of 5G services.

He tells Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson why the alliance believes it can re-purpose at least 200 MHz of C-band spectrum, and how it’s working to increase that amount.

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Tower Talks #19 - Claude Aiken, President & CEO of WISPA Sep 23, 2019

Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interviews Claude Aiken, WISPA President & CEO.

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Tower Talks #18 - Steven K. Berry, President and CEO of CCA Aug 25, 2019

It's been a very busy summer for CCA leading to their upcoming annual conference September 16-18, in Providence, RI. Inside Towers got CCA President and CEO Steven K. Berry to sit down for a few minutes to discuss several topics including the event, Repurposing C-band spectrum, adopting the 5G Plus Plan, and Broadband Mapping.

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Tower Talks #17 - WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein Aug 19, 2019

Workforce development is an integral part of 5G deployment. That’s why the Wireless Infrastructure Association is holding the dinner titled: “Honoring Wireless Workforce Champions,” on October 1, in Washington, D.C.

Inside Towers had a chance to speak with Wireless Infrastructure Association President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein about the effort.

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Tower Talks #16 - SBA CEO Jeffrey Stoops Jul 14, 2019

Inside Towers got a tour last week of SBA’s headquarters in Boca Raton followed by a lunch and podcast interview with CEO Jeffrey Stoops. Topics ranged from the coming of C-Band to the impact of carrier mergers to combating negative public perception of towers to SBA’s charitable giving program.

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Tower Talks #15 - TowerXchange CEO Kieron Osmotherly Jul 11, 2019

To re-cap the recent TowerXchange: Meetup Americas that closed in Boca Raton on Wednesday, Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer had a chat with TowerXchange founder and CEO Kieron Osmotherly. They discussed the various foreign markets, how they compared and contrasted, tower trends worldwide. LINK

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Tower Talks #14 - Phoenix Tower CEO Dagan Kasavana Jul 10, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer sits down with Phoenix Tower CEO Dagan Kasavana. They discuss what sets Pheonix Towers apart from other Tower Companies and their work outside the US market.

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Tower Talks #13 - Fryerside Chat #3- 4th of July 2019 Jul 02, 2019

In a “Fryerside Chat”, Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer talks about ‘the room where it happened’ in Philadelphia, not at Independence Hall, but in the small apartment at Seventh and Market where Jefferson wrote the Declaration. How do horse flies factor in to this?

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Tower Talks #12 - Wade Collins of Flash Technology Jul 01, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer interviews Wade Collins the Director of Business Development of Flash Technology.

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Tower Talks #11 - Fryerside Chat #2- Memorial Day 2019 May 24, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer reflects on Memorial Day on his visit to a burial ground of unknown Revolutionary War Soldiers in downtown Philadelphia.

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Tower Talks #10 - Jonathan Adelstein May 21, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer interviews WIA President Jonathan Adelstein at the recent Connect (X) Show in Orlando, FL on May 21.

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Tower Talks #9 - Doug Recker of Edge Presence May 21, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer interviews Edge Presence President and Founder Doug Recker at Connect (X) 2019.

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Tower Talks #8 - Todd Schlekeway Apr 19, 2019

Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interviews NATE Executive Director Todd Schlekeway about training pathways for new tower workers.

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Tower Talks #7 - Brendan Carr Apr 19, 2019

Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interviews FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr regarding his recent trip to Aiken Technical College.

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Tower Talks #6 - Alex Gellman Apr 08, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer and D.C Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interview Vertical Bridge CEO Alex Gellman at the recent Wireless Connect show.

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Tower Talks #5 - Jennifer Fritzsche Apr 08, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer and D.C Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interview Jennifer Fritzsche, the Managing Director at Wells Fargo at the recent Wireless Connect show.

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Tower Talks #4 - Jonathan Adelstein Apr 08, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer and D.C Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson interview WIA President Jonathan Adelstein at the recent Wireless Connect show.

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Tower Talks #3 - Fryerside Chat #1 Mar 22, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryers debuts his first Fryerside Chat where he shares about his recent visit to Ghettysburg.

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Tower Talks #2 - Leslie Stimson, D.C. Bureau Report Mar 22, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer shares the ethernet with Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief, Leslie Stimson, who provides insights on what is happening “Inside the Beltway” with both the FCC and Congress.

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Tower Talks #1 - Todd Schlekeway Mar 15, 2019

Inside Towers Managing Editor, Jim Fryer, hosts Tower Talks with it's first guest Todd Schlekeway, Executive Director of NATE. Schlekeway discusses the recent NATE conference and the upcoming ‘D.C. Fly-In’ held for NATE members, looking to connect with their political representatives.

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