Battle in the Nebraska Legislature Over the Road to 5G - Inside Towers

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                                                                                                                        Wednesday, February 6, 2019
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                                                                                                                               Volume 7 | Issue 25

Battle in the Nebraska Legislature Over the Road to 5G
State Senator Curt Friesen of Henderson proposed Legislative Bill 184 to expedite the deployment of 5G for Omaha
and Lincoln, Nebraska, according to the Omaha World-Herald. The bill will make the approval process and
installation for small-cell wireless antennas faster.

According to Friesen, “Nebraska is losing ground to other states and cities” when it comes to being ready for 5G.
Wireless internet firms and Friesen agree that the slow deployment of small cell wireless in the state is due to the
high fees cities charge to have small cell boxes installed on existing light poles, and slow approval processes. Friesen
said Lincoln currently charges $2,000 per pole, even though the FCC recommends fees to be $270 per pole at the
highest.

Those in favor of LB 184 say wireless companies will benefit from it by having more reasonable fees and faster
approvals provided by cities. Friesen says the bill will create more competition for the cable industry, but said it is
unfair to keep people from high-speed internet by over-regulating the technology. Continue Reading

Study: 400 MHz of Mid-band Spectrum for 5G Will Add $274B to Economy
In advance of today’s Senate hearing on 5G, CTIA released data from Analysys Group that says making 400 MHz of
mid-band spectrum available for commercial 5G networks will add $274 billion to the U.S. economy and create 1.3
million new jobs. Moreover, a 2018 Analysys Mason study shows other countries plan to make over four times more
licensed mid-band spectrum available than the United States by 2020. CTIA commissioned the research.

“Making more mid-band spectrum available will secure our long-term wireless leadership and boost our economy,”
said CTIA President/CEO Meredith Attwell Baker. “The FCC is already making great progress freeing up mid-band
and we’re confident that under the leadership of Chairman Pai, we can quickly close the close the gap.” Continue
Reading

NATE Unite 2019
Towers Are “Standing Tall” Says Market Analyst
By Jim Fryer, Managing Editor, Inside Towers
                               “Is euphoria around towers too high?” asked Jennifer Fritzsche, Managing Director
                                at Wells Fargo Securities, yesterday at NATE Unite 2019 in Dallas. “We don’t think
                               so.”

                                   Fritzsche said she sees a number of tangible catalysts for the tower sector in 2019
                                   which should drive U.S. carrier leasing activity up from year to year. Although the
                                   market focus is on small cells, fiber and 5G, she said it all won't work without the
                                   core infrastructure of macros towers.

                                 The market drivers, according to Fritzsche, are small cell and network densification
                                 accelerating ahead of 5G services, with small cell RFPs up significantly, along with
                                 RFPs for dark fiber to cell sites. With the additional impetus of FirstNet, which all 50
                                 states opted into, AT&T started its first wave of amendments, with the towercos
providing conservative guidance on deployment of the 700 MHz spectrum. Continue Reading

T-Mobile Lines Up Powerful Allies to Push Sprint Deal Over The Finish Line
T-Mobile has hired former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn as an advisor on its proposed $26 billion merger with
Sprint. The move positions the Democrat against public interest groups that oppose the deal and would typically view
her as an ally.

Clyburn opposed AT&T’s failed bid in 2011 for T-Mobile, saying it wasn’t in the public interest. However she believes
this deal would help close the digital divide and bring service to underserved areas.

T-Mobile and Sprint recently announced plans to open “experience centers” once they’ve combined their companies
to serve customers. They’d hire about 5,000 people to fill customer care jobs. However critics of the deal say that
won’t offset jobs lost if they’re allowed to merge.

T-Mobile declined comment to Politico on Clyburn’s role. Clyburn received a year-long fellowship with the Open
Society Foundations in June to work on prison phone rate reform and started a consulting firm, MLC Strategies, a few
weeks ago.

Clyburn is the latest among current and former public officials advising the telecoms on their proposed merger, which
is under review at the DOJ and the FCC. Former Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell is also advising T-

Mobile on the transaction, according to the account.

Pai Keeps Rural Broadband ‘Front & Center’ In Decisions
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

“My wish is for all of rural America to close the digital divide. I want to make sure rural America is front and center and
not in the background, during our decision making.”

That’s what FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told attendees of the convention in New Orleans by NTCA, the Rural Broadband
Association, Tuesday. Interviewed by NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield, Pai noted that he grew up in rural Kansas, and
one of his greatest fears is future generations won’t have the great experience he had, which is why he’s working
hard to close the rural digital divide.

“Those of you who hire crews and roll up your sleeves are making broadband work,” he said. The FCC is working
hard to streamline both wired and wireless infrastructure siting, he added. Continue Reading

                                           February 5, 2019 at Close

Pennsylvania
Residents and Commissioner Want Tower to Remedy a 30-Year Service Deficit
Commissioner Jake Abel is pushing for the approval on a proposal for small cell transmitters in a neighborhood that
lacks reliable cell phone coverage, reported the Daily Times.

John Shive from Crown Castle spoke with the board of commissions on January 28, explaining his research
conducted in the affected neighborhood. Shive noted the ability to use the sites of some of the existing street lights in
the rights-of-way. He also showed a picture of small cell antennas the company installed in another upscale
community. Shive promised to work with residents through the homeowners’ associations for the installations,
reported the Daily Times.

Commissioner Sean Farhy questioned Shive about radiation that emanates from the antennas and was told the
devices are regulated by the federal government and only give off 1 to 3 percent of the 100 percent of the allowable
amount. Commissioner John Nagle added, “all these towers are governed by regulations. They are all in the
regulatory limits.” The cell phone antennas are “not going to warm up your ice tea,” said Nagle.

Meanwhile, 84 residents in the area previously signed a letter saying that they want and need cell service, Abel said.

“This is a problem they’ve dealt with for 30 years,” he added.

Colorado
Improper Public Review of Tower Planned at School Faces Backlash
UPDATE Parents, school staff and neighbors are upset that construction of an 80-foot cell phone tower is underway
at the Gunnison High School football field without public input; parents were notified of the construction already
underway via email on December 7. They contend that a proper review of the project did not occur prior to approval,
reported the Gunnison Country Times.

The project, which has been underway since spring 2017, is intended to replace a 60-foot light pole on the edge of
the football field. The new tower will provide lights at the same height and orientation for the field, and the cell
antennas will extend above the lights. Verizon also received approval to install equipment on the roof of the Crested
Butte Community School. In exchange, RE1J will receive $15,000 per site, for a total of $30,000 annually, from
Verizon. Former Superintendent Doug Tredway began the project and signed a 10-year contract with the carrier.
Continue Reading

Nokia Handsets Could Be Making a Comeback to U.S. Market
Remember the good ol' days when your first cell phone was very likely a Nokia? Engadget.com, reports that Nokia
phones could soon be back in the hands of U.S. smartphone users. While the Nokia brand has remained popular in
other parts of the world, HMG Global, the license holder for the Nokia brand, has stepped away from the U.S. market
for the past few years.

After concentrating on their foreign audience, the company has decided to re-enter the North American playing field,
distributing its phone through Verizon and Cricket Wireless channels in the U.S. Canadian customers could receive a
Nokia chatr-branded phone through Rogers. The Nokia Android smartphone will be available to pre-paid customers
only. Continue Reading

Great Plains’ Leehy Appointed to BDAC
UPDATE Wyatt Leehy of Great Plains Communications was appointed to serve on the Disaster Response and
Recovery Working Group of the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. Leehy is IT and Network
Operations Center Manager for the Nebraska telecom.

Since joining the company in 2011, he’s held multiple leadership roles and implemented several projects to improve
disaster response and recovery, including data center and workplace redundancy, infrastructure resiliency, and
designs for a mobile central office, according to Great Plains. Prior to joining the company, he served as a

Communications Officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he supported complex telecommunications
networks supporting combat operations.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced the formation of the new working group in July. Its purpose is to make
recommendations to the Commission on measures to improve the resiliency of broadband infrastructure before a
disaster occurs, formulate strategies that can be used during the response to a disaster to minimize the downtime of
broadband networks, and suggest actions to more quickly restore broadband infrastructure during disaster recovery.
Members will also develop best practices among broadband wireless providers, backhaul providers, and electric
utilities during and after a disaster.

Hargray To Acquire Dark Fiber Systems of Jacksonville, FL
Hargray, a regional communications provider and metro-fiber over-builder, yesterday highlighted an agreement to
acquire Dark Fiber Systems (DFS), based in Jacksonville, FL. This announcement follows Hargray's agreement to
acquire USA Communications' Alabama assets, as well as Hargray's acquisition of several co-location facilities.

"We are pleased to announce our agreement to acquire Dark Fiber Systems and the resulting expansion of our
presence in northern Florida," said Hargray Chairman and CEO Michael Gottdenker. "Our focus has been and
remains to provide robust last-mile connectivity to businesses and residences throughout the Southeastern United
States.”

Hargray Fiber SP Chris McCorkendale added, "We are dedicated to local service, community engagement, and have
witnessed firsthand the demand for reliable communications solutions and responsive customer service. Specifically
in Jacksonville, not only will we expand the footprint of DFS' 150 route-mile network, but also we will provide multi-gig
lit data services including dedicated internet, customized multi-location Ethernet solutions, co-location and managed
services, and enhanced voice and video solutions."

The Women of NATE Are Running the Show (Literally)

The Women of NATE (WON) sponsored the second annual NATE UNITE 5K Fun Run/Walk yesterday at NATE
UNITE. Runners gathered to check-in at 6:30 a.m. There was a great turnout and participants received a goodie bag
upon completion of the event. The top three men and women finishers were recognized and awarded medals.

Women:

       1st place: Cameron Hunt, Womble Bond Dickinson, 25.26
       2nd place: Dee Dee Flynt, RAKM, 27.40
       3rd place: Jeanne Piercey, P-SEC, 28.38

Men:

       1st place: Clint Berg, Dakota Riggers, 24.50
       2nd place: Peter Novis, Kenwood Telecom, 25.06
       3rd place: Ken Clark, Engineering Wireless Services, 25.32

NATE Unite 2019
NATE Debuts Climber Connection Volume 4 Video Series at NATE UNITE 2019

NATE today unveiled a video highlighting the Tower Family Foundation non-profit
                                  organization as the first to debut in Volume 4 of the Association’s Climber
                                  Connection series. The video release took place live at the NATE UNITE 2019
                                  Keynote Luncheon in Grapevine, Texas. The NATE UNITE 2019 Keynote
                                  Luncheon, sponsored by SBA Communications, included a keynote address from
                                  actor and businessman Willie Robertson, best known for his appearances on the
                                  reality TV series Duck Dynasty.

The video, entitled “Tower Family Foundation: A Helping Hand” focuses on the incredible impact the foundation plays
in providing financial resources and scholarships to industry workers and families in the aftermath of a work-related
accident or fatality. Specifically, the video includes the touching personal story of how the Tower Family Foundation
helped tower climber Randy Smith from Rolla, Kansas after he experienced an injury while working at a tower site in
rural Kansas. Continue Reading

Building Permits/Land for Sale
Longview, TX source: Longview News-Journal

      Nexius Solutions Inc., 119 E. Grand Ave., modify existing cell tower for AT&T, $10,000

Jacksonville, FL source: Jacksonville Daily Record

      New Cingular Wireless PCS, 743 Houston St., contractor is Ericsson Inc., cell tower equipment upgrade
      $65,000.
      Verizon Wireless, 5040 Jones Road, contractor Betacom Inc., cell tower equipment upgrade $65,000.

Clatsop County, OR source: Coast River Business Journal

      32410 Tolovana Mainline, Cannon Beach $20,000 T-Mobile Replacement Of Panel Antennas And Addition Of
      Radio Units On Existing Tower
      2329 Royal View Dr, Seaside $55,000 Modification For A Cell Tower
      42287 Sports Acres Ln, Seaside $20,000 Replace Tower Equipment
      TBD Hwy 26 & 53, Seaside $50,000 T-Mobile Cell Tower Equipment Upgrade 913-981-6050

Calhoun, MO source: KansasCityHomes.com

      Currently being leased for hay, the tract also includes a cell phone tower lease in which the property owner is
      paid a monthly rent. MLS® # 2133568, Price: $275,000, Acres: 58.00, Type: Land, Address: NE C Highway,
      City: Calhoun, County: Henry, State: MO, Zip Code: 65323

More Small Cell Power. Less Small Cell Visibility. Here’s How It’s Done.

To get small cell sites where they need to be, you have to go small. After all, while you’re focusing on coverage and
capacity, you also need to deal with regulations and zoning that demand smaller and less intrusive architecture in
crowded, urban environments.

In order to satisfy everyone—the zoning board AND customers—you need performance AND flexible concealment.
Fortunately, both are supported by CommScope’s newest generation of Metro Cell solutions and their revolutionary
antenna designs.

Download CommScope’s Metro Cell Antenna Solutions eBook, which discusses how a properly designed Metro Cell
antenna can help your network increase density and performance where it’s needed most.

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    Charlotte, NC
    Full-time position responsible for property management, maintenance, reviewing legal documents and zoning
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