News from AGL Magazine

AGL Bulletin

News for the Siting Industry

Vol. 2, Issue 24

January 9, 2009

Suffering from slow or inaccurate surveys? Painful FCC fines caused by missing or out of date EME signage? Prospective tenants agonizing over structural analysis woes? Let us show you the cure.

In This Issue

In the News

Products

Calendar

Contact Waterford Consultants for value-priced, unsurpassed, professionally engineered compliance services. Knowing whether a site requires actions to comply with the FCC rules for protecting AM broadcast station patterns is an important factor in planning your wireless buildout. Register and receive FREE screenings for all your sites.

In the News

Digital Antenna Makers Going All-out to Make DTV Deadline
The Feb. 17 digital transition deadline looms like a specter on the horizon for makers of digital antennas as they scramble to make the hardware that will keep local broadcasters on the air as they shut down analog operations.

Electronics Research (ERI), which makes and installs digital TV antennas and rigid coaxial feed line, is feeling the heat as it works overtime to send the antennas out into the cold winter winds. MORE

Failed Guy Wires Leave Tower Leaning
Tragedy was averted this week as bulldozers were brought in to stabilize a cell tower that had failed guy wires in Moorhead, Minn., according to WDAY TV. MORE

Commnet Acquires Nevada Wireless Operations of CC Communications
Atlantic Tele-Network's rural wireless business, Commnet Wireless, has acquired the wireless network assets of CC Communications, a telephone company based in Fallon, Nevada, including 50 operating cell sites and the licenses covering more than 40,000 square miles. MORE

CCI Executive Officers Forfeit Restricted Stock
After all the reports of excessive executive bonuses, it is hard to feel sorry for the Crown Castle International executive officers who recently forfeited more than 200 thousand shares of performance-based restricted stock, which was awarded in the first quarter of 2007. At $20 a share, that would be a cool $4 million. MORE

Planning Board Hears Cell Tower Questions, but Cannot Answer Them
The Hudson (Mass.) Planning Board recently met with residents concerned about a proposal to install a cell phone tower. The only problem was few of the questions came within the authority of the board, according to the Westborough, Mass. Community Advocate. MORE

N.Y. Town Moving Forward with Site Development
Hyde Park, N.Y., recently held a hearing concerning its plan to erect a cell tower on municipal property that it would own and lease space on to Verizon Wireless and AT&T, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. MORE

Texting for a Good Cause:
Cell tower Could Generate Funds for Community Center
Thanks to a proposed cell tower, soon residents of the Village of Machesney Park, Ill., may be able to text and call one another and have the revenue go to a good cause. MORE

Weather, Dropping Prices Prove Deterrent to Copper Theft
A report by the FBI released last December warned of the danger copper thieves presented to the critical communications infrastructure. In the same month Council Bluffs, Iowa, saw its thefts shrivel to two, according to the Daily Nonpareil newspaper, from 11 in September. MORE

Tower Gets New Lights After Chopper Crash
Christmas trees were not the only we ones being trimmed with lights in December. The Aurora, Ill. radio tower that was struck by a medical helicopter in October was trimmed in height and given a new set of warning lights, according to the Fox Valley Villages Sun. MORE

T-Mobile Lawyer Angers Council, which Punts Cell Tower
Although attorneys make their living by talking, there are some things best left unsaid.

A story in The Kansas City Star tells of how an attorney for T-Mobile angered the Overland Park (Kan.) City Council by saying even if the council didn't approve an application to build a tower on an easement owned by Kansas City Power & Light, the carrier could simply reduce the proposed height by two feet and go ahead without council approval. MORE

High Atop Tower, Crews Deliver Digital Present
They could have been in their warm homes with the chestnuts roasting over an open fire. But instead, a crew from Tower King II spent Christmas week 2,000 feet above ground level installing a digital antenna on the WRAL transmitter tower near Clayton, N.C. And you thought your holidays were harrowing. MORE

Telecom Infrastructure Expected to Continue Growth
Amid all the reports of economic gloom and doom, it's kind of nice to hear some optimism. Telecom infrastructure company GlenMartin is predicting continued growth in telecom despite the languishing economy. MORE

Association to Hold Forum on Emerging Trends in Utility Siting
The Pennsylvania Wireless Association will present a Utility Siting Forum on Jan. 15, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Hershey Lodge, West Chocolate Ave. and Hershey Drive, Hershey, Penn. The presenters and panel discussions will cover a range of issues of interest to wireless siting professionals who regularly deals with utility structure attachments and uses of utility rights of way. MORE

State Wireless Association Begins in Minnesota
The Minnesota State Wireless Association (MNSWA) will hold its organizational kickoff meeting on Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. in Edina, Minn. The organization was founded to promote the wireless industry by means of education, awareness, and charitable giving, according to MNSWA. MORE

Off the Grid, But On the Air
Chambers Island in Green Bay off the coast of Wisconsin doesn't have electricity. But, thanks to a solar-powered cell site installed by Cellcom, the tiny island now has cell service, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette. MORE

Horvath Picks Up Financing

National City Bank has increased its debt financing from $10 million to $18 million in Horvath Towers, a tower developer that has built more than 75 sites since forming in 2007. Together with Peppertree Capital Fund's equity commitment, Horvath now has access to $36 million in capital to develop towers.

By the Numbers...

TWO ... Verizon Wireless cell sites turned on this week in Baltimore
$300 MILLION ... Amount spent by VW to enhance services and coverage throughout Virginia, Washington and Maryland in 2007
$1.8 BILLION ... Total VW network investment in the region since 2000
Baltimore Examiner 1/5/09

Utility, carrier and vendor panelists will explain utility structure attachments and uses of utility rights of way at the Pennsylvania Wireless Association's Utility Siting Forum on January 15. Click to register.

Products

Spectrum Analyzer
Kaltman Creations has introduced the Spectran HF60100 Handheld RF Spectrum Analyzer, a handheld RF analyzer that features a frequency range of 1 MHz to 9.4 GHz, sensitivity of -130dbm and bandwidth resolution of 1kHz, stability of 0.5 PPM and accuracy of +/- 1db. The HF60100 is sold as a complete analysis kit which includes: HF60100 (1 MHz - 9.4 GHz) RF analyzer, optional internal pre-amp, an SMA stick antenna, a precision handheld log periodic antenna, AC charger/adaptor, aluminum carrying case, mini-tripod stand, 6-foot USB cable, PC software and documentation.
www.RFAnalyzers.com

Tower Climbing and Rescue Ropes
Sterling's SuperStatic ropes are available from 5/16-inch to 5/8-inch in diameter. The ropes are engineered for balanced construction that allows them to be used in a multitude of work and rescue applications. Using machinery with advanced technology, the company builds the ropes under a precise manufacturing system for high strength, consistency and the highest quality. These ropes meet ANSI requirements for rescue ropes, are compatible with other gear - important for tower rescue kits. Available with high strength factory terminated ends. www.sterlingrope.com

Descender Belay Device
The PETZL I'D self-braking descender belay device with anti-panic function, available from TES, provides increased safety when moving on a single rope. The braking mechanism consists of a pivoting cam, which pinches the rope and brakes the descent when the handle is released. Descenders are designed to regulate friction and control the descent on a fixed rope. www.TowerGear.com

Andrew, a CommScope Company's steel products can assist with all your wireless needs. These 4 in Ladder Tray, Straight Sections are Coaxial Cable Support Components. Visit www.HOL4G.com for this product line and more.