Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, brought to you by Towercrews.net.
2014 is quickly becoming a tragic year for the tower industry. It is with a heavy heart we report that there have been two more tragic tower deaths this week. The accident happened the morning of Tuesday, March 25. Two men were working on an older, 245-foot tower on the outskirts of Blaine, Kansas. The pair were near the top of the tower, dismantling it, when the structure collapsed, causing the newer nearby tower to collapse as well. One man was reported dead at the site and the other died after being rushed to Topeka to receive medical attention. Both were contractors for the Union Pacific Railroad. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of those lost this week.
Two weeks ago we reported that the legislature of Missouri approved a new law that would restrict a city’s ability to regulate the erecting of new cell towers. It was approved by the House and Senate two weeks ago and has now been signed into law by Governor Nixon. Municipal level officials are frustrated because they feel it interferes with local control, but tower builders and carriers are relieved their plans can continue less impeded. Better coverage for Missouri, here we come!
Have you heard of “Stingrays?” These are devices known as international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catchers, aka fake cell towers. Whomever owns one of these can track phones or even intercept text messages or calls. The company that manufactures them won’t even talk to the press about their full capabilities. Sounds really shady, right? Apparently there are many cities and police forces using these fake cell towers. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have been fighting against this strange invasion of privacy. The even more disconcerting thing is that cities are reluctant to even admit whether they use them. We have a hard enough time making space for real cell towers, we certainly don’t need fake ones crowding up our cities, much less invading privacy.
Never underestimate the power of Facebook–especially on tower-building decisions. A photo mock-up of a proposed new tower on Shelter Island, New York was put on Facebook, making the Fire Commissioner quite angry. The site of the tower is right next to the city’s firehouse, and the huge monopole does look garish next to the tiny firehouse. The photo has since disappeared, and no one has claimed responsibility. Regardless, it does bring to the surface a lot of issues from both sides that will hopefully be resolved soon.
In DAS news, RCR Wireless News’ Kelly Hill reported that Axell Wireless installed its largest even public safety wireless system at the new One World Trade Center. The One WTC is the largest building int he US and fourth largest in the world. Helping them get the job done was systems integrator TechMer Inc. Axell worked with Pinnacle Wireless to cover the surrounding buildings, including the memorial, museum and shopping mall.
