BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Statewide organizations are furthering the wireless industry’s knowledge of local and state issues affecting it. Most recently, the state of Alabama formed the Alabama Wireless Association to address some of these obstacles, including increasingly stringent tower-zoning laws and ordinances.
The Birmingham-based group was modeled after the Tennessee Wireless Association and has the same mission, which is “to cultivate the relationships among the members of the wireless arena with local communities to ensure a unified message that supports our industry.” The Alabama group also has adopted a customized version of TWA’s bylaws, and Pat Tant, vice president of one of TWA’s chapters, is serving as vice president of the Alabama group.
AWA’s first meeting, held Sept. 11, attracted more than 100 wireless industry representatives from the carrier, tower and vendor sectors that do business in Alabama, as well as representatives from nearby states, according to Andy Rotenstreich, president of the AWA and an attorney with Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker L.L.C.
The group plans to hold quarterly meetings to discuss current industry issues affecting Alabama and to encourage networking.