Verizon towers to function as air traffic control
NASA has reached out to the nation’s largest wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, entering an agreement to conduct drone tracking research using the carrier’s cell towers. According to The Guardian, the deal was signed last year, but has only gotten underway as of this month. The agreement/project is worth $50,000 and will see Verizon Wireless and NASA “jointly explore if cell towers and communications could possibly support Unmannned Aerial Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) for communications and surveillance of UAS at low altitudes.” For the record, UAS is the technical word for drones, which recently have taken on darker, more negative connotations.
The location of this venture is in Silicon Valley at NASA’s Ames Research Center. For the initial phase, it will only test its air traffic control system within the confines of its facility. Verizon Wireless has until 2017 to take the initial research and introduce a way to take the concept and use it on cell tower coverage for data, navigation, surveillance and tracking. Both parties plan on finalizing the technology by 2019.
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Currently, there are no laws or air traffic control pertaining to drones, so it is essentially a free-for-all for anyone with a drone. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed regulations for commercial drones back in February, but nothing has yet to pass into law. NASA and Verizon Wireless hope that this new technology will allow for precise “geo-fencing” capabilities for drones, with both benign – avoiding bad weather – and serious reasons.
The reason for tapping Verizon Wireless for this project? The carrier has an estimated 12,000-15,000 towers across the U.S. and, in turn, the most extensive 4G LTE network. Plus, Verizon Wireless has been one of the only companies to assist the incredibly budget-constrained NASA in this undertaking. According to NASA, they reached out to many “cellphone companies such as AT&T and Verizon. To date, only Verizon has stepped forward to pursue collaboration with NASA regarding the potential use of cell towers.”
For more detailed information on this plan, please visit The Guardian.
NWSA seeks tower techs as board members
Are you a tower technician looking to become involved in the tower industry at a higher level and have an impact on the big picture? Now’s your chance. The National Wireless Safety Alliance is accepting applications from qualified tower technicians to fill several available seats on the inaugural NWSA board of governors. For those unfamiliar, the NWSA is a nonprofit assessment and certification organization created to bring better education and safety to the tower industry.
According to NWSA consultant Chuck Slagle: “This is a great opportunity for qualified tower technicians to be involved in a leadership capacity with the NWSA.”
So how do you qualify for this position? Requirements include the following:
Completion of training at the Competent Climber/Rescue level or higher; having a minimum of 4 years of climbing experience; a commitment to serve a 2-year term; and providing demonstrated employer support regarding their ability to participate as a Governor. The complete eligibility criteria are outlined on the official NWSA Board of Governors Tower Technician Nomination Application.
If you qualify and are interested in making an impact in the tower industry, visit the website application here. The deadline is Friday, June 19, 2015. Send all completed applications via email: nwsa@nws-a.org. Good luck!
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Regional / local tower news
- Commission hears concerns over AT&T cell tower in Carmel, Ind.
- Mt. Tabor, Ore., parents: Cell tower ‘a health issue’
- City of Sandusky, Ohio, signs cell tower deal
- Cell tower proposal for Elon Elementary in Madison Heights, Va., draws safety concerns
- Residents turn out to oppose Bethel, Conn., cell tower
- Shelby, Mich., board puts off cell tower request
- Man charged in theft from Lincoln County, N.C., cell tower
- New cell phone tower could come to Lake Wylie, S.C.
- Sierra Vista, Ariz., council differs on cell tower approval
