NWSA tower climber assessment and certification – Inside Telecom Careers Episode 7

Communications Workers of America continue working without new Verizon agreement; National Wireless Safety Association announces board of governors and roadmap for tower climber assessment and certification programs

This episode of Inside Telecom Careers is sponsored by Nexius: Accelerating Network and Business Transformation

This week on “Inside Telecom Careers,” the RCR Wireless News team hosted Chuck Slagle from NWSA and Todd Schlekeway from NATE for a discussion on NWSA tower climber assessment and certification programs as well as the association’s recent board of governors announcement.  In addition, Karla and Jeff discussed the impact CWA and Verizon contract negotiations may have on the cost of mobile operators deploying small cell networks.

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Watch Inside Telecom Careers Episode 7:

Verizon strike update; implications for small cell network deployments

CWA and IBEW unions, representing 39,000 members in New York City and surrounding areas, agreed to continue working beyond the expiration of the existing contract. Key points of contention include pay, benefits and training allowance for union employees. CWA previously claimed that Verizon was “hell bent on destroying this union.” During a July 25 CWA rally in NYC, which attracted over 12,000 attendees, CWA President Chris Shelton claimed to be negotiating contract details with Verizon Wireless. During his speech, Shelton read a Verizon Wireless advertisement for new employees that appeared in the Daily News offering new wireless employees great pay, benefits, an $8,000 training allowance and a fertility allowance.

One key trend to watch will be the increased cost for mobile operators to deploy small cell networks in unionized metropolitan markets. Mobile operators and the system integrators hired to design, build and operate metro fiber networks and small cell lateral fiber connections will most likely have to outsource the work to local electric union shops like Hugh O’Kane Electric. As a general rule, underground fiber, aerial fiber and in-building cabling is controlled by IBEW unions. According to Don Bach, VP for SAC Wireless, utilizing union labor for metro fiber, fiber backhaul and in-building fiber deployments will increase mobile operator capital and operating expenses.

NWSA update

In today’s episode of “Inside Telecom Careers,” Karla Macias and Jeff Mucci hosted Todd Schlekeway from NATE and Chuck Slagle from NWSA.  Key takeaways from program include:

• NWSA announced this morning a full slate of NWSA board of governors, representing the wireless infrastructure ecosystem, which includes representatives from tower companies, carriers and system integrators.
• NWSA is not a training company. It will be providing nationwide assessment and certification programs. Schlekeway emphasized that the industry needs to make sure that the assessment and certification process is completely separate from the training process.
• NWSA is a standalone entity, separate from NATE, which will provide organizational and administrative support to NWSA.
• NWSA will work closely with PCIA and TIRAP and envisions TIRAP working closely with the training organizations. Current training options include third-party training organizations (i.e. Gravitec, Comtrain, Safety LMS).
• For more information on NWSA visit www.nws-a.org
• For more information on TIRAP watch last week’s episode featuring Jonathan Adelstein.

NWSA board of governors, company and category

•  AJ Manion, Manion Stigger – Legal
• Art Pregler, AT&T – National Carrier
• Beau Aero, GME Supply – Distributor
• Brandon Chapman, Valmont Site-Pro 1 – Engineer
• Brian Wiedower, Sprint – National Carrier
• Chris Mallon, Tower MRL – Small Contractor
• Danny Bishop, The Crosby Group – Equipment Manufacturer
• David Sams, SBA Communications – Tower Owner/Vertical Realtor
• Dean Hane, Multi Agency Communications Center 911 – Public Safety
• Dieter Schifferdecker, Ericsson – Original Equipment Manufacturer
• Don Doty, FDH Velocitel – Large General Contractor
• Duane MacEntee, Tower Innovations – Structural Manufacturer/Fabrication
• Ed Owens, Broken Arrow Communications – Tower Technician
• Eric Bicknese, Vertical Limit – Small Contractor
• Eric Munsell, Black & Veatch – Large General Contractor
• Dr. Gemma Frock, Aiken Technical College – Community College
• Heather Gastellum, T-Mobile/T-Mobile Towers – National Carrier/Tower Owner
• Jim Williamson, SAC Wireless – Large General Contractor
• Jocko Vermillion, Safety Controls Technology – Occupational Safety & Health
• Kevin Denis, Gravitec – Trainer
• Kevin Schmidt, Sioux Falls Tower and Communications – Tower Technician
• Mike Powers, Atlas Tower – Tower Owner/Vertical Realtor
• Monica Gambino, Crown Castle – Tower Owner/Vertical Realtor
• Patrick Shea, All Risks – Insurance
• Phil Larsen, Hazon Solutions – Technology
• Ron Lewis, U.S. Cellular – Regional Carrier
• Sonya Roshek, MyCom USA – DAS/Small Cells
• Yana Patton, USDA Forest Service – Government Agency