Third man charged in N.J. tower thefts
New information has been released related to the cell tower thefts RCR Wireless News reported earlier this week.
There is now a third man being charged by Paterson, N.J., police in connection to the string of 15 cell tower equipment thefts. Louis Alvarado, 46, was charged in connection to four tower equipment thefts in which police can confirm his participation. Police also are investigating two unrelated burglaries and right now Alvarado is the primary suspect. Alvarado, like his two accomplices, is homeless.
For those who missed the original story, two homeless men were charged with 80 counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief in connection to 15 cell tower equipment thefts. Every major carrier was hit by the thefts, with towers from AT&T Mobility, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile US all being affected. According to Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale, more than $125,000 worth of damage was caused among all of the thefts and burglaries.
This is just the latest in string of cell tower equipment thefts that have happened over the past few months.
Man creates his own ‘cell tower’ for broadband
What do you do when your cell signal is far superior to your Internet signal? In some rural areas, broadband options are incredibly limited while cell towers exist even in remote areas. One man in the U.K. decided to take matters into his own hands, building a wooden tower outfitted with an LTE adapter inside a toolbox, running the signal to his house with fiber optic cable.  Because of his ingenuity, his Internet signal increased from 1 megabit per second to 69 Mbps. Take a look at his rig and prepare to be impressed by his DIY construction.
Tower news quickies
• AT&T director of cell site programs chosen to lead NWSA
• Zayo sells 800 fiber-to-the-tower hookups
Regional / local tower news
- Verizon withdraws application for new cell tower in Pasco, Wash.
- New cell tower planned for Shamokin, Pa.
- Lower Macungie, Pa., residents oppose proposed cell tower
- Berks County, Pa., commissioners OK lease for cell tower
- Stratham, Maine, officials debate cell tower proposal; neighbors raise concerns
- Brattleboro, Vt., Selectboard wants more information on Putney Road cell tower
- East Sevier County, Tenn., residents begging for cellphone tower
- Local cell tower regulation changes are possible in Knoxville, Tenn.
- New cell tower request for Sweetwater, Tenn.
- Planning commission approves cell tower in Newberg, Ore.
- Meeting to talk about Koloa, Hawaii, cell tower
- Cell tower, daycare and film production on Clayton County, Ga., agenda
- Amherst County, Va., residents start petition to stop cellphone tower near Elon Elementary
