HetNet Happenings: Episode 9–Talking Towers

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    HetNet Happenings open compute project

    HetNet Happenings Podcast
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    In this episode of HetNet Happenings, RCR Wireless News Managing Editor Sean Kinney talks towers with colleagues and gets an inside look at the day-to-day of a tower climber and more.
    Kinney is joined by RCR Editor Joey Jackson, who produces a two series of video stories called Gigs Tower Stories.
    Jackson previews Gigs: The life of a tower climber.

    Hundreds of Tower career opportunities await. Find your perfect fit at TelecomCareers today!

    The segment features Jeff Henry of Quality Antenna Services in Ohio and Corie Fontenot of Wisconsin-based Tower MRL have more than 40 years in the industry. They shared their unique stories of how they ended up in the business, as well as some perspective on the skills and mindset that you need to be a tower climber.
    Jackson recounts his experience talking with climbers at the National Association of Tower Erectors annual convention and features Tower Stories: A sobering reminder.
    Fontenot, a veteran tower climber and safety manager at Tower MRL in Wisconsin, tells a story that happened to his friend that serves as a sobering reminder of what can happen when a tower crew member loses focus.
    Fontenot explains that his friend was installing sector mounts at the 380 feet of a 400 foot tower in Rhode Island.
    “He was reaching out to grab the mount,” Fontenot says, “out of nowhere the mount sailed to the ground, hit one of the guide wires. Fortunately, it rode the guide wire down instead of sheering it cause if he sheered the guide wire, the tower more than likely would have come down.”
    Jarad Matula, who writes a weekly tower news wrap for RCR, provides a recap of recent news items including a woman falling to her death from a Texas tower, along with two technicians escaping tragedy.