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Wednesday, March 7, 2018 Volume 6 | Issue 46

NTIA, Lawmakers, Discuss Spectrum Clearing, Sharing Incentivesby Leslie Stimson, Washington Bureau Chief, Inside Towers

NTIA’s David Redl & Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR)

A “good half” of the employees at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) spend allday on spectrum issues, according to new administrator David Redl. NTIA oversees government spectrum use. Theirtime is spent working on finding ways government spectrum can be used more efficiently — to find spectrum that canbe shared among federal agencies and commercial licensees or given up for commercial use. That’s a primeadministration goal as the wireless industry works to deploy 5G.

In his hearing debut, Redl explained to members of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, the contextof NTIA’s announcement last week, that it has identified 100 MHz of spectrum (3450 to 3550 MHz) for potentialwireless broadband use. It seeks incentives to government agencies to persuade them to clear spectrum.

The subcommittee is part of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees NTIA and the FCC.Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), asked Redl why in its FY2019 budget request, NTIA asked for authority to negotiateleases for private spectrum. Redl, who worked for the committee for seven years before being named NTIAAdministrator, called leases a tool. “We know clearing is the gold standard. But there are some bands where clearingwon’t be an option,” because the cost to move incumbents off the band exceeds the potential revenue of licensing itfor a new use. Continue Reading

IWCE Just Warming Up With HetNet, FirstNet and Networking

From left to right: Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer, Todd Schlekeway, Tom Chamberlain,Allen Dixon, Kevin Forte, Patrick Lau. Photo by George Reed, Co-Owner, Inside Towers

Day two of the IWCE Expo in Orlando covered a range of topics before the main festivities, such as the Keynoteaddresses and expo floor opening, get underway today. FirstNet seemed to find its way into most conversations,even if not the titled topic of the session. The “NG911 and FirstNet” and “The FirstNet Kitchen Sink” sessions tackledthe subject head on.

A morning session moderated by Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer, covered “HetNet, Small Cells and More:the New Wireless Site.” Panelists included Kevin Forte of Crown Castle, Todd Schlekeway of NATE, Patrick Lau ofComba Telecom, Tom Chamberlain of Westell and Allen Dixon of Zinwave.

How will AT&T deploy FirstNet and will they allow repeaters? Chamberlain asked. “With over 25,000 AHJs[Authorities Having Jurisdiction] across USA,” he said “each has different levels of knowledge, standards adoptionand enforcement. Their existing radio investment dictates priority and migration to FirstNet at 700 MHz.”Chamberlain pointed out AHJs may not allow shared infrastructure. Continue Reading House Passes FCC Reauthorization, Spectrum Deal UPDATE By voice vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon voted to pass H.R. 4986, which willhelp the FCC hold more spectrum auctions and spur deployment of 5G. The measure also reauthorizes theCommission and adds more categories to the types of stations that can be reimbursed as a result of the TV spectrumrepack.

An agreement involving House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking MemberFrank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD),and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) enabled swift action on the bill.

Upon House passage, Walden and Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Marsha Blackburn(R-TN) said the measure, “will make the FCC more transparent, efficient, and modern while strengthening thenation’s critical telecommunications services and spurring the deployment of 5G.” The bill now goes to the Senate.Continue Reading

Pai Suggests ‘Bold’ Action to Fix PR, USVI NetworksThe FCC has approved various technologies and funding to help restore the communications networks in Puerto Ricoand the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes. Now, Chairman Ajit Pai is ready to throw a big pileof money at the problem to fix it — $954 million.

He proposed Tuesday, to create two reserves, a $750 million “Bringing Puerto Rico Together Fund” and a $204million “Connect USVI Fund.” Each would provide short-term assistance for restoring the communications networksand longer-term support for expanding broadband access.

Just over $630 million would go towards restoration and expansion of fixed broadband connectivity and just under$260 million would be allocated for 4G LTE broadband connectivity on the islands, under Pai’s proposal. The planwould be funded by providing about $256 million in new funds and repurposing Universal Service money currentlydirected to the islands.

The people of both islands are still recovering from last year’s storms and the beginning of the 2018 hurricane seasonis less than three months away, according to Pai. “We need to take bold and decisive action.” The Chairman plans togo to the islands March 7–10. Just over four percent of the cell sites in Puerto Rico and 13.8 percent in the USVIremained out of service as of March 5, according to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System.

What's the Hubbub Over Smart Hubs?American Tower and Citybeacon formed a global partnership to develop a multifunction smart hub, which will facilitatecommunication between cities, residents, and local businesses across numerous mobile networks. The smart hubpairs wireless network densification with smart city applications like IoT sensors, to monitor the environment,emergency communications services, and digital advertising and to enhance security and overall wirelessconnectivity. Citybeacon successfully rolled out a similar network in Amsterdam, which includes “intelligent” streetobjects, a network of surveillance cameras, smart lighting, and Gigabit WiFi, making life in a smart city seamlesslyinterconnected, according to AmsterdamSmartCity.com.

Steven Marshall, President of U.S. Tower, a division of American Tower, stated last week, the smart hub will helpfacilitate wireless networks’ transition to 5G. “This innovative solution provides wireless real estate, hiding in the formof a streamlined multifunction smart hub, to be deployed quickly and efficiently,” Marshall said.

Citybeacon CEO Arthur Van De Poll added: “The goal at Citybeacon is to bridge the gap between the digital andphysical world. The alliance with American Tower will provide a complete digital city solution that will include theability to provide wireless broadband, the backbone of connected technology and a key requirement for any smartcity.”

March 6, 2018 at Close

GTT Buys Large European Fiber Network ProviderCloud networking provider GTT Communications, Inc. (NYSE: GTT) announced last week an agreement to acquireInteroute, operator of one of Europe’s largest independent fiber networks and cloud networking platforms, forapproximately $2.3 billion in cash.

The strategic combination:

Significantly augments scale, expanding GTT’s Tier 1 global IP network with one of Europe’s most extensivefiber footprints. The network includes over 400 points of presence, spanning 24 metro areas andinterconnecting 126 cities across 29 countries.Strengthens GTT’s leadership position in software-defined wide area networking with expanded capabilities.Adds 15 data centers, 17 virtual data centers and 51 co-location facilities, enhancing GTT’s cloud connectivityplatform.Contributes infrastructure, edge and hosted services to GTT’s suite of cloud networking services.

Expands and complements GTT’s multinational client base, adding over 1,000 strategic enterprise and carrierclients, primarily headquartered in Europe.Enhances GTT’s global team with a world-class sales, operations and customer service organization. ContinueReading

IllinoisT-Mobile Tower Project Well Received in Chicago Suburb

T-Mobile plans to build a 120-foot tower in Oak Brook that officials say will considerablyimprove voice and data service, reported the Chicago Tribune.

According to Jim Fox, Oak Brook’s information technology director, ownership of the towerwill be turned over to Oak Brook upon its completion, and the village could generate about$100,000 annually in leasing space to cellular carriers, with both AT&T and Verizon alreadyexpressing interest in co-locating on the tower.

Regarding tower siting, Lauren Neill, senior siting advocacy manager for T-Mobile noted, "Because it's in a residentialarea, we think it's a great spot for it. There is a significant gap in the middle of the village." Neill expects the volume ofcalls and other cellular service to continue to increase. "There's also been talk about 5G, which we don't have, yet,but this new tower will also help to prepare for the future," she said.

As a next step, Village staff recommended including the project on the March 13 Village Board meeting agenda, to bereferred to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for further consideration.

KP Performance Has New 8x8 MIMO Sector Antenna For the 5 GHz BandKP Performance Antennas, a manufacturer of WISP antennas and accessories,announced last week a new 34-inch-tall MIMO sector antenna operating in thepopular 5 GHz band that features eight inputs and HV-polarization.

“This new generation of multi-port antennas delivers true MIMO speed while beingable to support twice as many customers with just one single sector,” said JustinPollock, Ph.D., Antenna Engineer at KP Performance Antennas. “With only onemounting point on a tower, this single sector lowers infrastructure and installationcosts in comparison to using two or four single-band sectors, making this a very

attractive cost saving product for many of our WISP clients.” Continue Reading

City Networks Task Force to Host Webinar March 21The City Networks Task Force, a joint venture of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) and the Smart CitiesCouncil (SCC), will host an interactive webinar featuring regulatory and legislative updates from Jonathan Adelstein,President and CEO of WIA, and Douglas Dimitroff, Partner with Phillips Lytle LLP. Register here for the free webinar,scheduled for 11:30 a.m. EST, March 21.

The webinar will cover critical issues facing the wireless industry and the ongoing efforts in Congress and the WhiteHouse, as well as the work being done by the FCC and its Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC).Dimitroff chairs the Model Code for Municipalities Working Group and Adelstein chairs the Streamlining Federal SitingWorking Group. Both industry leaders will share updates on the ongoing efforts by BDAC to provide the FCC withrecommendations that encourage the responsible deployment of broadband to communities. Continue Reading

2018 NAB ShowDielectric to Showcase ATSC 3.0-Compatible Spectrum Repack AntennasManufacturer Dielectric will present an array of spectrum repack antennas engineered to deliver the enhancedperformance required by the next-generation broadcast standard, ATSC 3.0. At the 2018 NAB Show, Dielectric willexhibit at Booth C2613 (April 9-12, Las Vegas Convention Center).

The broadcast industry is poised to start the transition from its broadcast-specific transport backbone to an IP-basedtransmission stream that can carry multiple 4K video programs, mobile and interactive services. At NAB, Dielectricwill highlight the many features designed into their ATSC 3.0 compatible UHF/VHF repack antennas andcomponents, including safety margins that withstand the higher peak to average power ratios of the new standard.Continue Reading

XPONENTIAL 2018: Where Cutting-Edge Innovation Meets Real-World ApplicationThere is considerable innovation and exciting activity in unmanned systems. Every time youturn on the news, you see something new happening in the industry. The telecom industry isturning to drones for both safety and efficiency as they help mitigate risk. The use cases for

drones in telecom are expanding rapidly and the commercial applications are unlimited.

XPONENTIAL 2018 is the destination for those looking to harness the power of unmanned systems. An intersectionof cutting-edge innovation and real-world applications, XPONENTIAL is the one event that brings all things unmannedinto sharp focus. More than 8,500 professionals, crossing a wide spectrum of industries, are expected to gather inDenver from April 30 through May 3 to participate in four days of forward-thinking, advanced education andnetworking, and exploring a 370,000-square-foot exhibit hall. Continue Reading

Claim or Create Your ListingTower-Pro.com, Inside Towers’ companion Buyer’s Guide, boasts over 3,500 listings in 130+ categories - all of whichare relevant to the telecom and/or tower industry. Tower-Pro is a go-to resource for thousands of users each year.You can enhance your listing to make sure your company is noticed first. Below is a chart outlining the differencesbetween a basic and enhanced listing. Seems like a no-brainer to us. An enhanced listing is a nominal $250 fee.

Search for and claim your listing, create a listing or enhance your listing today or contact us for assistance.

The inaugural spring showcase will run in Inside Towers the weeks of May 13 and May 20. We will be spotlighting asegment of the industry each day. The timing is ideal, as it is right before and during the WIA’s Connect X show. This

is a great opportunity to reach OUR audience, leaders in the telecom industry, with YOUR latest products andservices.

Only ONE product per segment will be featured, so this is an exclusive opportunity. At the end of the showcase, abeautiful PDF booklet of the features will be highlighted in our newsletter, on our website and blasted out over socialmedia. It can also be shared with your customers. Categories being offered are:

Monday, May 14: Antennas/RFTuesday, May 15: SafetyWednesday, May 16: Shelters, Enclosures & Temporary TowersThursday, May 17: DAS/Small CellsFriday, May 18: ConstructionMonday, May 21: DronesTuesday, May 22: Site Acq/Real EstateWednesday, May 23: Business ServicesThursday, May 24: Electrical Friday, May 25: Concealment

First Come, First Served.

Take advantage of this special opportunity to join the Inside Towers team.Inside Towers has over 8,400 subscribers and over 15,000 social mediafollowers. In the last two years, our newsletter clicks have increased 301% andour web page views have increased 230%. To keep up with it all, we areseeking a Director of Advertising. Unlimited income potential. Location isflexible as the job can be handled remotely. For more details on the position,please email us. The candidate should possess the following attributes:

At least 2-3 years of sales experience, preferably digitalKnowledge of wireless infrastructure and financial services is a plusCommunications or business degree is preferredEffective communicator and presenter, written and verbalSelf-motivated and proactive professional with proven track record of resultsHard-working, trustworthy individual with positive attitude

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An icy 300 ft Rohn 65 outside of Abilene, Texas contributed by Dennis Samuelson.

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Managing Editor: Jim FryerWashington Bureau Chief: Leslie StimsonWriters: Cara Peer & Keara M. Piekanski

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