UPDATE Just days after American Tower issued a letter to vendors that allowed for some leeway in their May 31 letter limiting the development and construction of new towers within a half-mile radius of their properties, the world’s second largest towerco yesterday decided to “not go forward” with implementing the “First Amendment to [their] Master Contractor Agreement.” In the letter issued yesterday, Supply Chain Director Jared Morley said: “While we think this change reflects the right approach at this juncture, American Tower still strongly believes the proliferation of proximate towers to existing towers could result in future regulation and local zoning changes that impede the deployment of necessary infrastructure.” (See letter in its entirety below.)
Reaction to the announcement came from one association. NATE Chairman Jim Tracy said, “NATE appreciates American Tower Corporation’s rescinding their previous decision after listening to concerns expressed by the Association’s member companies,” Tracy said in a statement issued to Inside Towers. “American Tower is a valued customer to our member companies and this change in policy will ensure that NATE members, including tower owners and carriers, can continue to collaborate together unimpeded to densify networks and deploy the infrastructure and technology necessary on the road to 5G.”
In a statement shared with Inside Towers, AMT said they support their customers’ efforts to enable the next-generation of wireless technologies and are committed to working in partnership with their contractors to achieve this result.
June 19, 2018
To Whom It May Concern:
We’ve listened to your input, and that of our wireless carrier customers, and their concern that our contractor program announced in our May 31 letter would potentially impact their ability to deploy network enhancements on American Tower assets. In response, we have decided effective immediately, not to go forward with implementing the First Amendment to Master Contractor Agreement and by this letter are giving you notice of this decision.
While we think this change reflects the right approach at this juncture, American Tower still strongly believes the proliferation of proximate towers to existing towers could result in future regulation and local zoning changes that impede the deployment of necessary infrastructure. However, we continue to support our customers’ efforts to enable the next-generation of wireless technologies and are committed to working in partnership with you to achieve this result.
Thank you to the contractors that signed the amendment, expressing their support for our program and our industry. In addition, we appreciate the valuable feedback received from our customers and our contractors. Should you have any further feedback, questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Jared Morley
Director – Supply Chain
By Jim Fryer, Managing Editor, Inside Towers
June 20, 2018
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