Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP) is becoming more synonymous with ‘turnkey’. From the upfront services such as site acquisition, geotechnical, environmental, and surveying, to inspections, engineering and installation for small cells and macro sites, its offerings continue to evolve. Last November, Inside Towers reported that TEP launched its Design Build group in Canada and now, it has added another line item to its resume: RF Design & Services.
“TEP’s new RF Design and Services team adds to its already-impressive list of services,” says Mike Britner, Business Development Manager, RF Design & Services. “It’s a key part that allows us to provide complete turnkey project services to our clients, to save them time and money.”
Previously, TEP was subbing out portions of RF work. According to Michael Hayden, Director of RF Design & Services, contracting these pieces of a project is not cost-effective and it opens the door to a disjointed process. Now, “everything is done in-house.” He explains, internal and external clients do not want to deal with multiple vendors.
The new division launched right around the New Year on January 4, and projects are already well underway. From providing microwave path analysis & design for the US Navy in Greece, to building a TV broadcast facility for St. Augustine University in Raleigh, NC, the diversity of the assignments exemplifies the wide range of the division’s services.
St. Augustine University owns WAUG-TV and is changing channels. TEP has been contracted to inspect the tower for structural integrity and replace the Channel 8 antenna with the Channel 4 antenna. The station has been off the air for several years, so TEP is tasked with testing the transmission line to determine its re-usability. Since the antenna is mounted on the WAUG-AM tower, compliance with FCC rules regarding co-locations on AM towers need to be adhered to.
The team of professionals handles RF Design, predicts potential interference and investigates and mitigates existing interference, plus manages compliance with the FCC, OSHA and other regulatory organizations.
Both Britner and Hayden come from a military background and each have several years’ worth of industry experience. However, it’s not just their proficiency and education that qualifies their expertise; it’s their attention to maintenance. “We keep up-to-date, we learn the new technologies as best and as fast as we can, so we’re always abreast of what’s going on,” says Hayden. “You have to keep pace. Otherwise, you’re obsolete.”
In addition to the technology itself, Britner and Hayden emphasize how important it is to fully comprehend the ever-evolving rules and regulations in the United States. Since TEP has extended its geographic footprint, the team must also keep tabs on Canadian policies.
Hayden and Britner have been familiar with TEP for over 20 years. “I observed Andy and Pete as they established excellent reputations and grew the business in the tower industry. I was amazed at the significant national and then international provider that they had become and the wide range of services that they offered. So, when the opportunity arose to participate in creating this new RF Design & Services team, I was very happy and excited to work with them,” says Mike Britner.
How has TEP grown steadily and successfully over time? “Without question, it’s their management style,” explains Britner, who always has taken an interest in human behavior and psychology, particularly in the workplace. “They have created a physical and an emotional environment that encourages employee creativity, insight, meaning and excellence,” he says. Hayden agrees, “It’s a people-centric business.”
RF engineering is a unique field that covers everything from two-way radio to 5G, explains Hayden. “New WiFi standards and DAS systems are a big venue coming up. We’ve got the technology; we need the people now that understand it and can deploy it properly. There’s the challenge,” he says. “Technology always outpaces the people that learn it.” Britner and Hayden are tasked with this challenge – to grow a talented, trained and trustworthy team.
Despite being in early phases, forward-thinking is ongoing. “We’re already looking at add-ons, project lines that we’re bringing on-board, and additional people,” says Hayden. “TEP is a great place to work,” says Britner, “and we’re hiring. I would encourage anyone who is qualified and looking, to consider our opportunities” listed online.
Over the past 23 years, TEP has been steadily growing and evolving its services and adding disciplines to meet industry demand. It now proudly supports 50 countries, with over 650 employees on staff, including 80 professional engineers and over 200 certified climbers and works with all major carriers, tower owners, vertical real estate companies, and build-to-suit companies.
TEP first established a location in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1997, but now has offices stretching from coast to coast and beyond U.S. borders. From Seattle, WA to Tampa, FL, and Vancouver, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia, TEP helps keep the world connected. For more information or to contact a representative, visit http://tepgroup.net/.
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