NATE will unveil this morning a commemoration declaring today, Thursday, May 11, 2017, Tower Technician Appreciation Day. This day has been set aside by NATE to coincide with OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down Week in order to pay tribute to the important work that tower technicians conduct on a daily basis to enable a mobile society.
NATE was joined by U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in honoring the work of the men and women who deploy and maintain America’s communications infrastructure.
“It’s a privilege to join NATE to congratulate and thank the dedicated men and women who work in South Dakota and around the country to build, upgrade, and maintain our nation’s communication towers and infrastructure,” said Sen. Thune. “Tower erectors and technicians put in long hours and hard work, and they possess a unique set of skills that is essential to effectively deploy today’s wireless broadband network and lay the groundwork for the 5G network of the future.”
“Access to ubiquitous wireless coverage is paramount for the public safety, economic development and welfare of all Americans,” said NATE Executive Director Todd Schlekeway. “Today, NATE is honored to celebrate the communications tower industry workforce by highlighting the tireless contributions and sacrifices these men and women make in order to keep us safe, connected and prosperous.”
“This is a great day and we are thrilled to provide this well-deserved recognition to the industry’s most precious resource…the men and women who make up our workforce,” said NATE Chairman Jim Tracy, CEO of Legacy Telecommunications, Inc. in Burley, Washington.
NATE Tower Technician Appreciation Day Commemoration (see full proclamation)
- “Whereas advances in wireless communications are changing the landscape and delivery models for industries as diverse as healthcare, financial services, public and private media, higher education, agriculture, energy, transportation, utilities, public safety, government and the military; and
- Whereas communications tower technicians are the backbone of the wireless ecosystem and are providing the “muscle” behind this mobility revolution in order to enable this global connectivity; and
- Whereas the work performed by tower technicians is of critical importance to homeland security, national competitiveness, expansion of broadband, and our nation’s vital communications capabilities; and
- Whereas tower technicians will be playing an instrumental role in the build-out of FirstNet, the country’s first nationwide, interoperable broadband network devoted exclusively to public safety that will ultimately help save lives and provide law enforcement officials, firefighters and EMS personnel with the critical communications capabilities and resources they need to respond to emergency situations; and
- Whereas tower technicians will be performing essential tower work following the FCC’s 600 MHZ Incentive Auction by safely deploying thousands of new antennas and wireless equipment on broadcast and cellular communications structures located across the United States; and
- Whereas tower technicians also are on the front lines densifying networks through the deployment of “micro” Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and small cells. DAS and small cell installations are critical in bolstering network coverage to accommodate large volumes of data traffic in urban environments, stadiums, airports, shopping malls and in other populated areas; and
- Whereas tower technicians have developed and maintained every generation of communications networks and will help make the next iteration of networks, 5G, a reality in the near future; and
- Whereas NATE is the organization that is committed to providing the safety resources, standards and best practices to ensure tower technicians perform work safely and in a quality manner; and
- Whereas the Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) has declared a National Safety Stand Down the week of May 8-12, 2017
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the NATE hereby declares Thursday, May 11, 2017 as Tower Technician Appreciation Day to commemorate the enormous contributions of these essential men and women.
To download and print the official Tower Technician Appreciation Day Proclamation, visit www.natehome.com.
May 11, 2017
Reader Interactions