NATE Commemoration Declares Tower Technician Appreciation Day

May 9, 2021

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association commemorated May 5 as Tower Technician Appreciation Day. For the fifth consecutive year, NATE set aside a day to pay tribute to the work of communications infrastructure technicians.

NATE encouraged its member companies and others to host recognition events within their respective organizations to pay tribute to the technicians they employ.

NATE Chairman Jimmy Miller said that NATE was honored to proclaim Tower Technician Appreciation Day to highlight what he called the immense contributions that the skilled professionals provide to the industry. “Over the last 14 months alone, tower technicians have demonstrated their essential roles to the country’s economy by deploying the 5G and broadband infrastructure and related networks while simultaneously navigating a global pandemic,” Miller said. “These men and women are true heroes and the MVP’s of the industry in my book.”

Meredith Attwell Baker, the president and CEO of CTIA, said that the wireless industry is committed to keeping Americans connected, and she said that no one embodies that commitment quite like the men and women who climb towers every day to keep wireless networks running, expand their capacity and build the infrastructure to help America lead the emerging 5G economy. “I am particularly proud of the role they’ve played over the past year, working long hard hours out in the field, so we could stay safe at home, connected to our jobs, our schools, and our friends and families,” she said.

Jonathan Adelstein, president and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, said that tower technicians are too often underappreciated for the critical role they play in keeping the nation connected. “The networks they enable helped keep our entire economy afloat during the pandemic,” he said. “Their challenging work allows first responders to protect the public, enables loved ones to reach one another, and in so many other ways, has made wireless a reliable part of our daily lives. WIA is proud to support their career development through the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program that is designed to help tower technicians and others in the industry perform their jobs as safely and as effectively as possible. We thank NATE for spearheading this day of recognition.”

Steven K. Berry, president and CEO of the Competitive Carriers Association, said that CCA thanks the men and women who devote time, effort and energy to supporting the wireless ecosystem. “Communications tower technicians are on the front lines of ensuring consumers, businesses, emergency responders, and more, can connect not only on a daily basis, but most importantly during times of emergencies,” he said. “This challenging work, oftentimes in unforgiving environments and conditions, requires unique skill sets that should most certainly be recognized. As consumers and industries continue to rely on wireless networks more and more each day, the work of tower technicians is arguably more important than ever before, and CCA thanks them for their enormous contributions to the wireless industry and beyond.”

Gordon Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, said that NAB salutes America’s tower technicians, whose work is critical to the operation of broadcast radio and television stations. “The particular skill set required, including working under dangerous conditions, is vitally important in preserving broadcasting’s uniquely local and resilient platform on which consumers and communities rely,” he said.

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. The association has 1,040 member companies in the United States, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, China, Guam, Israel, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and the United Kingdom.

Source: NATE