NATE, WIN, American Tower Host Congressman at Tower Site

August 27, 2019

Congressman Mullin (left) listens to Michael Queenan (American Tower) as he explains the operations of the cell tower.

U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) yesterday made a visit to an American Tower-owned cell tower located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, led by the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE), the Association’s Wireless Industry Network (WIN) and American Tower.

Congressman Mullin represents Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District and is a member of the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee where he has championed important communications and workforce development legislation. The tour was designed to highlight the prominent role that telecommunications technicians and wireless infrastructure are playing in the country’s efforts to provide ubiquitous broadband coverage and ultimately win the global race to 5G.

The event also provided a valuable platform to generate momentum for the bipartisan Communications Jobs Training Actof 2019legislation that has been introduced in the 116thCongress by Congressman Mullin and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA).

“The Second District of Oklahoma is the only congressional district in the country where broadband is available to less than half the population,” Mullin said. “We must work to ensure rural areas are not stranded and that rural Americans are not left behind in the internet economy. I appreciate NATE, WIN and American Tower facilitating the tour today so I could see firsthand the role wireless infrastructure plays in expanding broadband to the communities I serve.”

B+T Group Demonstrates a drone at the cell site.

During the event, Mullin received information on the multi-carrier network equipment that is installed on the tower. The congressman also visited with the NATE and American Tower representatives present about the work that is conducted on a daily basis building, maintaining and deploying communications tower sites and related wireless infrastructure. Congressman Mullin was also provided with a unique opportunity to experience wearing a harness and the personal protective equipment gear that technicians utilize to carry out their jobs in a safe and efficient manner.

Also during the tour, NATE member company B+T Group conducted a drone flight demonstration for Congressman Mullin in order to highlight the enhanced role that unmanned aerial systems technology is playing at communication sites around the country.