NATE Files Post-Hearing Comments Opposing a Rollback of Fixed-Ladder Fall Protection

NATE submitted post-hearing comments in OSHA's proposed rulemaking on Walking-Working Surfaces and fixed ladders (Docket OSHA-2025-0072), which would remove the compliance deadline and revise fall-protection requirements for fixed ladders taller than 24 feet. Filed by Director of Safety, Health, & Compliance Kathy Stieler, who testified at the agency's hearing, the comments urge OSHA to keep the fall-protection requirement in place while allowing flexibility in how companies comply, and warn against treating ladder cages and wells as an acceptable substitute. NATE's central point is that cages and wells are passive enclosures that do not arrest a fall, can impede escape, and complicate rescue, unlike ladder safety systems or personal fall arrest systems. To build the record, NATE cited peer-reviewed fall-reaction research, its 2021 SEMC Wire Rope Safety Sleeve testing report, and field data from a member company. The filing reflects NATE's long-standing position that dedicated fall protection, not cages, is what keeps climbers safe on tall fixed ladders.

Dish Wireless Bankruptcy Paused Two Weeks for Tower-Company Negotiations

A bankruptcy judge agreed to pause the Dish Wireless case for two weeks so the company can negotiate with the tower operators opposing its plan. Crown Castle, American Tower and SBA are pressing roughly $7.6 billion in disputed lease claims, and Dish argues the FCC-forced spectrum sale to AT&T and SpaceX voided what it owes. Plan confirmation had already slipped toward December, and how the talks land will shape what tower and contractor creditors ultimately recover against the $2.4 billion FCC trust.

On the Horizon: FCC's Sept. 30 Vote on NEPA Rollback and 1,000-Plus MHz of Satellite Spectrum

With Congress out until after the midterms, the FCC remains the center of deployment activity. Its Sept. 30 open meeting takes up an order paring back NEPA environmental reviews for infrastructure builds, along with orders and notices that would unlock more than 1,000 megahertz in the 12.7 and 42 GHz bands for satellite broadband, plus a proposal on unlicensed device-to-device spectrum.

Coming in October: "Unlock the Value of Your NATE Membership" Webinar

NATE's October member webinar walks new and current members through the member portal and the association's resources, from safety programs to the carrier framework agreements. It is a quick way for companies to make sure they are using the full slate of benefits.

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