NATE and AT&T Reach Agreement on Enhancements to Benefit the Tower Construction Industry

(Washington, D.C.) – NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has reached an agreement with AT&T to implement new measures that benefit the tower construction industry.  

The agreement includes enhancements that NATE expects will advance material aspects of the tower construction ecosystem. Key elements include:

• Transition away from the use of a “turf” model upon expiration of existing agreements and transition to a general contractor model that is limited to a single tier of subcontractor stacking by June 2026.
• Faster payments, with 30-day terms following project completion.
• Pricing upgrades, including site-specific compensation and regional RFPs.
• Safety requirements, mandating that at least 50% of tower workers on AT&T sites hold NWSA certifications.
• Workforce compliance, continued restriction on use of 1099 workers, and requiring I-9 verification.
• Reimbursement for 3rd-party vendor platform fees (e.g., Avetta, Ariba).

The agreement also sets up a working group where representatives from NATE and AT&T, will meet on a regular basis to oversee the implementation of this framework and continue exploring further enhancements in areas like safety, maintenance, pricing, and operational efficiency. 

“NATE thanks AT&T for engaging in meaningful dialogue with our association and agreeing to implement positive modifications that will foster a healthier, safer, and more sustainable industry. The Association also extends its gratitude to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and his staff for their engagement and support during this process, said President & CEO Todd Schlekeway.”

“At AT&T, we’re committed to supporting the skilled workforce that builds our nation's wireless infrastructure,” said Robert Walters, SVP, Network Planning, Construction & Engineering. “This agreement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring we continue to prioritize the health of the industry.”

The key terms of the agreement are filed in the FCC’s transaction docket (WT Docket No. 25-150). The document can be read HERE.

For more information, visit www.natehome.com.

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
December 2, 2025

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 industries. It is recognized as the tower industry leader in promoting safety, standards, and education. Today, the Association boasts approximately 900 member companies (mostly small businesses) that construct, service or maintain hundreds of thousands of communications towers and next generation networks throughout the United States and 12 other countries.