NATE Applauds FCC Vote to Overhaul NEPA Reviews for Infrastructure Builds

"America's communications workforce is ready to build, and for years the pace of federal environmental review has slowed that work down," said NATE President and CEO Todd Schlekeway after the FCC voted Sept. 30 to overhaul its National Environmental Policy Act rules. Schlekeway said the order fixes that by aligning the Commission's NEPA rules with the amended statute and clarifying which actions warrant federal review. The order eliminates FCC environmental review for the large majority of wireless deployments—an estimated 14,800-plus each year—cutting a recurring source of delay and cost for the contractor firms that build and upgrade the nation's networks. 

NATE Wins $95,000 Department of Labor Grant for Heat-Illness Training

NATE announced it received a $95,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to develop a heat illness awareness and prevention curriculum built for the telecommunications workforce. The program will give member companies ready-made training to protect crews working outdoors in high-heat conditions, reinforcing NATE's safety mission and its longstanding partnership with OSHA.

NATE Statement on Confirmation of Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor

“We congratulate Keith Sonderling on his confirmation as Secretary of Labor. His extensive experience in labor and employment law makes him the right choice to lead the Department at this critical moment for American workers and employers alike. We look forward to working with Secretary Sonderling and his team to advance policies to protect workers on the frontlines of broadband deployment and bolster the small businesses deploying Internet infrastructure across the nation.” – NATE President & CEO Todd Schlekeway 

FCC Also Unlocks More Than 1,000 MHz for Satellite Broadband

At the same Sept. 30 meeting, the FCC adopted orders opening more than 1,000 megahertz in the 12.7 and 42 GHz bands for satellite broadband to the home and in-flight connectivity, part of Chairman Carr's broader deregulatory and spectrum-abundance push. Expanded satellite capacity keeps reshaping the connectivity market, though the terrestrial towers and backhaul member companies build remain the backbone of coverage.

Reminder: NATE's October "Unlock the Value of Your 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, a quick way to make sure companies are using the full slate of benefits.

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
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Watertown, SD 57201 
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