NATE Takes Its Advocacy to Washington for Annual Fall Fly-In

NATE spent the week in Washington for its annual fall Legislative & Regulatory Council trip, a three-day push pairing policy meetings with a hands-on look at the industry’s work. Council members and NATE leadership met with federal agencies on Tuesday and walked Capitol Hill on Wednesday, carrying the association’s priorities on permitting, spectrum, and workforce directly to lawmakers and their staff. The week capped Thursday with NATE’s signature Tower Climbing Experience Event at an SBA Communications site in the DC region, where congressional staff and members of the press suited up to climb and see firsthand the skill and safety behind building and maintaining the nation’s networks. NATE shared photos and recaps from each day on its social channels.

SpaceX Pays About $8 Billion for Grain Management’s 800 MHz Spectrum to Power Starlink Mobile

SpaceX agreed to acquire Grain Management’s nationwide 800 MHz low-band spectrum, reported at roughly $8 billion, to build a Starlink Mobile service that pairs satellites with ground-based radios on towers and rooftops. Elon Musk called it the “last critical piece” of SpaceX’s spectrum puzzle, and the news sent AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile shares sharply lower. The notable detail for the tower sector is that SpaceX plans terrestrial equipment on towers and buildings, a reminder that even satellite-forward strategies still lean on the ground infrastructure member companies build. The deal needs FCC approval.

FCC Set to Add $162 Million for Alaska Mobile Broadband

The FCC circulated a draft order that would add $162 million to the Alaska Connect Fund for mobile deployment in unserved parts of the state, on top of the fund’s planned $203.8 million annual distribution starting in January 2027. Chairman Carr announced the plan during an Alaska visit, and the order also extends the fund’s first mobile phase by two years. A Commission vote is expected later this month. New mobile buildout dollars point to deployment work in some of the country’s hardest-to-serve terrain.

NTIA Estimates Up to 1 Million Locations May Need Funding in New BEAD Round

NTIA officials said as many as 1 million locations could still need broadband service and may qualify for the new “true-up” round of BEAD funding drawn from program savings. The agency is waiting on updated FCC coverage maps before finalizing eligible locations, and state broadband offices may not see the lists until November. More eligible locations means more potential build activity, much of it fixed wireless and backhaul that runs through towers.

ICYMI: NATE Welcomes Senate Confirmation of Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary

NATE congratulated Keith Sonderling on his Senate confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor. “His extensive experience in labor and employment law makes him the right choice to lead the Department,” the association said, pointing to its longstanding work with the Department of Labor and OSHA on the safety and workforce-development programs that shape day-to-day operations on tower sites. NATE had backed Sonderling’s nomination earlier in the year.

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