PCCA Journal 3rd Quarter 2011

The Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association 3rd Quarter 2011 Also Inside • Sellenriek Construction Employs Powerful Muscle on Difficult Job • Running Employment Credit Reports Mid-Year 2011 Memorable Times at the Greenbrier r

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3rd Quarter 2011 Officer Directors Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association Board of Directors David Aubrey Okay Construction Robert Breeden ElectriCom, Inc. Tony Briggs Vermeer Manufacturing Ed Campbell Henkels & McCoy, Inc. James Dillahunty Henkels & McCoy, Inc. John Fluharty Mears Group, Inc. Matthew Gabrielse Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc. John Hale John Deere Jerrod Henschel Michels Corporation Kevin Mason ElectriCom, Inc. Robert Orr Sherman & Reilly, Inc. Larry Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC Rob Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC Brad Radichel Condux International Lindsley Thulin Michels Corporation Ron Tagliapietra Michels Corporation Matt Trawick Trawick Construction Co., Inc. Bryan Westerman MasTec, Inc. Publication Staff Publisher Timothy Wagner twagner@pccaweb.org Associate Publisher Cheryl Stratos stratosc@pccaweb.org Editor Michael Ancell mancell@pccaweb.org Advertising Sales Manager Victoria Geis vgeis@pccaweb.org Running Employment Credit Reports 13 When applying and interviewing for a job, candidates can count on a couple of things. One is that they’ll need to show off their resume and present an accurate description of their job history. And secondly, once they’ve been hired or are in review for hire, companies will often conduct background checks that can include drug testing. And lately, more and more businesses have added another layer to their hiring process: a credit check. Mid-Year 2011: Memorable Times at a Historic Hotel 17 From information-rich sessions to an inspirational American hero to busting up their friends with paint balls, PCCA members and their families convened at the historic Greenbrier in early August for the association’s annual Mid-Year Meeting. No Pushover: Sellenriek Construction Employs Powerful Muscle on Difficult Job 23 By Ted Clemens Over the past few years, Sellenriek Construction has been the contractor for the University of Missouri’s long-term project to expand its telecommunication infrastructure, connecting fiber optic cables between campus buildings with installments ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 feet. This article looks at how the Sellenriek’s use of GMP’s Powered Duct Rod Pusher has revolutionized their approach on this project and others. RDUP News 7 News Briefs 29 Safety News 37 PCCA Member News 41 Industry Calendar 46 Advertiser Index 46 1908 Mt. Vernon Avenue, 2nd Floor Alexandria, Virginia 22301 (800) 542-PCCA • www.pccaweb.org ©2011 Power & Communication Contractors Association President Larry Libla W & L Construction President-Elect Tommy Muse Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc. 1st Vice President Glen Amerine Amerine Utilities Construction, Inc. 2nd Vice President Steve Sellenriek Sellenriek Construction Treasurer Timothy D. Killoren CCI Systems, Inc. Secretary Todd Myers Kenneth G. Myers Construction

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 7 Grants Alabama R&S Communications, LLC, Vina Town, $570,800 Arkansas Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., Birdsong Town, $570,800 Cable Partner.Net, Inc., Whelen Springs Town, $570,800 California Karuk Tribe, Orleans, $1,141,870 Kentucky Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., Heidelberg, $576,400 Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., Yellow Rock, $583,400 Inter Mountain Cable, Inc., Endicott, $993,339 Louisiana Nexus Systems, Inc., Manifest, $1,116,505 Nexus Systems, Inc., Larto, $1,116,505 Missouri Plateau Wireless, LLC, Olean Town, $570,800 Plateau Wireless, LLC, Brumley Town, $570,800 Nevada Arizona Nevada Tower Corporation, Gabbs City, $1,046,798 Ohio Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., Stafford Village, $570,800 Oklahoma Wichita Online, Inc., Cornish Town, $494,000 Wichita Online, Inc., Tushka Town, $480,000 Wichita Online, Inc., Leon Town, $481,000 Virginia Scott County Telephone Cooperative, Flat Top, $1,500,000 West Virginia Crystal Broadband Networks, Inc., Panther, $571,900 Loans Illinois Wabash Telephone Exchange, $21,867,000 Nebraska The Hemingford Cooperative Telephone Co., $10,280,000 Texas Coleman County Telephone Cooperative Inc., $22,540,000 Wisconsin Vernon Telephone Cooperative, $24,143,000 Wyoming Dubois Telephone Exchange, $11,391,000 Loans from the July 27 Announcement Iowa Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, $18,205,000 Iowa and Missouri IAMO Telephone Company, $14,972,000 Kansas Wilson Telephone Company, Inc., $14,312,000 Montana 3 Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc., $70,000,000 Oregon Molalla Telephone Company, $22,500,000 Texas Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc., $22,540,000 Washington Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company, $12,708,000 Wisconsin Baldwin Telecom, Inc., $16,716,000 RDUP News RUS Announces Projects to Provide Broadband to Rural Communities In August, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 18 recipients will receive more than $103 million in funding for 23 projects to provide broadband services to unserved and underserved rural communities. Residents and businesses that will benefit from this funding include those in an Oklahoma community damaged by a tornado earlier this year. A similar announcement on July 27 included $192 million in loans for projects in eight states. “Without broadband, rural communities, agricultural producers, and business owners face a substantial challenge,” Vilsack said. “These loans and grants will bring the benefits of broadband, including new educational, business, and public health and safety opportunities, to residents living in some of the most remote parts of our nation.” RDUP News continued on page 8

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 8 RDUP News Continued from page 7 USDA Announces Funding for Rural Electric Infrastructure Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on September 15 announced that 27 rural electric cooperative utilities will receive funding for generation and transmission projects, distribution facilities, and smart grid technologies. These loans will create jobs and finance rural electric utility improvements benefiting more than 28,000 rural customers in 18 states. A similar announcement in August affected 19,000 customers in 14 states. Vilsack noted that USDA Rural Development is providing more than $35 million to finance smart grid technologies, such as advanced metering infrastructure, that utilities use to better manage electric supply and demand. The $603 million in loans are being provided by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to help electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain, and replace rural America’s electric infrastructure. RUS funding will help build or improve nearly 5,000 miles of distribution line and more than 100 miles of transmission line. The following is a list of rural utilities that were selected to receive USDA funding. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement. ® CONDUX

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 9 September Announcement Arkansas Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corporation – $31,000,000 loan to serve 1,392 customers with 86 miles of new line, improve 137 miles of existing line and make $249,000 in smart grid investments. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $32,762,000 loan to serve 2,361 customers with 251 miles of new line and improve 166 miles of existing line. Florida Peace River Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $44,522,000 loan to serve 1,459 customers with 75 miles of new line, improve 395 miles of existing line and make $546,000 in smart grid investments. Georgia Oglethorpe Power Corporation – $127,703,000 loan to finance the acquisition of the existing Murray Units I & II Natural Gasfired Combine Cycle Generation Facility. Indiana Johnson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation – $15,000,000 loan to serve 2,100 customers with 149 miles of new line, improve 89 miles of existing line and make $6.8 million in smart grid investments. Iowa Guthrie County Rural Electric Cooperative Association – $6,500,000 loan to serve 30 customers with 2 miles of new line, improve 399 miles of existing line and make $20,000 in smart grid investments. Kansas DS&O Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $14,420,000 loan to serve 925 customers with 273 miles of new line, improve 88 miles of existing line and make $165,000 in smart grid investments. Prairie Land Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $36,900,000 loan to serve 1,548 customers with 156 miles of new line, improve 111 miles of existing line and make $3.4 million in smart grid investments. The Caney Valley Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. – $3,600,000 loan to serve 516 customers with 39 miles of new line and improve 101 miles of existing line. Minnesota Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services (serving MN and IA) – $3,000,000 loan to serve 122 customers with 25 miles of new line, improve 56 miles of existing line and make $157,000 in smart grid investments. RDUP News continued on page 10

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 10 Renville-Sibley Cooperative Power Association – $8,600,000 loan to serve 72 customers with 10 miles of new line, improve 32 miles of existing line and make $1.1 million in smart grid investments. North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $6,100,000 loan to serve 424 customers with 46 miles of new line, improve 62 miles of existing line and make $30,000 in smart grid investments. Missouri Central Missouri Electric Cooperative – $2,000,000 loan to serve 520 customers with 44 miles of new line and improve 28 miles of existing line. M & A Electric Power Cooperative – $38,129,000 loan to finance additions and improvements to the borrower’s transmission facilities, to build 5 miles of new line, improve 17 miles of existing line and make $1.8 million in smart grid investments. N.W. Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (serving MO, IA and NE) – $43,250,000 loan to finance proposed additions and improvements to transmission facilities, improve 11 miles of existing line and make $8.7 million in smart grid investments. Montana Vigilante Electric Cooperative, Inc. (serving MT and ID) – $10,265,000 loan to serve 1,043 customers with 153 miles of new line, improve 33 miles of existing line and make $146,000 in smart grid investments. North Carolina Haywood Electric Membership Corporation (serving NC, GA and SC) – $25,000,000 loan to serve 2,660 customers with 45 miles of new line and improve 28 miles of existing line. Albermarle Electric Membership Corporation – $12,000,000 loan to serve 1,509 customers with 107 miles of new line, improve 32 miles of existing line and make $215,000 in smart grid investments. North Dakota Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $22,000,000 loan to serve 4,984 customers with 246 miles of new line, improve 36 miles of existing line and make $4.1 million in smart grid investments. Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $15,000,000 loan to serve 727 customers with 79 miles of new line, improve 155 miles of existing line and make $962,000 in smart grid investments. Ohio Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, Inc. – $7,000,000 loan to serve 200 customers with 26 miles of new line, improve 62 miles of existing line and make $875,000 in smart grid investments. Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $20,115,000 loan to serve 860 customers with 47 miles of new line, improve 93 miles of existing line and make $2.1 million in smart grid investments. Oklahoma Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $12,704,000 loan to serve 2,004 customers with 82 miles of new line, improve 76 miles of existing line and make $1.2 million in smart grid investments. South Dakota Charles Mix Electric Association, Inc. – $4,834,000 loan to serve 160 customers with 17 miles of new line, improve 42 miles of existing line and make $114,000 in smart grid investments. Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $16,338,000 loan to serve 324 customers with 96 miles of new line, improve 120 miles of existing line and make $145,000 in smart grid investments. Texas Lighthouse Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $14,000,000 loan to serve 984 customers with 232 miles of new line, improve 34 miles of existing line and make $738,000 in smart grid investments. Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $30,269,000 loan to serve 1,795 customers with 284 miles of new line, improve 26 miles of existing line and make $2 million in smart grid investments. August Announcement Delaware Delaware Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $28,300,000, to build 587 miles of new distribution line, improve 55 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Georgia Ocmulgee Electric Membership Corporation – $8,968,000, to build 238 miles of new distribution line, improve 33 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Iowa Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative – $9,000,000, to build 23 miles of new distribution line, improve 389 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Illinois Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative – $18,196,000, to improve 183 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Illinois and Indiana Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $462,526,000, to finance projects for capital additions, upgrades and replacement of existing generation and transmission facilities; to build 5 miles of new transmission line and improve 71 miles of existing transmission line. Kansas Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $3,720,000, to build 17 miles of new distribution lines, and make other system improvements. RDUP News Continued from page 9

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 11 Michigan Great Lakes Energy Cooperative – $42,912,000, to build 122 miles of new distribution line, improve 221 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Minnesota Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Company – $22,400,000, to build 49 miles of new distribution line, improve 147 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Minnesota and Wisconsin East Central Energy – $50,000,000, to build 174 miles of new distribution line, improve 158 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Missouri Consolidated Electric Cooperative – $15,980,000, to build 42 miles of new distribution line, improve 25 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Montana McCone Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $9,364,000, to build 13 miles of new distribution line, improve 61 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Marias River Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $4,260,000, to build 21 miles of new distribution line, improve 12 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Oklahoma Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative – $23,500,000, to build 37 miles of new distribution line, improve 206 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas Western Farmers Electric Cooperative – $184,100,000, to finance generation and transmission system improvement projects and new construction; to build 16 miles of new transmission line, and improve 18 miles of existing transmission line. South Dakota Union County Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $2,690,000, to build 16 miles of new distribution line, make improvements to 26 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. Texas Navarro County Electric Cooperative, Inc. – $15,800,000, to build 148 miles of new distribution line, improve 253 miles of existing distribution line, and make other system improvements. 800.346.1956 www.jamesonllc.com Bucket Tool Holders Aerial Cable Tools Line Clearance Tools Since 1956 Boom Mount Holders Jameson Works With You Traceable Rodders Locators Fish Tapes Work Lights

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 13 When applying and interviewing for a job, candidates can count on a couple of things. One is that they’ll need to show off their resume and present an accurate description of their job history. And secondly, once they’ve been hired or are in review for hire, companies will often conduct background checks that can include drug testing. And lately more and more businesses have added another layer to their hiring process: a credit check. The purpose of a credit check can vary but experts like Brandon Phillips, CEO of Florida-based Global HR Research, say credit history can gauge more than a candidate’s level of responsibility. A More Complete Picture “Research shows that in the absence of issues beyond an applicant’s control (natural disasters, illness, and identity theft, for example), trustworthiness can be measured by whether or not he or she makes paying their bills on time a priority,” Phillips said. “For this reason, credit checks have become more common in the hiring process.” Employee credit checks aren’t the same as the ones featured in commercials with catchy jingles. They don’t include a credit score or an applicant’s birthday. Employer credit checks are part of a consumer report that shows revolving credit and installment accounts and payments, leaving employers to draw their own conclusions about the applicant. Evan Thomas, a recent college graduate, is working her way up to become a retail manager and eventually aspires to own her own boutique. “When I become a manager, I’m not going to not hire someone because of their credit,” said Thomas, who currently works at a boutique in Fort Myers, Fla., and is opposed to conducting credit checks on potential employees. “I don’t have a lot of credit and I don’t know many college students who do.” Thomas aspires to be a retail manager within the next six months but said knowing her lack of credit could hinder her from getting a promotion, she’s a little worried. “I would be really disappointed if I didn’t get the job because I don’t have credit yet,” Thomas said. “I know I have the skills, but if I don’t have the best of credit and don’t get promoted because of that seems unfair.” Thomas has little reason to worry. For her and other rising graduates, companies are less likely to base hiring decisions on credit. Seasoned workers are more suspect to credit checks because they’ve had time to formulate character traits like practicing responsible financing. And Phillips said that while candidates may worry about the results of a credit check, employers don’t base every hiring decision on credit reports. “Employers and HR professionals like those of us at Global HR Research are always rooting for the candidate’s background to come back free of issues that might preclude a hiring decision,” he said. “But unfortunately, especially for financial positions, creditworthiness is an important issue that can get in the way of a positive outcome.” And in a down economy, bad credit is more common. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), running a credit check on a current or future employee without their knowledge is illegal. All 50 states require written permission by the employee for the employer to run the check. Some states mandate the execution of a specific acknowledgement and notification prior to including a credit report in a consumer report. To date, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, Illinois, and Oregon have enacted legislation that bans the use of credit reports (with few exceptions) for employment purposes. Additionally, California is considering legislation that would place it in the same category as these states and would further limit the use of credit reports in the background screening process. Navigating Various Rules “Some employees and applicants decline to give permission for an employer to run a credit check and in such cases, for FCRA compliance, the employer cannot conduct this check,” said Phillips, who has assembled an expert team of quality assurance professionals at Global HR Research to conduct these searches on a daily basis to ensure compliance. “Although employers in most states do not face restrictions when requesting or running a credit check as a part of a consumer report for employment purposes, the risk associated with having a credit check as a part of a background check has deferred many employers from running them altogether.” Human Resources Continued on page 14 Running Employment Credit Reports

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 14 As trends and legislation change, employers can reference rules and regulations on a state-by-state basis to determine candidate employment eligibility based on credit report results. However, before an employer can take adverse action based on any information in a consumer report, including credit checks, he or she is required by the FCRA to issue the employee or candidate a pre-adverse action disclosure, followed by an adverse action disclosure. In the pre-adverse action disclosure, an employer must also present a copy of the consumer report (credit check included if applicable) performed as well as directions on how the candidate or employee can challenge errors on the report if such mistakes exist. “If my employer asked permission to run a credit check, I would obviously provide it,” Thomas said. “But I would warn them about my age and lack of credit and pray it doesn’t affect my job.” “Checking employee credit is a complicated issue no matter what the outcome; that’s why we make it a point to be available to help educate employers on this matter,” Phillips said. “When you have an expert helping you navigate a sensitive issue like this, you’ll always be a step ahead of whatever the outcome may be.” The Applicant’s Rights When a credit check is the reason for denying employment, the employer must provide the individual with an adverse action notice including the name, address and phone number of the credit reporting agency used, notice of the right to request and obtain another free copy of the credit report within 30 days, notice of the right to dispute the accuracy of the report with the credit reporting agency, and a notice that the credit reporting agency did not make the decision to take adverse action against the individual and is unable to provide the specific reason why the action was taken. For more information, click to www. globalhrresearch.com or visit the U.S. Department of Labor at dol.gov. Human Resources Continued from page 13 SALES SERVICE SUPPLY WWW.FS3INC.BIZ %LECTRIC (YDRAULIC 0UMP %ASY !CCESS (OSES %NCLOSED AND ,OCKABLE 0UMP (OUSING !LL ,%$ ,IGHTS (OLDING "AR 2ETAINING 4ABS ,OAD 2ANGE ( 4IRES ON v "OLT 2IMS 2ATED UP TO '672 -ANUAL (YDRAULIC 0UMPS $UAL ACTING CYLINDERS PROVIDE PRESSURE FOR LIFTING LOWERING "OTH CYLINDERS HAVE INDEPENDENT OPERATION Trailers for the Reel world! /PTIONAL 3IGN "ASE (OLDER %LECTRIC "RAKE 3YSTEM AND 3AFETY "REAKAWAY 0ACKAGE $/4 #ONSPICUITY 4APE FACING ALL DIRECTIONS 'REAT .EW &EATURE 3PRING ,OADED 2ETAINING 0INS 2EPLACEABLE *ACK 3TAND CALL US - WE DELIVER! 320-274-7223 /2 &3 2EEL 4RAILER !D PDF 0-

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PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 17 Mid-Year 2011 Memorable Times at a Historic Hotel J ohn Denver said it was “almost heaven,” and sure enough, when the country roads took PCCA members through West Virginia to the Greenbrier for their 2011 Mid-Year Meeting, they found a divine venue, joyous times, and valuable information that will help them make an everlasting mark on the construction industry. From information-rich sessions to an inspirational American hero to busting up their friends with paint balls, 115 association members and their families convened at the historic hotel in early August for important business and lots of unforgettable good times. The celebrated centerpiece of all PCCA meetings is the Construction Industry Roundtable, and this year’s agenda of pressing issues was as crowded as the meeting room that morning. John Claffey, deputy assistant administrator of the Rural Utility Service telecom program, discussed how his agency and the grant and loan programs that fund so much work for PCCA members are faring in the down economy and in the newly budget-conscious Congress. “Washington is looking for money, and nothing is off the table,” he said. The agency survived the 2011 budget process without any programs getting zeroed out, he said, but is dealing with a variety of cutbacks, including the loss of many senior staffers who accepted early retirement buyouts. He said the agency is looking for ways to work smarter and is trying to streamline mandates and regulations without affecting the quality of the product. One such change that greatly affects PCCA members is the discontinuing of the telecom program’s list of approved materials because RUS didn’t have the staff to maintain it. Projects still must meet the Buy American provisions. Chris Daum, an investment-banking specialist with FMI who focuses largely on the utility construction sector, provided an upbeat industry forecast at the roundtable. Noting the huge demand for infrastructure capital, he said the next decade will be “the best infrastructure/utility market in all of our lifetimes.” He said these sectors are doing well in a lousy economy, and while FMI doesn’t see the economy improving any time soon, it eventually will recover. For PCCA, “times are very, very good,” he concluded. Also providing reports at the roundtable were Dean Mischke of the American Communications Engineers discussing RUS issues, including the 515 contract rewrite; Brad Radichel of Condux providing manufacturer/supplier perspectives that he culled from a brief phone/email survey; John Hale from John Deere talking about changes due to the Tier 4 emissions requirements (longer lead times, higher prices); Jim Parker of Global HR Research with an update on DOT drug testing regulations; and Todd Garifo from Corning reporting on the ongoing shortage of fiber. The cause of the shortage is global demand fueled by consumers’ insatiable demand for broadband. Garifo said Corning is “in a holding pattern on being able to respond to you guys” and is doing all they can to remedy the situation. “When will it be fixed? We don’t know,” he said. Contractors appreciated him showContinued on page 46

PCCA President Larry Libla and his wife, Pam, selected the Greenbrier for the Mid-Year because of its rich history, beautiful location, unbeatable service, and wealth of fascinating and fun activities. Top, from left, Glen and Pat Amerine, Maria Ozuna, and Tommy Maisonet at the final night barbecue. Bottom, back row, Mike Ancell, Dan Levac, Ted Clemens, Dan Schmoldt. Front row, Lorrie Levac, Julie Flack, Jill Schmoldt. The Welcome Reception was a big hit with everyone, including Lori Stephens (left) and Carole Pauk. Below, Alec Nations, right, shares a joke with Tommy Muse and John Hale. Bottom, new members Nancy and Tim Butler catch up with with fellow Missourians Bob and Dixie Sellenriek at the President’s Welcome Reception. Local bluegrass pickers the Locust Mountain Boys serenade, from left, Bob DeMuth and Gene and Joan Klaasmeyer.

Pam Libla and her daughter Alicia thank Sgt. Matt Eversmann for his moving speech and service to the country. Sgt. Matt Eversmann captivated the PCCA audience (left) with his gripping account an 18-hour battle on the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, which was the basis for the movie Black Hawk Down. Lee Smither from FMI leads the discussion during the Young Construction Professionals session. Right, Ken Hugen (left) and Steve Sellenriek apply their newfound skills to a piping excersise. From left, associate members Robert Orr, John Hale, Brad Radichel, and Todd Garifo provide a vendor perspective during the Construction Industy Roundtable. Rick Pieper (left) and Jim Dillahunty from Henkels & McCoy listen intently to Chris Daum’s upbeat forecast for the utility/infrastructure sectors of the industry. PCCA President Larry Libla (left) leads the discussion during the Board of Directors meeting as board members Matt Gabrielse, Jerrod Henschel, John Hale, and Tommy Muse follow along.

From left, Larry and Karen Pribyl and Sara and Bob DeMuth. Top, from left, Don Stephens, Matt Gabrielse, Tony Briggs, and Steve Pauk. Bottom, Kelly and Rob Pribyl, Will LeBlanc, and Brad Radichel. Judy Westerman chips for birdie while Evonn and Marty Meyers look on. Kristen Mason and her dad, Kevin, are all smiles en route to a 4-under par at the PCCA Golf Tournament. Below, from left, Bob Breeden, John Hale, Mark Bridgers, and Dean Mischke. Bottom, Tommy Nix, Todd Garifo, Tim Butler, and Steve Sellenriek.

Glen and Pat Amerine’s grandchildren Jared Smith, Kaeli and Kaeden Amerine, and Jeremy Smith enjoy the PCCA bowling party. Foreground, from left, Deana Hugen, Marty Meyers, Tony Briggs, Evonn Meyers, and Ron Tagliapietra await on deck while Dean Mischke (right) rolls a perfect strike. Below, Kevin “Twinkle Toes” Mason displays impressive bowling form, while Todd Mix, above, not so much. Preparing to swap some paint are, from left, Lyn Thulin, Todd Myers, Steve Sellenriek, Tammy “Zam Zam” Aubrey, Brad Radichel, Kristen Briggs, and Tony Briggs. Heath Sellenriek points out Tony Briggs hiding in the woods, while Lisa Wagner prepares to bust a cap in his backside. Armed and semi-dangerous, from left, Kevin Mason, Kristen Mason, Lisa Wagner, Heath Sellenriek, Tim Wagner, Greg Johnson, David Aubrey, and Stacy Bowdring. To the victors go the spoils: Kristen Mason shows off the captured flag.

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PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 23 For 15 years, the University of Missouri in Columbia (UM) has been the valued client of Sellenriek Construction Inc., a 30-year-old Jonesburg, Mo.,-based company that specializes in telecommunication and electrical distribution construction. Over the past few years, Sellenriek has been the contractor for this leading public research university’s critical long-term project to expand its state-of-the-art telecommunication infrastructure. The bustling university is the largest in Missouri with more than 30,000 students and 12,000 employees. Founded in 1839, the 1,372-acre urban campus is located in walking distance to downtown Columbia, home to more than 100,000 residents in the heart of the Show Me State. Sellenriek Construction has been connecting fiber optic cables between campus buildings with installments ranging anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 feet. Until fairly recently, the only way to get the job done was through intense manual labor, and the difficulty was compounded by ongoing challenges. One of the major challenges Sellenriek Construction faced is commonplace in today’s fiber optic industry: old conduit. Much of the existing conduit is made of clay tile dating back to when Model T-s were cruising around campus. Tiles not already broken or filled with mud had to be carefully handled because they are easily damaged. Caution also had to be paid to any cable that was already occupying the duct, such as sensitive copper cable. Consider the backbreaking job of hand rodding with workers manually forcing the cable through the conduit, and one can imagine the cost associated with this slow, arduous process. The exhausting work required larger crews to allow the workers to rotate. The work also had the potential for costly injury claims and lost man-hours. Though Sellenriek Construction had so far been fortunate, with several more years remaining on the project there was always the lurking threat of injury due to the tough, repetitive nature of the work. Sellenriek Construction Vice President Steve Sellenriek first saw the Powered Duct Rod Pusher at the 2009 PCCA Convention with his father Bob, founder of their family-owned business. Both were intrigued with the notion of replacing brute manpower with a machine, albeit an unassuming one just a little larger than a standard gas grill. Man Versus Machine: Sellenriek Construction Accepts the Challenge The rod pusher is designed to place cable in old or occupied conduits, and the Sellenrieks watched fellow PCCA member General Machine Products Company’s (GMP) demonstration video where it hydraulically powered GMP half-inch duct No Pushover: Sellenriek Construction Employs Powerful Muscle on Diffi cult Job By Ted Clemens Continued on page 24

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 24 rodders in to and out of conduits. “I’ve got to try that,” Steve said, and he brought it back to his crew working on the UM project. Burly men, some who had been hand rodding for 14 years, took one look and laughed at it, recalled Sellenriek. “They said ‘we can whip it.’” With his skeptical crew, Sellenriek ran the company’s first test run for the Powered Duct Rod Pusher with an existing pipe run duct, a 4-inch-wide conduit and a 1/2-inch fiber optic cable. The duct was already occupied with copper cable. No sweat, no strain, and 20 minutes later the section was finished—and no one was laughing. The Powered Duct Rod Pusher has revolutionized Sellenriek Construction’s approach on the UM Project and others. No longer does it take two to three workers deep in a manhole to place the cable. The reduced labor helps keep projects on budget. “When we were hand rodding, it took six men on the project; now we’re down to four,” Sellenriek said. “That’s two men who can be used more cost efficiently elsewhere in the company.” Roy Burwell, a foreman with Sellenriek Construction, called the rod pusher a “wonderful thing.” He said, “Before we had it, we had to switch people a lot because the work puts a lot of strain on your back and arms. Now it’s simple, we just back up to the hole and set it up. The machine takes just minutes to set up and is very user-friendly.” With less wear and tear on his crew physically, Sellenriek readily recognizes the product’s preventive attributes—a greatly reduced risk of having to deal with workers compensation claims. Another plus with the Powered Duct Rod Pusher is that it has a vastly smaller footprint than heavy equipment, which disturbs the ground by its mere presence. UM is very protective of its campus aesthetics since it is designated a botanic garden with more than 5,000 trees and 650 varieties of plants. And a number of the university’s buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “The Powered Duct Rod Pusher helps his company comply with UM’s strict environmental policies such as no ground disturbance permitted under the drip-line of trees,” Sellenriek said. Safety concerns were also eased on this busy pedestrianfilled campus. Previously, upwards of 300 to 500 feet of rods were on the ground, sometimes wrapped around the corners of buildings, whenever there was a blocked conduit that needed repair. “Thanks to the counter on the rod pusher, we know we’re exactly where we want to be and not digging after a ghost,” Sellenriek said. Packing an Efficient Punch It was immediately obvious to Sellenriek that GMP’s Powered Duct Rod Pusher packs an efficient punch, pushing and pulling with forces up to 300 pounds and rod speeds up to 130 feet per minute. It accurately measures footage and speed with an electronic monitoring system that works in either direction with a readout that can be scaled to feet or meters. Other features include rod access areas for wiping the rod clean during the pull-back operation to keep mud and silt out of the drive belt area. It comes with a package of rod wiper pads. Also Sellenriek Construction Continued from page 23 Continued on page 26

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PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 26 when pulling back, the fiberglass rod is placed directly back onto the cassette. The duct clamp on the machine and the specially designed duct mounting clamp assembly provided on the rodder cassette help stabilize both pieces of equipment during use. The pusher is mounted on a lightweight, tubular-steel frame that can be tilted at a 30-degree angle to the manhole to reduce initial bending of the fiberglass rod. The machine also comes with a gasoline-driven power pack and hoses. As an option, the duct rod pusher can be ordered without the power pack if an existing hydraulic tool circuit is available. The duct rod pusher weighs in at 210 pounds and the power pack at 154 pounds. Recently GMP designed the Ramrod, a trailer that makes transporting the rod pusher, power pack, and duct rodder even easier. Versatility: All in Less Than a Day’s Work The Powered Duct Rod Pusher continues to amaze Sellenriek as his company finds different applications for the machine. One such surprise involved installing 650 feet of cable into conduit located under railroad tracks for a telecommunications company in Princeton, Mo. Before the days of the rod pusher, the solution would have meant a rock bore and weeks spent on the job. But Sellenriek’s crew member working solo at the site was so confident the machine was up to the task he didn’t hesitate in using it. In a mere 45 minutes, the job was completed at the bargain-basement price of only $1,000 when the bill could have easily hit $20,000, Sellenriek explained. To say the client was delighted is an understatement. “This could have been a huge project, but our company is in it for the long-term relationships we build with our customers,” Sellenriek said. His company prides itself in “doing what’s right for the customer,” and the Powered Duct Rod Pusher helps them live up to that promise. “Really, in an urban environment, I consider it a necessity with the work we do,” Sellenriek said. “I highly recommend it.” Burwell strongly concurs. “If we lost it tomorrow, the guys and I would all chip in and rent one!” Ted Clemens is GMP’s director of sales. He can be reached at tclemens@gmptools.com or (215) 357-5500 x277. Sellenriek Construction Continued from page 24 Essential Tools for Underground Tasks GMP CONTINUOUS DUCT RODDERS Rods available in a full range of sizes and lengths Carriers made of tubular steel alloy Clean and locate ducts, thread lines, or pull cables more efficiently Male threaded end fitting and tapered head on leading end +1.215.357.5500 • GMPtools.com MADE IN USA Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers For Placing Pulling Lines or Fiber Optic Cables into New, Old or Crowded Conduits POWERED DUCT ROD PUSHER For use with GMP’s 1/2 inch (13 mm) duct rods Push/pull up to 300 lbs. (136 kg) of load Moves at a rate of up to 130 ft./min. (330 cm/min.) Includes hydraulic power pack Also useful for mapping projects Override capability – allows you to rod occupied ducts +1.215.357.5500 • GMPtools.com MADE IN USA Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers Specialty cassette clamp

No one can predict the future, but knowing that you have someone on your side to help you navigate the hiring process will make an uncertain future, a little more stable. The Global HR Research and PCCA partnership does just that. By offering you a comprehensive suite of talent acquisition and screening solutions GHRR assists you in selecting the right candidate for the job. Give back to the PCCA and let Global HR Research Redefine your HR expectations.™ Global HR Research and the PCCA - a true partnership. STARTS HERE. Copyright © 2011 Global HR Research, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Global HR Research. Global HR Research and all Global HR Research product and service names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Global HR Research in the United States. All other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Contact a GHRR representative today to learn more. 1.800.790.1205 | contactus@globalhrresearch.com Or visit us at www.globalhrresearch.com HIRING 5BMFOU .BOBHFNFOU t 5BMFOU "TTFTTNFOU t 5BMFOU 4DSFFOJOH t 0DDVQBUJPOBM )FBMUI 4FSWJDFT

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PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 29 FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on October 6 outlined a plan to reform and modernize the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Intercarrier Compensation system (ICC). The following information is from an FCC news release. Genachowski said the plan, if adopted by the commission later this month, will reform USF/ICC to unleash enormous benefits including expanded broadband infrastructure for millions of Americans. He said the plan would deliver more value for the money for wireless consumers, increase private investment, and spur near-term and long-term job creation. In addition, he said the plan will provide dedicated support to extend mobile broadband to large areas of the country that are currently shut out from the benefits of advanced mobile services. “Our plan would deliver tremendous benefits for consumers,” Genachowski said. “Accelerated broadband build-out and upgrades to networks mean that millions more consumers of all ages will be able to enjoy the economic and social benefits of broadband. And consumers overall will be treated more fairly, thanks to the elimination of deep inequalities ingrained in the current system, cuts in wasteful spending, and constraints on the growth of a fund that is paid for by consumers. We estimate that wireless consumers will see more than $1 billion in annual benefits from ICC reform alone.” “If adopted by the commission, the plan will spur broadband build-out to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses beginning in 2012. It will help cut the number of Americans bypassed by broadband by up to one half over the following five years, and it will put us on the path to universal broadband by the end of the decade. By connecting millions of unserved Americans who are being left out of the broadband revolution, this plan will bring enormous benefits to individual consumers, our national economy, and our global competitiveness.” Genachowski went on to detail the ways in which the current USF/ICC system is broken and in urgent need of reform, such as being outdated, wasteful, inefficient, and unaccountable, thus putting increasing burdens on all consumers. Despite spending $4.5 billion per year, USF is failing to get broadband to approximately 18 million Americans in rural areas, he said. The chairman then offered his plan to transition USF to a Connect America Fund. This fund would have two core goals: 1. Ensuring universal availability of robust, scalable, affordable broadband to homes, businesses, and anchor institutions in unserved areas. The Connect America Fund would begin near-term build-out to hundreds of thousands of consumers in 2012 and would ultimately help get broadband to the 18 million Americans who can’t get it today. 2. Ensuring universal availability of affordable mobile broadband through a new Mobility Fund, which would be part of the Connect America Fund. Deployment of state-of-the-art mobile broadband would be extended to more than 100,000 road miles where Americans live, work, and travel. In addition to a one-time shot-in-thearm effort to accelerate deployment of 4G networks in 2012, this fund would provide significant ongoing support for rural mobile broadband. In addition, the growth of the Connect America Fund would be constrained, keeping hundreds of millions of dollars in consumers’ pockets over the coming years. To help achieve this, Genachowski introduced a competitive bidding process among providers for obtaining universal service support, which would transition over time to a fully competitive system for distributing Connect America Fund dollars. This would be the first time competitive bidding has ever been used in the universal service fund. On the ICC side, Genachowski said, “Like USF, the current ICC system is unfair to American consumers. It forces hundreds of millions of consumers across the country to pay higher bills to subsidize monthly local telephone bills as low as $8 for other consumers. Our reforms would result in major consumer benefits. “By eliminating billions of dollars in hidden subsidies that are currently built in to wireless and long-distance bills, consumers can expect reduced costs, better value for their money, or both. We estimate that wireless consumers alone would see more than $1 billion in annual benefits from ICC reform.” The proposed ICC reforms include three main elements: 1. Immediately close loopholes, like phantom traffic and traffic pumping, and other arbitrage schemes like CMRS-in-the-middle, where some carriers divert wireline traffic to wireless networks to avoid paying ICC. News Briefs News Briefs continued on page 30 FCC Chairman Unveils Connect America Fund Proposal

PCCA Journal|3rd Quarter 2011 30 The plan would also provide greater certainty about compensation for VoIP calls that either begin or end on the public switched telephone network, ensuring symmetry in the treatment of such traffic. 2. Phase down ICC charges over a measured but certain multi-year transition path, starting by bringing intrastate access rates to parity with interstate rates. 3. Help companies transition by employing a tightly controlled recovery mechanism. The plan would permit some companies to receive transitional support from the Connect America Fund, but that support would be accompanied by obligations to serve the public as well as strong oversight and accountability. Employer Coalition Takes Legal Action to Block “Unfair, Illegal” NLRB Posters On September 26, the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace joined a lawsuit recently filed by the National Association of Manufacturers to block an ill-advised rule by the National Labor Relations Board. The suit involves the NLRB’s recently published rule that would force employers in approximately 6 million workplaces to post “notices” that are little more than governmentmandated advertisements for unions. The suit asserts that the board does not have authority under the National Labor Relations Act to promulgate such a rule. “Job creators from across America have recognized the importance of this issue and are taking action,” CDW chairman Geoffrey Burr said. “The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace represents every industry in every congressional district, and joining this important lawsuit should signal the common concern that this will only distract job creators from their efforts to get our economy moving again.” “This lawsuit is an important tool toward ensuring employees receive relevant information from both employers and paid union organizers, despite an apparently coordinated campaign by the NLRB and Department of Labor to create a one-sided system in which employees will only hear from big labor,” Burr said. News Briefs Continued from page 29 Handy. 1 Portable. 2 Precise. 3 The first pipe and cable locator designed specifically for electric utilities ÜÜÜ°ÃV œ˜ÃÌi`Ì°Vœ“ÊUÊnä䇙™™‡nÓnä KEY FEATURES U Only complete locator system you can carry on your tool belt UÊ ˜`ÕÃÌÀÞ½ÃÊÓ>iÃÌÊ/À>˜Ã“ˆÌÌiÀ]Ê 7.2" L x 2.2" W x 1.5" H UÊ Û>ˆ>Liʈ˜ÊiˆÌ iÀÊÎΎ âʜÀÊnӎ â UÊ"˜iÊ >˜`ʜ«iÀ>̈œ˜]ÊÀi>V Ê>Ê Vœ˜ÌÀœÃÊÜˆÌ ÊޜÕÀÊÌ Õ“L UÊ ˆÀiV̈œ˜Ê>ÀÀœÜÃ]Ê`i«Ì ÊÀi>`ˆ˜}Ã]Ê “>˜Õ>ÊœÀÊ>Õ̜Ê}>ˆ˜ UÊ-œ˜`iÊ>˜`ÊxäÉÈäÊ âÊ«>ÃÈÛiʏœV>̈˜} UÊ `ÕÃÌ>LiÊ/À>˜Ã“ˆÌÌiÀÊ«œÜiÀÊÜˆÌ Ê“iÌiÀ Extends for greater sensitivity Retracts for mobility SMALLEST TRANSMITTER DIGITAL DISPLAY HOLSTER INCLUDED XTpc 82 also available for 82kHz locating of gas, water and communications utilities ANY BRAND TRADE-IN ANY CONDITION Making Locating Easier Since 1953 Easy as £‡Ó‡ LOCATING PIPE AND CABLE?

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