The Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association 4th Quarter 2014 Inside • Five Reasons Your Employees Will Leave You in 2015 • PCCA Unveils Program for 2015 Convention in Aruba • PCCA Connections Lead to a Big Fish Story PCCA Year-End Product Showcase
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4th Quarter 2014 Officer Directors Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association Board of Directors Publication Staff 1908 Mt. Vernon Avenue, 2nd Floor Alexandria, Virginia 22301 (800) 542-PCCA •www.pccaweb.org ©2014 Power & Communication Contractors Association Garrett Akin Brooks Construction Craig Amerine Amerine Utilities Construction, Inc. Glen Amerine Amerine Utilities Construction, Inc. John Audi MasTec North America, Inc. Robert Breeden ElectriCom, Inc. Ed Campbell Henkels & McCoy, Inc. Marty Ferguson FS3, Inc. John Fluharty Mears Group, Inc. Matthew Gabrielse Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc. John Hale John Deere Jerrod Henschel Michels Corporation Chase Lapcinski Push, Inc. Dan Levac Preformed Line Products Tommy Muse Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc. Rob Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC Jameson Ringger NESCO, LLC Heath Sellenriek Sellenriek Construction Don Stephens Tjader & Highstrom Lindsley Thulin Michels Corporation Publisher TimothyWagner Editor Michael Ancell Advertising Sales Stacy Bowdring Advertising Sales Dana Gilbertson Photography Steven Purcell Information Technology Greg Smela Accounting James Wagner President Steve Sellenriek Sellenriek Construction President-Elect Timothy D. Killoren TelCom Construction 1st Vice President Todd Myers Kenneth G. Myers Construction 2nd Vice President James Dillahunty Henkels & McCoy, Inc. Treasurer Larry Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC Secretary David Aubrey Okay Construction Five Reasons Your Employees Will Leave You in 2015 9 By Gene Marks You read the news. You see the trends. Unemployment is coming down. Labor participation is creeping back up. And companies are hiring again, but many are challenged to find and maintain good people. Barring any unforeseen economic calamities and assuming continued growth in 2015, this will be the biggest issue facing your company this year. Your employees, after years of recession and slow recovery, will find themselves in demand on the job market. And important people may leave your company. Why? Turn to page 9 for at least five reasons. PCCA Unveils Program for 2015 Convention in Aruba 31 PCCA recently released the full program for its 70th Annual Convention, March 6-11, 2015, at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa & Casino in Palm Beach, Aruba. Go to page 31 for all the exciting details. PCCA Year-End Product Showcase 39 To help our Associate members promote their companies, equipment lines, new models, expanded services, etc., PCCA runs the Year-End Product Showcase every year in the fourth quarter issue of the PCCA Journal. This year’s edition begins on page 39—happy shopping! Power News 13 Telecom News 19 PCCA Connections Lead to a Big Fish Story | By Stephen Spears 23 Safety Watch | By Grant Williams 25 Safety News 26 New PCCA Members 58 Industry Calendar 58 Advertiser Index 58
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PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 9 Continued on page 10 You read the news. You see the trends. Unemployment is coming down. Labor participation is creeping back up. And like the owners and c-suite executives of midsized companies surveyed here, companies are hiring again... but are challenged to find and maintain good people. Barring any unforeseen economic calamities and assuming continued growth in 2015, this will be the biggest issue facing your company this year. Your employees, after years of recession and slow recovery, will find themselves in demand on the job market. And important people may leave your company. Why? Here are at least five reasons. You are not outsourcing enough. Yes, outsourcing. Your company is asking people to do too much in too little time. You’re giving responsibilities to people who do not have the experience or knowledge. You’re asking them to do too much. And they will leave because of this. What should you be outsourcing? Where do you find experts and individuals to do contracted work? What are the legal and tax implications? You are not paying attention to healthcare. If you’ve got more than 100 full-time equivalent people after January 1, 2015, you are required by law to provide affordable health insurance to the full timers. And that number goes down to 50 on January 1, 2016. Are you providing the best plans possible? Are you educating your employees so that they can make the right choices? Are your plans more expensive or less generous than a competitor down the road? If so, watch your people go to that competitor—or to work for someone else who provides better answers and choices to these problems. You are not giving them enough flexibility. Today’s employees don’t just sit behind a desk. Particularly younger employees. They expect to be mobile. They want to move around. They want to work from home. They want to connect on the road. They want the ability to get their job done wherever they are, whenever they can. What are your policies? How can remote workers be supervised? How will this affect your business? And what technology is available to make it seem as if they’re in your office, even when they’re not? Your policies are outdated. People in 1990s look and act differently than they did in the 1960s. And people now look and act differently than those in the 1990s. Have your policies kept up? Do you allow tattoos? Jewelry? Piercings? What do you consider to be inappropriate dress? Are you discriminating without realizing it? Are your hiring and firing practices up with the times? There are no clear answers to these questions. But there are laws. And there’s common sense. And there’s been a change in attitudes over the past ten years that today’s employees expect. If you’re not changing, you’ll lose these people. You’re not investing in the right work environment. Pay is important. Titles are important. Perks are important. But it’s all about one thing: culture. How are you showing your gratitude? What special things is your company doing to keep your people happy, entertained, and looking forward to coming to the office? Some companies spend big on perks; others have more innovative ways to keep their people satisfied. When was the last time you asked yourself how nice your place of business is? Your employees are asking that. They know what’s out there. They have friends. And, if given a choice to do accounting in a dreary, negative, outdated place or in an open, friendlier, more appreciative environment, where would you choose? You don’t need a reminder how important your people are. But you do need some help to learn how other smart people are keeping their important Five Reasons Your Employees Will Leave You in 2015 By Gene Marks Gene Marks, Marks Group PC Pay is important. Titles are important. Perks are important. But it’s all about one thing: culture. How are you showing your gratitude? What special things is your company doing to keep your people happy, entertained, and looking forward to coming to the office?
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 10 people around. Everyone does. It starts with the above questions. I look forward to providing you with the answers. Learn More in Aruba Gene Marks will be leading a session at the 2015 PCCA Convention in Aruba: The Latest Trends, Techniques, and Tools for Finding and Motivating Your Very Best People. He is a columnist, author, and small business owner. He writes daily for the New York Times and weekly for Forbes, the Huffington Post, Inc Magazine, FOX Business, Entrepreneur.com, and Philadelphia Magazine. Marks’ columns are read by hundreds of thousands of business owners and managers. He has written six books on business management, specifically geared toward small and medium-sized companies. His most recent is the Manufacturer’s Book of Lists. He frequently appears on FOX News, MSNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, and CNBC discussing matters affecting the business community. Through his sessions, Marks helps business owners, executives, and managers understand the political, economic, and technological trends that will affect their companies so they can make profitable decisions. Gene owns and operates the Marks Group PC, a highly successful tenperson firm that provides technology and consulting services to small and medium-sized businesses. Before starting the Marks Group, Gene, a Certified Public Accountant, spent nine years in the entrepreneurial services arm of the international consulting firm KPMG in Philadelphia where he was a senior manager. Keeping Your Employees Continued from page 9 Hard-working Terex Equipment plus dependable service across the nation from Terex Services North America adds up to strong, efficient, and reliable equipment and service. We are ready to serve you with equipment, parts, service and inspections from OEM technicians. Just give us a call. STRONG. EFFICIENT. RELIABLE. Terex is a registered trademarke of Terex Corporation in teh U.S.A. and many other countries. © 2014 Terex Corporation. For more information on Terex Utilities equipment or Terex Services North America, Call 1.800.982.8975, or visit online at www.terex.com/utilities Save the Dates 2015 PCCA Convention March 6-11 Hyatt Regency Aruba 2015 PCCA Mid-Year September 23-26 Charleston Place
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PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 13 POWER NEWS Continued on page 14 In September and October, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $1.9 billion in USDA loan guarantees to improve the delivery of electric power to rural communities in 21 states. USDA has worked with rural electric cooperatives since 1935 to provide electricity for rural consumers. Through the years, these investments have delivered new economic and social opportunities and have enhanced the quality of life in the nation’s rural communities. USDA has invested nearly $2.5 billion in electric infrastructure improvements in FY 2014 and almost $31 billion since 2009. In FY 2014 alone, USDA loan guarantees have helped build or improve 19,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines. Following are the recipients and projects receiving funding under the October 16 announcement. (State, Borrower, Loan Amount, Total Miles) Colorado CoBank, $250,000,000 Georgia Coastal Electric Membership Corp., $23,000,000 - 208 miles GreyStone Power Corp., $37,073,000 - 81 miles Habersham Electric Membership Corp., $15,724,000 - 82 miles Sawnee Electric Membership Corp., $161,456,000 - 809 miles Georgia, Alabama, Florida Georgia Systems Operation Corp., $1,200,000 - 26 miles Georgia Transmission Corp., $104,414,000 - 6 miles Iowa Harrison County REC, $4,000,000 - 8 miles Western Iowa Power Co-op, $7,500,000 - 75 miles Illinois Southern Illinois Power Co-op, $10,305,000 - 29 miles Indiana Decatur County REMC, $5,000,000 - 49 miles Kansas Caney Valley Electric Co-op Assn., Inc., $5,500,000 - 83 miles Twin Valley Electric Co-op, Inc., $4,400,000 Kentucky Inter-County ECC, $20,000,000 - 311 miles Minnesota Blue Earth Nicollet Faribault Co-op Electric Assn., $18,800,000 - 147 miles Red River Valley Co-op Power Assn., $8,000,000 - 84 miles Todd-Wadena Electric Co-op, $9,000,000 - 169 miles Mississippi South Mississippi Electric Power Assn., $54,269,000 - 16 miles Montana Mid-Yellowstone Electric Co-op, Inc., $5,254,000 - 69 miles NorVal Electric Co-op, $3,436,000 - 110 miles North Carolina Randolph EMC, $24,000,000 - 335 miles Rockwell Solar, LLC, $3,000,000 Ohio North Western Electric Co-op, Inc., $3,696,000 - 11 miles Oklahoma Caddo Electric Co-op, $32,400,000 - 330 miles Northeast Oklahoma Electric Co-op, $33,000,000 - 100 miles Oklahoma & Texas Southwest Rural Electric Assn., $10,500,000 - 453 miles South Carolina Horry Electric Co-op, $51,926,000 - 624 miles South Dakota Bon Homme Yankton Electric Assn., Inc., $6,723,000 - 72 miles Cam Wal Electric Co-op, Inc., $6,074,000 - 124 miles Kingsbury Electric Co-op, $3,268,000 - 57 miles South Dakota & Minnesota East River Electric Power Co-op, Inc., $131,659,000 - 445 miles Virginia Shenandoah Valley Electric Co-op, $84,315,000 - 244 miles National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., $250,000,000 Wisconsin Clark Electric Co-op, $4,800,000 Wyoming Garland Light & Power Company, $4,110,000 - 18 miles Following are the loan recipients and projects receiving funding under the September 9 announcement. Colorado Morgan County REA, $10,346,000 - 97 miles Georgia Carroll Electric Membership Corporation, $20,607,000 - 441 miles Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, $22,955,000 - 302 miles Illinois Menard Electric Cooperative, $17,000,000 - 173 miles Kentucky USDA Announces Investments in Rural Electric Infrastructure
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 14 Power News Continued from page 13 Jackson Energy Cooperative Corporation, $26,940,000 - 135 miles Salt River Electric Cooperative Corporation, $18,000,000 - 147 miles Shelby Energy Cooperative, Inc., $20,000 - 192 miles Minnesota Crow Wing Cooperative Power and Light Company, $21,000,000 - 168 miles Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Inc., $6,198,000 - 70 miles Missouri Howard Electric Cooperative, $4,766,000 - 31 miles Ralls County Electric Cooperative, $3,143,000 - 10 miles Montana Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., $16,166,000 - 144 miles NewMexico Springer Electric Cooperative, Inc., $14,117,000 - 74 miles and a 1 MW photovoltaic facility North Carolina Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation, $18,500,000 - 60 miles Tideland Electric Membership Corporation, $24,500,000 - 161 miles Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation, $19,000,000 - 97 miles Union Electric Membership Corporation, $50,000,000 - 384 miles North Dakota Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc., $36,300,000 - 771 miles Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Inc., $50,000,000 - 687 miles Ohio North Western Electric Cooperative, Inc., $4,800,000 - 45 miles Oklahoma Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., $21,000,000 - 231 miles South Dakota Central Electric Cooperative, Inc., $14,343,000 - 222 miles FEM Electric Association, Inc., $5,752,000 - 197 miles H-D Electric Cooperative, Inc., $6,385,000 - 102 miles West River Electric Association, $22,870,000 - 160 miles Whetstone Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., $7,500,000 - 86 miles South Dakota & Nebraska Cherry-Todd ECI, $14,884,000 - 101 miles Texas North Plains Electric Cooperative, Inc., $21,656,000 - 348 miles Grid Modernization Efforts Stabilize Demand for T&D Services The Environmental Protection Agency’s impending regulation to lower power plants’ carbon emissions is projected to shape demand for transmission and distribution (T&D) services. Working towards the goal of cutting emissions by 30 percent by 2030 from the 2005 levels, utilities have already achieved reductions of 14 percent. Ongoing work in terms of network renewal, new generating capacity, and reconfigurations will translate into revenue growth for the T&D services market. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the North American Transmission and Distribution Services Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $20.43 billion in 2013 and estimates this to reach $20.94 billion in 2018. Key market segments of T&D services are engineering and consultancy, construction, and operations and maintenance. The North American T&D services market has benefited from major investments in generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure in both Canada and the United States. These investments are driven by the need to: • Renew aging equipment • Improve reliability and performance of electrical networks • Ease grid congestion Utilities are making considerable investments to protect T&D infrastructure from natural and man-made disasters. For instance, in the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, utility companies redoubled their efforts to storm proof the distribution network. This proved to significantly boost the T&D services market. “Despite greater outsourcing of T&D tasks, the market has remained conservative in certain areas,” said Frost & Sullivan Energy & Environmental Principal Consultant Farah Saeed. “Small electrical jobs and support for distribution voltage projects are still offered in-house; however, there is growing demand for external support for numerous transmission projects.” With utilities, especially investor owned-utilities, increasingly evaluating financial performance, there is a keen desire to slash non-critical investments and outsource non-core activities to save on all aspects of maintenance. While this bodes well for T&D players, they are also diversifying their operations in new verticals and acquiring companies to counter the sluggish investments over the last decade. Nevertheless, the revenues from trans-
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 15 A new white paper from Navigant Research examines the critical issues facing cities and utilities as they develop energy policies suited for the 21st century. Cities are a focal point for some of the most profound economic, environmental, social, and technological issues facing the world today. There is increasing demand to move to cleaner and more efficient energy resources to meet the demands of an urban population that will expand by 2.4 billion people during the next 35 years. According to the white paper, the spread of smart city technologies and policies, developed in response to the rapid growth and change happening in cities around the world, is helping to drive sweeping and fundamental changes in the energy landscape. “Cities around the world are recognizing the importance of—and the opportunities offered by—changes in energy infrastructure and energy markets,” said Eric Woods, research director with Navigant Research. “In addition to being the focus of extensive smart grid pilots, cities are becoming mission services are expected to fall until 2018, as major projects near completion. In contrast, services for distribution projects will become important as this sector benefits from higher investment as well as outsourcing to contractors. “Although transmission infrastructure will continue to attract the headline projects, developments in the distribution sector will provide more diverse opportunities, especially in areas such as data management and environment conservation,” Saeed said. Smart Cities Are Driving Change Across the Energy Sector A FOUNDATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY WITH AMERICA AT OUR CORE EK200 SHORT MAST TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Base ........................CAT C9.3 Acert Tier IV Drilling Depth........................................ 78 ft Drilling Diameter .......................132 inches Maximum Torque ...................163,500 lbf.ft Main Winch.................................. 48,650 lbf Working Height..................................... 36 ft Transport Weight...................... 112,000 lbs Minimum Transport Weight..... 107,000 lb. ® (912) 200-7661 | CZM-US.com | 141 East Industrial Blvd | Pembroke, GA 31321 5500 NafexWay | FortWorth,TX 76131 817-439-0453 | blaze-equip.com Authorized CZM Dealer: Please visit us at Continued on page 16
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 16 Power News Continued from page 15 The United States’ solar market hit a major milestone in the second quarter of this year, with more than half a million homes and businesses now generating solar energy. According to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Q2 2014 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, the U.S. installed 1,133 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in the second quarter of this year. The residential and commercial segments accounted for nearly half of all solar PV installations in the quarter. The residential market has seen the most consistent growth of any segment for years, and its momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Across the United States, cumulative PV and concentrating solar power operating capacity has eclipsed 15.9 gigawatts (GW), enough to power more than 3.2 million homes. “Solar continues to soar, providing more and more homes, businesses, schools, and government entities across the United States with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “Today, the solar industry employs 143,000 Americans and pumps nearly $15 billion a year into our economy.” Showing continued strength, the utility PV segment made up 55 percent of U.S. solar installations in the second quarter of the year. It has accounted for more than half of national PV installations for the fifth straight quarter. In just two years, the utility segment has quadrupled its cumulative size, growing from 1,784 MW in the first half of 2012 to 7,308 MW today. “Solar continues to be a primary source of new electric generation capacity in the U.S.,” said GTM Research Senior Vice President Shayle Kann. “With new sources of capital being unlocked, design and engineering innovations reducing system prices, and sales channels rapidly diversifying, the solar market is quickly gaining steam to drive significant growth for the next few years.” GTM Research and SEIA forecast 6.5 GW of PV will be installed in the United States by the end of this year, up 36 percent over 2013. Key findings: • The U.S. installed 1,133 MW of solar PV in Q2 2014, up 21 percent over Q2 2013, making it the fourth-largest quarter for solar installations in the history of the market. • Cumulative operating PV capacity has now eclipsed the 15 GW mark thanks to three consecutive quarters of more than 1 GW installed. • As of the first half of 2014, more than half a million homeowners and commercial customers have installed solar PV. • For the first time ever, more than 100 MW of residential PV came online without any state incentive. • 53 percent of new electric generating capacity in the U.S. in the first half of 2014 came from solar. • Growth remains driven primarily by the utility solar PV market, which installed 625 MW in Q2 2014, up from 543 MW in Q2 2013. • The report forecasts that PV installations will reach 6.5 GW in 2014, up 36 percent over 2013 and more than three times the market size just three years ago. Report: U.S. Solar Industry Nearing 16 GW of Installed Capacity increasingly proactive in terms of the targets they are setting for their utilities to shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy and are encouraging local generation on both the residential and commercial level.” Support for renewable generation by city authorities places increased pressure on utilities to deliver an infrastructure that can integrate these new resources in a manageable way, according to the white paper. Grid reinforcement is often required to support the integration of large amounts of renewable energy, but this can be offset by the wider use of smart technologies—smart grids—for both network management and demand management initiatives, such as automated demand response. The white paper, “Smart Cities and the Energy Cloud,” examines the critical issues facing cities and utilities as they develop the energy policies needed both today and in the future. The emerging vision is of smart cities that integrate large and small-scale energy initiatives ranging from improvements in national infrastructure through citywide energy efficiency programs to local energy generation. The full white paper is available for free download at www.navigantresearch.com/research/smart-cities-and-theenergy-cloud.
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PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 19 TELECOM NEWS Continued on page 20 USDA Announces Rural Broadband Investment Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on October 22 announced $190.5 million in grants and loans to make broadband and other advanced communications infrastructure improvements in rural areas. USDA is providing assistance through the Community Connect Grant program ($13,685,608), the Public Television Digital Transition Grant program ($2,402,588), and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan program ($174,419,000). Community Connect grants establish broadband service in rural areas to boost economic growth and offer educational, health care, social, and public safety benefits. Public television grants help public television stations serving rural areas acquire the equipment they need to transition from analog to digital broadcasts. Telecommunications infrastructure loans help maintain, upgrade, or expand rural telecommunications networks. Through this announcement, USDA is providing $190.5 million for 25 projects in 19 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Funding is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of their grant or loan agreements. Following are the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans that were announced. (The Community Connects Grant and Public Television Digital Transition Grant recipients can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov.) Arkansas Arkwest Communications, Inc., $24,015,000, to establish a fiberto-the-home network and make other system improvements. Georgia Pineland Telephone Cooperative, Inc., $16,498,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and make other system improvements. Iowa South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company, $14,690,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and make other system improvements. Kentucky Thacker-Grigsby Telephone Company, Inc., $9,595,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and retire its copperbased fixtures. Missouri Miller Telephone Company, $8,425,000 to establish a fiber-to-thepremises network and make other system improvements. Oklahoma Atlas Telephone Company, Inc., $5,064,000 to establish a fiberto-the-home network and make other system improvements. South Carolina Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., $23,898,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and make other system improvements. Tennessee Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Corporation, $29,753,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and make other system improvements. Texas & Oklahoma Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative, $10,303,000 to complete the co-op’s fiber-to-the-premises network in Texas and make other system improvements. Utah & Idaho Direct Communications Cedar Valley, LLC, $7,695,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-home network and make other system improvements. Washington Mashell Telecom, Inc. (dba Rainier Connect), $24,483,000 to establish a fiber-to-the-premises network and make other system updates to improve broadband delivery. Rural Broadband Experiments DrawWide Interest In November, the Federal Communications Commission announced that its experiment exploring how to expand robust broadband in rural America in the most cost-effective way has attracted almost 600 project bids from 181 applicants, representing nearly $885 million worth of projects. In total, the 181 applicants proposed to serve more than 76,000 census blocks in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In the coming weeks, FCC staff will identify the provisionally winning bidders, who then will be required to submit information demonstrating their financial and technical ability to participate in the $100 million experiment. Finalists that are able to meet financial, technical, and other regulatory requirements could launch their experiments as early as spring 2015. The FCC’s rural broadband experiments will inform the agency’s broader effort to expand rural broadband through its Connect America Fund. They will
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 20 Telecom News Continued from page 19 also inform the FCC’s efforts to ensure that consumers everywhere can benefit from the sweeping technological advances occurring now in the communications industry, while preserving consumer protection, competition, universal service, and access to emergency services during these transitions. The FCC said that bidders included a diverse group of entities, including competitive providers, electric utilities, wireless internet service providers, and others. The $100 million available for the experiments is divided into three groups: • $75 million to test competitive interest in building networks that are capable of delivering 100 Mbps downloads and 25 Mbps uploads—far in excess of the current Connect America Fund standard of 4/1—for the same or lower amounts of support than will be offered to incumbent carriers in Phase II of Connect America • $15 million to test interest in delivering service at 10/1 speeds in high-cost areas • $10 million for 10/1 service in areas that are extremely costly to serve. iPass Inc., the world’s largest commercial Wi-Fi network, has revealed the results of in-depth research into global public Wi-Fi hotspot deployments through its Wi-Fi growth map. The data, from analysts Maravedis Rethink, shows there will be 47.7 million public Wi-Fi hotspots deployed worldwide by the end of 2014. The map shows that over the next four years, global hotspot numbers will grow to more than 340 million, nearly one Wi-Fi hotspot for every twenty people on earth by 2018. This compares to one WiFi hotspot for every 150 people today. Further Wi-Fi growth map highlights include: • France is the “country of Wi-Fi” in 2014 with the most hotspots in total, followed by the U.S. and the UK. By 2018 this will change to the U.S., followed by China and France. • Europe is the “continent of Wi-Fi” with 50 percent of the world’s Wi-Fi estate in 2014. By 2018, Asia will strip Europe of this title. • Today, China has five times more commercial Wi-Fi hotspots than any other country. • Community Wi-Fi has been driven by Europe and then North America, but Asia will catch up in 2018. • 22.7 million Wi-Fi hotspots are enabled for roaming between different provider networks today; this number rises to 289.3 million in 2018. “Over the last few years we’ve seen the emergence of the ‘Wi-Fi first’ generation. Wi-Fi has become cool again; in fact it’s seen by most as an essential utility, just like water or electricity,” iPass FCC Boosts Wireless Broadband by Easing Infrastructure Burdens The Federal Communications Commission on October 17 adopted a Report and Order that takes critical steps to promote deployment of the wireless infrastructure necessary to provide the public with ubiquitous, advanced wireless broadband services. This FCC action updates and tailors the manner in which the FCC evaluates the impact of proposed deployments on environment and historic properties. It also adopts rules to clarify and implement statutory limitations on state and local government authority to review infrastructure siting applications, including a “deemed granted” remedy if a state or local government fails to act on an eligible facilities modification request under Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act. Finally, it adopts an exemption from the environmental public notification process for “temporary towers” that are in place only for short periods of time. Taken together, these steps lay the groundwork necessary for delivering more wireless capacity in more locations to consumers throughout the United States. At the same time, the FCC said, it adheres to statutory obligations to protect the environment and historic properties, and it safeguards tribal, state, and local land-use priorities as well as safety and aesthetic interests. Study Shows One Public Hotspot for Every 20 People on Earth by 2018
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 21 President and CEO Evan Kaplan said. “Most of the devices we use are Wi-Fi only and even on the most advanced 4G handsets, 78 percent of data goes over Wi-Fi. Simply put, it’s the network of choice for consumers and soon they’ll be able to roam this alternative network of millions of hotspots.” Wi-Fi is also on the move; becoming available on 60 percent of planes and 11 percent of trains by 2018. This compares to only 16 percent of planes and 3 percent of trains equipped with Wi-Fi in 2014. Community “homespot” public Wi-Fi hotspots will see the most explosive growth, rising from just under 40 million in 2014 to more than 325 million in 2018. “The growth in community hotspots is taking public Wi-Fi from the cities to the suburbs,” said Peter White, cofounder, Maravedis Rethink. “The fixed line operators with superfast broadband in the ground are converting residential customers to community hotspot providers at the rate of 1 per second. For many years, all the talk around mobility has been on 3G/4G and a handful of mobile operators. Our data shows that in the coming years it’s Wi-Fi that will steal the limelight as consumers’ thirst for data goes beyond anything that cellular can deliver, and as business owners see the value Wi-Fi brings to helping them differentiate and innovate.” The research showed that Wi-Fi is changing the power structures of the telecommunications industry. Fifty percent of all commercial hotspots are controlled by brands whose core business isn’t telecommunications. Just a few years ago there were only a handful of Wi-Fi suppliers; now there are millions. As opposed to the highly regulated cellular world, Wi-Fi is organic, emergent, and empowering; it’s not regulated and it’s easy for anyone to deploy. As a result, we are witnessing a power shift from traditional telcos to business owners, such as cafes, hoteliers, and retailers who are all getting in on the Wi-Fi game. “A messy and fragmented global Wi-Fi network is emerging; the challenge is that it needs to be easy for consumers to access and simple for providers to monetize. This is where we’ll see the platform players like Facebook and Google come to the party. They have the ability to help this new breed of Wi-Fi provider get paid in meaningful currencies—namely cash, advertising, or user data,” Kaplan said. “Just look back ten years or so, many business were under-utilizing their online assets before the emergence of Google AdSense; now many are making significant revenues from it.” Proud to supply & do business with these PCCA members! ANNANDALE, MN | PH: 877-274-7223 | WWW.FS3INC.BIZ
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PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 23 I spent a year in Minnesota one winter. But as an avid fisherman, the opportunity to take the prize catch of the Northlands off my Bucket List was one I could not pass up. So when Marty Ferguson of FS3 put a premium Walleye trip to northern Minnesota up for bid at the PCCA Auction in St. Thomas, I was on it like a Muskie on a hooked Walleye. This pilgrimage to the north is an annual event for Marty and a select group of customers and suppliers. But having heard the stories (or tall tails) spun by Past PCCA Presidents like J.R. Spalj and Greg Johnson of the monster Walleyes, Northerns, and Muskies lurking in the frigid lakes of the north, I had to see for myself. I was not disappointed. The adventure started upon my arrival in the Twin Cities and finding Indian summer in its full splendor. Lucky me. Marty picked up me and the other non-Minnesotans at the airport and escorted us to his office/warehouse facility and home in Annandale, west of the cities. After a spin around Clearwater Lake on his pontoon boat, we were wined and dined at the lake’s best steak house. The next morning, we headed north. A caravan of SUVs took 14 of us up through Brainerd, Bemidji, and on to Baudette and Lake of the Woods. There we were meet by Sportsman’s Lodge staff and captains who loaded us onto 30-foot Sportscraft Cruisers for the next segment of our journey—two hours across the lake to Oak Island, the home for the great Walleye adventure. The Sportsman’s Lodge knows Marty well, and the red carpet comes out when his group hits dock. The lodge’s accommodations were more than comfortable. The evenings were spent feasting on truly memorable meals followed by ceremonial Duck Farts and tales of the one that got away. The days were spent two to a boat with highly skilled local guides whizzing us through the lake’s Canadian islands to one spot and the next to catch Walleye, Crappie, Perch, Small Mouth Bass, Northern Pike, and the occasional prize monster Muskie. While strict limits on all varieties of keepers were observed, the daily group shore lunches were something to write home (as well as the PCCA Journal) about: fresh catch prepped on shore among the pines and the bald eagles. Each evening we were back to the lodge enjoying happy hour on the balcony while the guides cleaned and packaged our catch for us to carry home. The PCCA was well represented on the expedition, with participants from suppliers Condux, Lewis Manufacturing, and Dura-Line, from contractors Bonneville, Telecom Construction, and MP Nexlevel, and of course our most gracious hosts from FS3, Marty and Laurie Ferguson. They really put on a great event, and it more than met my expectations. If catching a hundred fish a day per boat is something that grabs your attention, this is the place you want to go. But first you will have to out-bid me at the auction in Aruba! PCCA Connections Lead to a Big Fish Story By Stephen Spears, PCCA Past President Bonneville Contracting & Technology Group, Inc. Andy Lewis, Lewis Manufacturing, and Marty Ferguson, FS3, cruise across picturesque Clearwater Lake. FS3 donated the fishing trip to this year’s PCCA Auction. Steve Spears' purchase at last year's PCCA Auction not only greatly benefited the association, but it also landed him the big catches that he had dreamed of—a Northern Pike (left) and aWalleye.
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PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 25 SafetyWatch Winter is coming, and storm response crews are preparing. When ice and snow hang on the power lines and knock out electrical service, utility linemen have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. One of the most critical tools they bring along to restore your power is a bucket truck. Operating in freezing temperatures means the equipment has to stand up to harsh elements. Sub-zero temperatures, moisture, and slippery roads are only a few of the challenges bucket truck crews may face. Many of the problems bucket trucks can experience in the winter are associated with the chassis: the battery, engine oil, spark plugs, thermostats, and door locks. Additional precaution should be taken when operating a bucket truck in cold weather. We are always glad to see those heroes who wear hard hats when they arrive to restore power, phone, and cable TV. Let’s look at a few of the things operators need to consider checking on their equipment in advance, before loading up trucks and heading out to restore the electricity. When preparing to leave for a lengthy trip, check these items, to avoid equipment trouble: Hydraulic Equipment - Hydraulic unit and used bucket truck accessories that should be monitored during winter temperatures include the hydraulic system, control panels, bearings, lines, and fittings. Many units have electronic “over-stow” switches that can remain engaged when ice is present and prevent the boom from functioning properly. Hot water and a rubber mallet can help free up the switch and get the boom back in action. Insure proper maintenance and lubrication of your bucket truck to keep it in top condition for years to come. Winch Lines and Cables - Inspect the cables and ropes that are regularly used to hoist materials into place, looking for damaged areas. It is better to find and replace any damaged lines in the shop rather than out in the cold weather. Engine Fluid Levels - Inspect each fluid to ensure it is at the proper level, and consider carrying along extra, if permissible. Remember, there are hydraulic system fluids that power the unit, as well as the typical truck chassis fluids, including windshield washer fluid, coolant, transmission fluid, differential fluid, etc. Truck Batteries - Most batteries are rated to a specific sub-zero temperature. Know the temperature for which the battery is rated and be prepared to take additional precautions if traveling in temperatures below that limit. Make sure the battery is in proper working condition with clean, noncorroded terminals to protect against any starting problems. Tire Pressure - Before taking a trip, tires need to be checked for proper inflation. Changes in temperature cause the tire pressure to increase and decrease. Check with your tire manufacturer to get the recommended operating pressure levels for the conditions in which you will be driving. Both under-inflated and over-inflated tires will affect handling ability and fuel efficiency. Windshield Wipers - Clear visibility is very important during colder weather. Check wiper blades for damage and replace them with new blades if needed. Remember that the windshield washer fluid needs to have de-icing capability. This will help increase your visibility when precipitation is falling as well as prevent the wipers from freezing during sub-zero weather. Vehicle Body - Ice, rocks, and road salt can damage the exterior paint of the bucket truck, which can lead to corrosion. A coat of “winter wax” can help preserve the paint. Wash the bucket truck frequently during the winter to remove any corrosive materials that can get stuck on the truck from roadways. Door Lock Lubrication - Locks can freeze during frigid temperatures. Lubricating the hood latch, door, and any other locks is necessary to help prevent sticking. Apply lubricants to prevent ice forming and to keep the locks working freely. Always follow the operators and maintenance procedures as directed by the equipment manufacturer. Operating Bucket Trucks in Cold Weather By Grant Williams, J. J. Kane Auctioneers
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 26 Safety News Kathy Pierce expected her son, Chad Weller, to come home on March 19, at the end of his shift as a cell tower climber. But Weller, always ready with a smile for his mother, never came back. He was sent up alone to fix a communication signal on top of a water tower in the rain while wearing a harness two sizes too big, and he lost his life in a fatal fall. Chad Weller is one of 11 workers who have lost their lives in 2014 while constructing or repairing cell towers. Thirteen died in the previous year, including Bridgette Hester’s husband, who was killed as he worked on a tower that was struck by a vehicle and collapsed. Kathy Pierce and Bridgette Hester joined the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Communications Commission, and leaders in the telecommunications industry at an event in October focused on new and continuing efforts to prevent worker fatalities on cell towers. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler spoke at the event to announce a new working group that will collaborate in the development and implementation of recommended safety practices for the growing telecommunications industry. “The cellphones in our pockets can’t come at the cost of a worker’s life,” Perez said. “The cell tower industry might be small, with 10,000 to 15,000 workers, but it’s quickly proving to be one of the most dangerous. If we don’t do something now, the number of fatalities is going to grow as fast as the industry does. We know we can’t solve this problem alone though, and that’s why I am so glad to be joined in partnership on this issue with the FCC and major carriers like AT&T. It’s a perfect example of federal agencies and industry breaking down barriers and identifying common goals to save workers’ lives.” The event featured a morning workshop led by OSHA, comprised of two panel discussions featuring representatives from OSHA, the FCC, AT&T, and the National Association of Tower Erectors. The first panel discussed the root causes of the high fatality and injury rates, while the second explored solutions. During the discussions, OSHA shared steps taken to curb these injuries and fatalities, including public outreach and enforcement, as well as the agency’s emphasis on worker training. “The fatality rate in this industry is extraordinarily high— tower workers are more than 10 times as likely to be killed on the job as construction workers,” said OSHA head Dr. David Michaels. “But these deaths are preventable. OSHA has developed a comprehensive initiative to ensure that safer working conditions and best practices are not just recommendations, but the law of the land. We look forward to the help FCC and industry can provide in making this a reality.” Following OSHA’s workshop, the group participated in a signing ceremony for the new apprenticeship program. It was spearheaded by the telecommunications industry, with the advice and assistance from the Department of Labor, and it aims to provide high-quality skills and safety training for telecommunication tower technicians. For more information on worker safety on the communication towers, visit OSHA’s web page at www.osha.gov/doc/ topics/communicationtower. This article was provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Labor Department and FCC Announce Cell Tower Safety Effort Survey Links Compulsion and Phone Use If the ring, beep, or buzz of your cellphone triggers an intense urge to respond and you find yourself reaching for the phone—even when you’re driving—you’re not alone. A new survey commissioned by AT&T and Dr. David Greenfield, founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, found that twice as many people as self-reported cellphone addiction are showing compulsive phone behaviors, with three-in-four people admitting to at least glancing at their phones while behind the wheel. “We compulsively check our phones because every time we get an update through text, email, or social media, we experience an elevation of dopamine, which is a neurochemical in the brain
PCCA Journal|4th Quarter 2014 27 that makes us feel happy,” Greenfield said. “If that desire for a dopamine fix leads us to check our phones while we’re driving, a simple text can turn deadly.” The study, fielded as part of the Texting & Driving...It Can Wait campaign, was released as AT&T focuses on helping people find ways to resist the urge to text and drive at a potentially deadly moment of temptation. s The AT&T DriveMode app for iPhone is now available on the App Store, making it the first free no-textingwhile-driving application offered by a major U.S. wireless carrier that works on the iPhone. The app is easy to use. It silences incoming text message alerts, turns on automatically when one drives 15 MPH or more, and turns off shortly after one stops. When activated, it automatically responds to incoming SMS and MMS text messages so the sender knows the text recipient is driving. It also allows parents with young drivers to receive a text message if the app is turned off. s The It Can Wait campaign is working with celebrities to help drive adoption of a new social shorthand, “#X.” You can use it in social media, text, or email to signal to others that you’re pausing the conversation before you drive and that you’ll get back to them when you arrive safely at your destination. The survey included some startling revelations about how our attachment to our mobile phones can lead us to use them when we’re driving—even when we know we shouldn’t. While over 90 percent say they know texting and driving is dangerous, many rationalize their texting-and-driving behavior—a classic sign of addiction, according to Greenfield. Nearly three-inten said they can easily do several things at once, even while driving. “However, many objective studies show that’s not possible,” Greenfield said. According to the research, those who are most likely to text and drive are also the most likely to take steps to stop. And 82 percent of people who take action to stop texting and driving feel good about themselves. Continued on page 28 s 0ERFECT FOR &44( !PPLICATIONS s 2EDUCE 0EDESTALS AND "OXES s $ROPS $IRECTLY TO THE (OUSE s %ASY 4ECHNOLOGY 5PGRADES s %MPTY 0ATHWAYS !VAILABLE FOR &UTURE 'ROWTH ,EARN ABOUT THE ENTIRE &UTURE0ATH &AMILY OF 0RODUCTS AT &UTURE0ATH 7AY WWW DURALINE COM 11400 Parkside Dr., Suite 300 Knoxville, TN 37934 800.847.7661 4HE "EST 7AY TO 'ET (OME
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