PCCA Journal 1st Quarter 2025

The Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association New FCC Chairman Carr Outlines Plans for the Agency President Trump Shakes up NLRB Nobody Wants to Work Anymore: Solving the Construction Labor Shortage FHWA Aims to Improve Work Zone Safety 1st Quarter 2025 PCCA Scores Big on Capitol Hill PCCA’s Tim Wagner discusses strategy with members during the Annual Washington Fly-In

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5 1st Quarter 2025 Official Publication of the Power & Communication Contractors Association Publication Staff PO Box 638 Churchton, Maryland 20733 (800) 542-PCCA • www.pccaweb.org Publisher Timothy Wagner Editor Michael Ancell Associate Editor Caroline Ferguson Advertising Sales Stacy Bowdring Photography Jorge de Casanova Information Technology Greg Smela Accounting James Wagner Layout & Design Joseph Wagner PCCA Scores Big on Capitol Hill 7 By Tim Wagner PCCA started 2025 on a mission: save the broadband construction components of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and get on with the mission of connecting American citizens and businesses. PCCA President & CEO Tim Wagner discusses this mission, how it started, and how association members had great success promoting it during the Annual Washington Fly-In, January 28-30. Nobody Wants to Work Anymore: Solving the Construction Labor Shortage 17 By Andy Patron Every company in the construction industry is experiencing a labor shortage. The best of them are not being passive about it. They are taking action. So, what are the great companies doing that others are not? This article discusses the industry’s labor shortage and ways that companies can meet this challenge. Human Resources | By Greg Guidry 13 Safety Watch 15 Power News 22 Broadband News 25 News Briefs 30 PCCA Member News 37 New PCCA Members 42 Industry Calendar 42 Advertiser Index 42 Officer Directors Board of Directors Garrett Akin Brooks Construction Co., LLC Nick Anderson Anderson Underground, Inc. Bonnie Burnham Service Electric Company Ed Campbell Quanta Services, Inc. John Capodice Sterling Site Access Solutions Andy Christine Sellenriek Construction, Inc. Josh DeBruine Michels Corporation Tucker Dotson (Advisory) Ditch Witch John Fluharty (Advisory) Troy Construction Tom Fredericks American Polywater Corporation Robin Gilbertson J&R Underground, LLC Jerrod Henschel Mears Group, Inc. Jake Jeffords Vermeer Corporation Tommy Muse, Jr. Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc. - Retired Sam Stephens Tjader & Highstrom Jason Tyler Brooks Construction Co., LLC Billy Vincent ElectriCom, Inc. Michael Whitebread J.J. Kane Auctioneers Chris Wozniak Intercon Construction, Inc. Chairman Matthew Gabrielse Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc Chairman-Elect Rob Pribyl MP Nexlevel, LLC. 1st Vice Chairman Craig Amerine Amerine Utilities Construction, Inc 2nd Vice Chairman Heath Sellenriek Sellenriek Construction Treasurer Chase Lapcinski Push, Inc. Secretary John Audi Mears Group, Inc. Power & Communication Contractors Association ©2025

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PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 7 On November 6, PCCA members woke to a collective sigh of relief and a feeling of hope. It had been a long four years, with a few exciting things like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and many troublesome things, like the labor restrictions and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements woven into IIJA infrastructure programs. Unfortunately, our optimism for the coming Congress and administration started to wane as we watched then President-Elect Trump select an historically pro-union politician, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, as Secretary of Labor and witnessed Elon Musk stand with Trump and talk about solving the nation’s broadband needs with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks like Starlink. Then on November 20, during a PCCA Washington Fly-in, our meeting with incoming Federal Communications Commission (FCC ) Chair Brendan Carr was postponed for two hours because he was returning from Florida where he watched a Starlink launch with Musk. In addition, traditional allies like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) made speeches and social media posts offering up the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and other IIJA Infrastructure programs to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), labeling them as government waste. It quickly became clear to PCCA leadership that the infrastructure programs in the IIJA were at risk. The Solution In early December, PCCA leadership reached out to Mercury Public Affairs, the firm that helped PCCA and the Infrastructure Protection Coalition publicize the 811 Emergency study, to help us save the IIJA infrastructure programs. Mercury is a high-stakes public strategy firm with a list of partners and management that reads like a Who’s Who in politics and media. In fact, former Mercury partner Susie Wiles is President Trump’s Chief of Staff. On December 16, the PCCA Board of Directors voted unanimously to engage Mercury to launch a six-month public relations and lobbying campaign to save BEAD and other IIJA Continued on page 8 Inside Washington PCCA Scores Big on Capitol Hill Tim Wagner President & CEO PCCA members enjoy a break from their office visits in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 8 Inside Washington Continued from page 7 infrastructure programs from the wrath of DOGE. Mercury assigned a formidable team to the task, headed by Managing Director Keren Testa, who came to Mercury from the Associated Press, where she served as the head of the AP’s operations for the Eastern United States. On the lobbying side, Mercury Partner and former U.S. Senator from Louisiana David Vitter is working on political strategy and congressional access. Since then, a subset of the PCCA Government Affairs Committee and PCCA staff has been working with Mercury on messaging and a target audience for that message. The task force meets weekly to discuss and monitor developments and to hone the message and strategy. The Message PCCA Government Affairs Representative Jaime Steve sums up our message simply by saying “amend it, don’t end it,” but we figured that the folks on Capitol Hill might want some specific details, so we developed a two-page leave behind. The headline reads “Rural America has waited too long, break down the BEAD barriers—deploy broadband not bureaucracy.” The flyer describes the nation’s frustration that not a single home, school, or business has been connected under BEAD. We urge Congress to: • Remove non-legislated requirements Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) promises Fly-In attendees, “We’re going to straighten out BEAD.” PCCA members had a very productive meeting with Christopher McLean from the RUS Electric Program office. that currently make BEAD a vehicle for enacting social policy rather than getting people connected; • Direct the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to grant states waivers for non-legislated requirements, such as price control policies, and empower state broadband offices to focus exclusively on funding infrastructure construction; • Reform or remove BEAD workforce requirements to ensure that funds facilitate reliable broadband infrastructure built by qualified workers, without workforce restrictions and mandates; • Direct the NTIA to simplify or rescind the unnecessary nine-part “challenge step” from the application process when the geographic areas proposed for infrastructure correspond with the FCC maps for the unserved/underserved; and • Accelerate broadband deployment by removing duplicative federal permitting requirements, such as in rights of way where infrastructure already exists. The flyer also asks congressional leaders to prioritize comprehensive reform of the federal permitting process and points out that permit reform will spur economic develop-

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 9 ment across a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to housing and from energy exploration to broadband deployment. The Test Drive The messaging and strategy were put to the test January 28-30 when PCCA held its 2025 Washington Fly-In. Twentyfive PCCA members, staff, and guests, like Fiber Broadband Association President & CEO Gary Bolton, attended the fly-in to visit nearly 20 congressional and committee offices as well as the FCC and the Rural Utilities Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department. We kicked off the event on Tuesday night with a dinner and a keynote address from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Blackburn discussed her support for broadband deployment in general and BEAD in particular. She said that broadband is a top priority among her constituents, who need it for things like telehealth and education. “Broadband provides educational opportunities right there where they grow up,” she said. She promised the group: “We’re going to straighten out BEAD.” The following morning, the group met for a breakfast briefing where they received an update on project labor agreements and the Chavez-DeRemer nomination from Ben Brubeck, Vice President of Regulatory, Labor, and State Affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors and co-chair of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. Attendees then received their meeting assignments and a review of lobbying rules, and then they hit the pavement for a busy day on the Hill. PCCA members visited the following offices: • Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) • Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) The Fiber Broadband Association’s Gary Bolton shares his fiber expertise during the PCCA Fly-In. Former U.S. Senator David Vitter explains why PCCA’s message on broadband deployment is resonating on Capitol Hill. • Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) • Sen. Michael Bennet (I-Maine) • Sen. John Thune (R-S.Dak.) • House Energy and Commerce Committee – Broadband Staff • Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) • Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.Dak.) • FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez (D) • Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) • Rep. Jody Arrington (R-Tex.) • Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) • House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Majority Staff • Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) • Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) • Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.Mex.) • Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.) • Sen John Cornyn (R-Tex.) Continued on page 10

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 10 The fly-in concluded with a wrap-up dinner at the Capitol Hill Club where Sen. Vitter shared his thoughts on our messaging and delivery. He was extremely pleased with the meetings that he attended and thought our members delivered our message well. After dinner, the spokesperson from each group gave an update on the day’s events. The Results There were some who thought that bringing our message to the Hill so early in the new Congress and administration might be a mistake, but it proved to be the opposite. While in D.C., we saw some of our talking points used in the confirmation hearing for Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary in the form of questions and comments from Senators. Lutnick now oversees the National Telecommunication and Information Administration, the agency that administers the BEAD program. We saw excitement from Representatives and Senators when we told them we were poised to install the broadband and power infrastructure authorized by the IIJA. We spent time educating new congressional staff who had been recently assigned to broadband and power infrastructure topics. We were among the first groups to speak to the new Congress, and the lawmakers and committee staffs were very receptive to our message. During the Lutnick confirmation hearing, BEAD was referenced 16 times by Senators John Thune (R-S.Dak.), Deb Fisher (R-Nebr.), Jerry Morna (R-Kans.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Cruz, who had been critical of BEAD and hinted that it should be cut, said, “Under the Biden administration, billions of dollars were wasted on woke projects through the BEAD program— without connecting a single American to the internet. If confirmed, Howard Lutnick will refocus BEAD to ensure that Americans get the internet access they need.” During the hearing, when questioned by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) about the future of BEAD, Lutnick said, “Let’s get it in their hands and let’s do it. The pause just gives me time to be confirmed and to study and get the team working on it and then when that pause ends to get it out the door and get it done.” Despite the early indications that BEAD would end up on the DOGE chopping block, the new consensus seems to be that BEAD must be saved and that adjustments must be made to the program to remove the very things that originally gave PCCA members heartburn about the IIJA programs, like the labor restrictions and frivolous DEI requirements. It is clear that the campaign PCCA launched is working. The message is being received. It looks like the infrastructure construction funding portions of BEAD and IIJA will survive, and construction will start this year. Sharing group reports following the day of Capitol Hill office visits are (from top) Daryl Bouwkamp, Vermeer; Jim Radous, Condux; Nate Newsome, GPRS; and Allen Baker, EPIC Insurance. Inside Washington Continued from page 9

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PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 13 In late January 2025, President Donald Trump removed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox (Democrat) in a move that leaves the board without a quorum to hear cases. The president also, as expected, discharged NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo (Democrat) and on February 1 discharged acting General Counsel Jessica Rutter (Democrat). Although it may take a while to get a full board with a Republican majority in place, these developments are good for open-shop contractors who desire to remain open shop. Wilcox’s removal leaves the NLRB without a quorum (minimum of three members) to hear cases, raising questions about the legality of the dismissal and potential court challenges. According to media reports, Trump removed Wilcox, a President Biden Democratic appointee to the Board, on January 27. Her term was not set to expire until August 27, 2028. Abruzzo, who commenced a four-year term as general counsel in July 2021, confirmed her discharge in a statement released by the NLRB on January 28. Trump’s removal of Wilcox, whom the Senate confirmed to a second five-year term in September 2023, puts the NLRB at a current standstill. The five-member board needs at least a quorum of at least three members to decide cases. Wilcox’s removal leaves the board with only two sitting members: Republican appointee Marvin Kaplan, whom Trump named the NLRB Chair on his first day in office, and Democratic appointee David Prouty, whose term is set to end in August 2026. This is the first time a president has removed a sitting NLRB member, and the move is likely to be challenged in court. While the president’s authority to remove federal officers has been upheld by the Supreme Court, the removal of a sitting member of the NLRB, an independent federal agency, without an identified cause, is unclear. Under the National Labor Relations Act, the president has the power to appoint NLRB members “with the advice and consent of the Senate” to five-year terms and may remove “any member...upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” On the other hand, Trump’s discharge of General Counsel Abruzzo, who began serving a four-year term under Biden in July 2021, was expected. The move follows Biden’s termination of former NLRB general counsel Peter Robb, the general counsel during Trump’s first term in office, shortly after taking office in 2021. That discharge was upheld in the courts. Next Steps The NLRB shakeup is in line with Trump’s policies in his first few weeks in office, which seek to reshape the federal government and overturn many of his predecessor’s actions. Wilcox’s removal is likely to lead to a lengthy court case that could ultimately land before the Supreme Court and could have lasting effects on the NLRB’s makeup. While we anticipate changes in federal labor policy to be forthcoming, only some changes in approach under the new administration can likely happen swiftly. For example, Human Resources Greg Guidry Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart greg.guidry@ogletree.com (337) 769-6583 Continued on page 14 NLRB Shake-up: President Trump Removes Board Member, Discharges General Counsel and Acting General Counsel While the president’s authority to remove federal officers has been upheld by the Supreme Court, the removal of a sitting member of the NLRB, an independent federal agency, without an identified cause, is unclear.

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 14 Human Resources Continued from page 13 the incoming NLRB general counsel will likely take enforcement approaches that are more favorable to management, although the specifics of those approaches remain unclear and will likely be detailed in a forthcoming memorandum from a new general counsel. On the other hand, without a quorum of board members, current NLRB rules, such as the recently revised election rules, are likely to remain in effect in the short term. Additionally, without a quorum to decide new cases, recent major changes in NLRB precedent remain the law, such as the recent decisions concerning captive audience meetings and lawful management statements, as well as the recent decision that changed aspects of the union organizing process. EEOC Issues Fact Sheet on Wearable Technologies The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released a fact sheet that explains why employers need to be careful in using wearable technologies so they do not violate federal nondiscrimination laws. Companies in the warehousing, package delivery, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare industries are most likely to rely on wearable technologies and be impacted by federal enforcement of nondiscrimination laws. Quick Hits • An increasing number of employers are requiring workers to use wearables to track their movements and location for safety and productivity purposes. • A new fact sheet from the EEOC describes how the use of wearables in the workplace could violate federal nondiscrimination laws. • When relying on wearables, employers may need to make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. On December 19, 2024, the EEOC published “Wearables in the Workplace: Using Wearable Technologies Under Federal Employment Discrimination Laws” to help employers prevent legal challenges related to using wearables. The EEOC fact sheet defines wearables as “digital devices embedded with sensors and worn on the body that may keep track of bodily movements, collect biometric information, and/or track location.” Wearables include GPS trackers, smart watches, smart rings, smart glasses, smart helmets, and proximity sensors. They may monitor eye movements, blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, or physical location. Collecting Medical Information The fact sheet advises that using wearables to collect information about an employee’s physical or mental condition, or to conduct diagnostic testing, could constitute “medical examinations” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The fact sheet also advises that requiring workers to provide medical information in connection with using wearables could constitute “disability-related inquiries” under the ADA. The EEOC reminds employers that the ADA bars disabilityrelated inquiries unless they are job-related and consistent with business necessity. If an employer collects medical or disability-related data from wearable devices, the ADA requires the employer to store that data in separate medical files and treat it as confidential medical information. The EEOC confirmed that an employer may violate federal nondiscrimination laws if it uses information collected from wearables to make decisions that have an adverse impact on protected classes. The EEOC’s examples include using wearables’ information to determine that an employee is pregnant and treat her differently because of the pregnancy, or to fire an employee with an elevated heartbeat that a heart condition causes. Reasonable Accommodation Issues The EEOC advised that employers may have to provide employees with the reasonable accommodation of excusing them from utilizing wearable devices. The EEOC posited that an employer might have to excuse workers whose religion prevents them from wearing the device, or make a reasonable accommodation based on pregnancy and/or disability. Next Steps Construction contractors that rely on, or are considering using, wearable technologies may wish to review their policies and practices to ensure they comply with federal nondiscrimination laws, particularly the ADA’s requirement that collecting medical information and making disability-related inquiries must be job-related and consistent with business necessity. Employers that use data from wearables in their employment-related decision-making may wish to examine whether their use adversely impacts individuals in protected groups.

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 15 FHWA Aims to Improve Work Zone Safety Late last year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced updates to the Work Zone Safety and Mobility Rule and the Temporary Traffic Control Devices Rule. The new regulations are designed to improve work zone safety for roadway workers as well as the movement of motorists traveling through work zones, using various management strategies to ensure safety while also minimizing impacts and traffic disruptions to motorists. i n gM, uo pr eg raanddi nmg o, ar en dwroerhkaebr isl iat raet i rnegpaagi ri n- g infrastructure in high-traffic work sites. Tr uol epsr owt ei lcl tatdhde ss ea fientdyi va inddu ma l so, btihl iet yu pp de raftoerd- mance measures for use by states when developing their work zone policies. “With USDOT’s commitment to Vision Zero—a future where no one dies on our roads—it’s critical that we keep people safe in work zones, including travelers and those constructing our roads,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Kristin White said. “This work zone safety rule took years in the making to engage communities, partners, and public and private sectors to ensure we prioritize work zone safety and reduce congestion to keep us all safe every day.” The final rule is the first update in 20 years and makes changes to support the FHWA’s principal mission: to ensure America has the safest and most modern transportation system in the world. The updated rule also supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy to address the safety crisis on our nation’s roadways. Key updates include requiring the use of positive protection devices, such as temporary concrete barriers, to protect workers from motorized traffic operating at high speeds during construction, utility, and maintenance operations. Secondly, they encourage the use of work zone programmatic reviews, which are more holistic and data-driven. Safety Watch continued on page 16 Safety Watch See an OverRides installation in action here www.duraline.com/installations/override-installations Performing an OverRide allows you to jet or blow in MicroDucts to create new pathways for fiber, hassle-free. Did you know you can ADD FIBER TO A NETWORK WITHOUT ADDITIONAL DIGGING? (800) 847-7661 _ www.duraline.com

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 16 Safety Watch Continued from page 15 Department of Labor Finalizes Rule on PPE Proper Fit Requirements Late last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized the revision to the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for construction. The final rule explicitly requires mandatory-provided equipment to fit any construction worker who needs it properly. Specifically, OSHA is revising § 1926.95(c) to mandate that employers must ensure all personal protective equipment “is of safe design and construction for the work to be performed” and “is selected to ensure that it properly fits each affected employee.” Douglas L. Parker, former Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, emphasized the importance of these revisions, saying: “I’ve talked to workers in construction, particularly women, who have spoken of personal protective equipment that didn’t fit or was simply unavailable at the jobsite in their size. PPE must fit properly to work. I’m proud of the broad support from both employers and unions for OSHA’s efforts to make clear that employers must provide the right PPE for each worker who needs it.” Department of Labor Encouraged by Decline in Worker Deaths The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) saw promising results in 2024 from its ongoing efforts to protect construction workers. On November 4, OSHA shared that preliminary data shows a decrease in worker fatalities, including significant drops in deaths from trench collapses and falls, two of the top causes of fatalities in the construction industry. Key findings: • Federal OSHA investigated 826 worker fatalities in fiscal year 2024, down from 928 the previous year, representing an 11 percent decrease in worker deaths. • Excluding COVID-related deaths, FY 2024 saw the lowest number of fatalities OSHA has investigated since 2017. • Fatal falls investigated by federal OSHA decreased from 234 to 189, representing a nearly 20 percent reduction. • Worker deaths from trench collapses dropped from 39 in 2022 to 15 in 2023 and 12 so far in 2024, marking a nearly 70 percent decline. “While fewer workers have died from the hazards OSHA investigates, we still lose more than 5,000 workers each year in largely preventable incidents. While we’re proud of this progress, our work is far from over. Reducing worker deaths means embracing an approach that makes worker health and safety a core value in every workplace. Only then can we fully address all the causes and factors that lead to workers dying needlessly on the job,” former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker noted. OSHA offers free and confidential compliance assistance to small and medium-sized businesses to identify and fix hazards, establish or improve safety and health programs, and comply with OSHA standards. Visit OSHA’s website to learn more about its emphasis programs and how to prevent falls and trench collapses: www.osha.gov. Douglas L. Parker, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 17 Nobody Wants to Work Anymore: Solving the Construction Labor Shortage By Andy Patron “No one wants to work anymore.” Or “I just can’t find good people that want to work.” I hear it all the time, but I’m not really seeing it. Every company is experiencing a labor shortage. The best of them are not being passive about it. They are taking action. So, what are the great companies doing that others are not? Understanding the Construction Labor Shortage There is plenty of work to do. If a shortage of qualified people wasn’t a limiting factor, the construction industry would be growing. There is a global demand for better infrastructure, affordable housing, and everything related to artificial intelligence. The industry continues to struggle to meet this demand with the available workforce. The construction industry’s labor shortage has two primary contributing factors. One major issue is the aging workforce. Many experienced workers in the industry are retiring, and there are fewer skilled, young people available to replace them. The industry also has a perception problem: construction work is considered to be physically demanding and low paying. This perception discourages younger folks from pursuing careers in our industry. If we can understand the causes and challenges, we can come up with solutions. With fewer skilled workers, the • Telecom and Electrical • ETL Listings to UL651A • 1/2" - 6" Sizes • Custom Options • Split Reels • ISO 9001 Facility • USA-owned Supplier Contact Us 1060 Teel Court Baraboo, WI 608-355-3080 www.teel.com Conduit Built to Protect. Designed to Last. Continued on page 18

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 18 existing workforce feels stretched, projects are experiencing delays, profitability is down, and company/industry growth is limited. Additionally, many companies are forced to lean on their subcontractors and use temporary workers, which can compromise quality and consistency of project delivery. This can also lead to burnout and safety concerns. So, the shortage of labor is impossible to ignore. There is too much at stake. What Can Be Done About It? The short answer is, “Do something.” Don’t be passive. While the labor shortage is real and complex, there are several strategies that “best in class” companies and trade organizations are adopting to mitigate their challenges. The top four are: train and develop, onboard with intention, help reframe the perception of the industry, and become a great company to work for. Start with where you are and what you have. Train and Develop The forward-thinking companies are increasing their capability by developing their people. If you are frustrated with the lack of skill in your workforce, train them. It’s simple but not always easy. One of the most effective solutions is to provide internal training and apprenticeship programs. These programs primarily target the field (labor, foremen, and superintendents) with leadership, business acumen, and technical training. Both union and non-union companies are taking on the responsibility of teaching their workers how to plan and perform work the “company way.” It takes extra time and money, AND there is a measurable return on investment (ROI). These programs improve the skills of the new and existing workers, help companies do more with fewer crews, and improve retention. The ROI shows up in safer jobs, more productive project delivery (lower costs), and fewer quality and rework issues. The old model of on the job training (OJT) just isn’t working like it used to. Doing nothing (or relying on OJT) is definitely more costly and risky than doing whatever you can to actively develop your people. Also, a few clever companies are partnering with trade schools, vocational training programs, and community colleges to create construction and craft training programs. Then they select the “cream of the crop” from the graduates. All of these efforts help the companies and the industry. Onboard with Intention I am seeing more and more companies implement robust onboarding programs, which act as an extended screening process. The typical programs are designed so that participants will learn about the company and the key, basic field skills they will need to be effective day one on the job. They also have to show up with a good attitude every day for a week in order to graduate into full-time employment. They hit the field with a baseline capability, so they are productive sooner with less field disruption. The “graduates” are more confident about what is expected of them, and they begin to feel like they are a part of the company much sooner. These programs also make the hosting companies more attractive to young workers looking for a place where they can grow and make money doing it. The best onboarding programs have an attrition rate by design. The clients I have spoken with expect it. They say, “I would rather have a new employee leave during onboarding than two months into the job after they have inflicted a bunch of delays and conflict upon my field.” The ones that stay are staying longer. Turnover is costly. Onboarding ROI shows up in more productive effort sooner and greater retention. Cleaners for Every Project • Fiber Optic Cables • Hand and Tool • Insulated Rubber Goods • Live Line Tool www.polywater.com 800-328-9384 651-430-2270 Construction Labor Shortage Continued from page 17

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 19 Reframe the Perception of the Industry The industry needs to improve its image, especially among young people. By showcasing the benefits of construction careers, such as competitive wages, job stability, and opportunities for advancement, more individuals may be encouraged to pursue jobs in construction. Construction is hard work for those that select the field, but not all construction jobs are in the field. There are plenty of financial, project management, and administrative jobs in the industry, too. The work is also very rewarding and necessary. I suppose I am a little biased. I love this industry and want others to see it the way I do: a great way to provide for your family, with a lot of diverse opportunities for learning and development and a long, successful career. The truth should be enough. I know a lot of superintendents who are millionaires (but they aren’t bragging about it). Become a Great Company to Work For Finally, the most competitive companies are addressing the challenges of long hours, physical strain, and workplace safety to attract and retain workers. They are starting to offer better benefits, health insurance, paid leave, and retirement plans to make construction jobs more attractive and help reduce turnover. The best companies are creating cultures that are extremely attractive to the next generation of workers, starting with caring for people and their families. It’s not always about the money. Young people want a great place to work and to feel a part of something larger than themselves. Frankly, that’s an easy one. The construction industry builds America, for heaven’s sake. Conclusion: Leading Through the Labor Shortage Challenge The labor shortage in the construction industry is a pressing issue that requires concerted effort to mitigate. The “best in class” companies that invest in training and development, onboard with intention, help reframe the perception of the industry, and become a great company to work for are benefiting with more applicants, higher retention, and better performance. These solutions will not only ease the burden on current workers, but also ensure that your company (and the industry) remains sustainable and competitive in the future. Need support for your construction business? Andy can HELP. CONDUX.COM | 800-533-2077 CABLE INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT From the most challenging applications to routine projects demanding high productivity, Condux fiber optic cable blowers and underground pullers improve efficiency and safety on every jobsite. Plus, cable installation tools and equipment from Condux are backed by decades of product knowledge and exceptional customer service. Now that’s Condux True Blue ! The Blue Ox™ Cable Puller APS 75 Cable Puller Gulfstream™ 400 Fiber Optic Cable Blower

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PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 22 POWER NEWS NERC Releases Third Volume of the Interregional Transfer Capability Study With the transformation of the North American electric industry, including a changing resource mix, extreme weather complexity, and threat landscape, interregional energy transfers play an increasingly pivotal role in maintaining reliability. Accordingly, Congress directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to conduct the Interregional Transfer Capability Study (ITCS) in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. The ITCS demonstrates a significant opportunity to optimize reserve use during extreme weather events and how transmission can maximize local resources, including storage and demand response. The ITCS further highlights the continuing importance of wide-area resource evaluation, as increasing transfer capability without surplus energy from neighboring areas would be ineffective. “Transmission is a critical piece of North America’s reliability strategy, but it is only part of the solution. The ITCS emphasizes a balanced approach—one that identifies the unique needs of each region and determines where targeted and meaningful investments can make a

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 23 real difference in ensuring reliability and resilience,” John Moura, NERC’s director of Reliability Assessments and Performance Analysis, said. NERC’s focus is to ensure the bulk power system is prepared for tomorrow’s challenges without taking a one-size-fits-all approach.” While transmission upgrades alone will not fully address all risks, a diverse and flexible approach allows tailored solutions specific to each region’s vulnerabilities, risk tolerance, economics, and policies. The study encourages that a broader set of solutions should be considered and emphasizes the need for local resources, energy efficiency, demand-side, and storage solutions. Key findings include: • Transmission limitations and the potential for energy inadequacy were identified in all 12 weather years studied. Enhancing specific transmission interfaces could reduce the likelihood of energy deficits during extreme conditions. • The import capability needed during extreme conditions varied significantly across the country, indicating that a one-size-fits-all requirement may be ineffective. An additional 35 gigawatts of transfer capability is recommended across the United States as a vehicle to strengthen energy adequacy under extreme conditions. • Some identified that transmission needs could be alleviated by projects already in the planning, permitting, or construction phases. If completed, these projects could mitigate several risks highlighted by the ITCS, reinforcing their importance for grid resilience. • Higher than expected retirements (without replacement capacity) would lead to increased energy deficiencies and potentially more transfer capability needed than recommended in this study. • Interregional transmission connections could help distribute resources more effectively. However, there are numerous barriers to realizing these benefits in a timely fashion. This document will be merged with two previous documents, the ITCS Overview of Study Need and Approach and the ITCS Part 1—Transfer Capability Analysis, to form the completed ITCS that will be filed with the FERC, as directed by Congress, followed by the agencies public comment period. IN. OUT. INVOICE. With optimized hydraulic efficiency, up to 40% more downhole horsepower* and 35% faster carriage speed than any drill in its class, the JT21 gives you more speed and power to move on to the next job faster than ever before. DITCHWITCH.COM/JT21 *Compared to the previous model ©2025 The Charles Machine Works, Inc. Power News Continued on page 24

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 24 Industry Education • Premium Networking • Great Times! 2025 MID-YEAR MEETING JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District September 17 - 20, 2025 25PCCA-MY Ad.indd 1 1/9/25 2:30 PM Power News Continued from page 23 Trump Charts Course Toward American Energy Prosperity Less than 24 hours into his second term, President Trump issued two significant executive orders to reshape the United States’ energy policy: Declaring a National Energy Emergency and Unleashing American Energy. These directives mark a substantial shift from the previous administration’s focus on renewable energy, instead now issuing policies that encourage expansion of fossil fuel production. In the Declaring a National Energy Emergency Executive Order, Trump identified the nation’s energy infrastructure as insufficient to meet current demands, attributing this inadequacy to the prior administration’s policies. He made a point to stress that high energy prices adversely affect Americans, particularly those on low and fixed incomes, and has pledged to lower energy costs. To address these challenges, Trump declared a national emergency and directed federal agencies to utilize all lawful emergency authorities to expedite the identification, leasing, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources, including on federal lands. Complementing the emergency declaration is the Unleashing American Energy Executive Order, where the president outlines a policy framework to promote energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters. Key policies outlined in the order include: • Promoting the development of oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals, and nuclear energy resources to meet the nation’s energy needs. • Positioning the U.S. as a leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth elements in order to create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and reduce reliance on adversarial nations. • Ensuring that a reliable energy supply is accessible across all states and territories to safeguard economic stability and national security. • Removing regulatory mandates and subsidies that favor electric vehicles over traditional gasoline-powered automobiles to support consumer choice in the vehicle market. • Protecting the availability of various household appliances, such as light bulbs, dishwashers, washing machines, gas stoves, water heaters, toilets, and showerheads, by preventing regulations that limit consumer options.

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 25 Many in the telecommunications industry could have predicted that Brendan Carr would be the next Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). He has a longstanding and highly regarded tenure with the agency, with notable efforts including being a strong proponent of rural broadband expansion and enhancing public safety communications. Before being tapped, Carr authored recommended priorities for the FCC in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, Chapter 28. He began with the following mission statement: “The FCC should promote freedom of speech, unleash economic opportunity, ensure that every American has a fair shot at next-generation connectivity, and enable the private sector to create good-paying jobs through pro-growth reforms that support a diversity of viewpoints, ensure secure and competitive communications networks, modernize outdated infrastructure rules, and represent good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.” In the chapter, he provides four areas of focus: 1. Reining in Big Tech • The FCC should update interpretations of Section 230 to remove excessive protections courts have granted to Big Tech, ensuring platforms are accountable for their actions. • Big Tech companies often operate without transparency, making decisions like changing search rankings, removing posts, banning accounts, or demonetizing creators without clear explanations. The FCC already requires broadband providers to be transparent about their practices, such as blocking or prioritizing content. Carr believes the same approach could be applied to Big Tech. • The FCC and Congress should promote user tools like customizable filters and fact-checkers and strengthen protecBROADBAND NEWS Continued on page 26 New FCC Chairman Carr Outlines Plans for the Agency Learn More atkore.com Atkore stands with you, ready to provide the conduit necessary to complete your projects on time. Our national manufacturing network means conduit where you need it, whenever you need it. Build Connection Across America

PCCA Journal|1st Quarter 2025 26 Broadband News Continued from page 25 tions for children on social media. • Big Tech benefits greatly from federally supported broadband networks funded by the FCC’s $9 billion Universal Service Fund but does not contribute to it, leaving traditional telecom customers to bear the cost. This funding model is unsustainable, and Congress should require these companies to contribute fairly or consider overhauling the funding system entirely. 2. Promoting National Security • The FCC’s Covered List identifies equipment and services that threaten national security. To improve its effectiveness, the FCC should regularly update the list and account for corporate name changes and ties to China’s surveillance state. • Entities like China Telecom continue operating in the U.S. without FCC licenses by exploiting regulatory gaps. The FCC should prohibit regulated carriers from connecting with insecure providers to eliminate these risks. • The FCC should increase transparency by publishing a list of entities with more than 10 percent ownership by adversarial governments, such as China or Russia. A bipartisan bill already supports this initiative. • Fully fund the “Rip and Replace” program. 3. Unleashing Economic Prosperity • The FCC made significant progress freeing airwaves for 5G and other wireless services between 2017 and 2020. To regain momentum, the FCC and a new administration should develop a national spectrum strategy with clear timelines for freeing up additional spectrum for commercial use. • Facilitate spectrum coordination because disputes between federal agencies and the wireless industry over spectrum allocation hinder progress. • Outdated permitting rules slowed the deployment of infrastructure, but FCC reforms in 2016 streamlined processes and spurred record construction of cell sites. Further reforms should focus on reducing costs and delays for wired infrastructure and accelerating approvals for projects on federal lands. 4. Holding Government Accountable • Current broadband spending policies risk wasting taxpayer money by funding projects in areas that already have adequate connectivity instead of prioritizing unconnected rural communities. A new administration should eliminate government-funded overbuilding of existing networks and ensure that funds are directed to underserved areas. • Federal broadband initiatives are fragmented, with more than 100 programs spread across 15 agencies, leading to inefficiency, duplication, and waste. A national strategy is needed to coordinate efforts, improve oversight, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively to close the digital divide. • Rapid innovation in connectivity, such as satellite internet and convergence of technologies, calls for fewer heavyhanded FCC regulations. The FCC should focus on fostering competition, eliminating outdated rules, and creating a market-friendly environment to encourage innovation and better connectivity options for consumers. Louisiana Leads Nation in Broadband Deployment The telecom construction industry has long been losing faith in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) as proposals circulate through a seemingly never-ending approval process. But rest assured, it appears that the program is finally moving forward in the Bayou State. On November 18, Louisiana released its Final Proposal for public comment, making it the first state to do so. Leading the way, the state will award federal BEAD funding through its GUMBO 2.0 program, overseen by the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity. This marks a major milestone in broadband connectivity in the United States and shows hope that BEAD might have a chance. Louisiana is prepared to distribute $1.355 billion through these awards to support broadband access throughout the state. GUMBO 2.0 will expand fiber optic connectivity to approximately 140,000 locations, supporting 100,000 households, 35,000 small businesses, and 4,000 community anchor institutions such as public safety locations, schools, and hospitals. These broadband investments will drive significant economic growth for the state, creating 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs and $2 to $3 billion in new revenue for Louisiana companies. “This is a game-changing moment for Louisiana and will help ensure all our residents have access to high-speed, reliable internet,” Rep. Troy A. Carter (D-La.) said. “By rapidly deploying these funds, we’re creating new economic opportunities, improving educational outcomes, and enhancing the delivery of critical healthcare services for families in every corner of our state. When I championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these are the results I was excited about.” Due to the state’s highly efficient award process, Louisiana is also distrib-

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