FCC and DOL Workshop on Tower Climber Safety and Apprenticeship Program
As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) and Department of Labor’s (DOL) efforts to reduce communications tower-related fatalities and injuries, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) hosted this workshop on tower climber safety and Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP).
This workshop included panel discussions focusing on:
- Guidance on best practices for improving tower climber safety,
- The comments received in response to OSHA’s Request for Information on Communication Tower Safety (OSHA-2014-0018), and
- Implementation of the TIRAP program and telecommunications
Related Material
Agenda
9:00 a.m.
Opening Remarks
- Roger Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC
- Eric M. Seleznow, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ETA, DOL
- Matthew Colangelo, Chief of Staff, DOL
- Tom Wheeler, Chairman, FCC
9:30 a.m.
First Panel Discussion FCC/DOL Guidance on Best Practices for Improving Safety
Panelists
- Angela Jones, Union Wireless
- Don Doty, National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)
- Jason Becker, National Radio Operations Branch, BLM
- John Parham, Jacobs Engineering Group
- Kevin Schmidt, National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA)
- Wade Sarver, Wade4Wireless.com
Moderators
- Claire Wack, Attorney Advisor, CIPD, WTB, FCC
- Jessica Douma, Regulatory Analyst, OSHA
10:30 a.m.
Second Panel Discussion Comments Received in Response to OSHA’s Request for Information on Communication Tower Safety (OSHA-2014-0018)
Download Comment_Excerpts_from_the_RFI_Record .pptx (161.84 KB)
Panelists
- Bridgette Hester, Hubble Foundation
- Craig Lekutis, WirelessEstimator.com
- Nick Vespa, Southeastern Towers Download Presentation.pptx (1.86 MB)
- Richard Cullum, Crown Castle
Moderators
- Michael Janson, Associate Chief, CIPD, WTB, FCC
- Erin Patterson, Regulatory Analyst, OSHA
11:30 a.m.
Third Panel Discussion Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) and Telecommunications Workforce Development
Panelists
- Chase Hammock, TIRAP Apprentice, MUTI/Sabre Industries
- Dave Anthony, Shenandoah Tower
- David Sams, SBA Communications
- Jonathan Adelstein, PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association
- Laurie Gebhardt, Verizon Wireless
Moderators
- Joseph Jenkins, Team Leader, Marketing and Outreach, Office of Apprenticeship, ETA
- Matthew Warner, Attorney Advisor, CIPD, WTB, FCC
12:30 p.m.
Concluding Remarks, Kathy Pierce 
Download Remarks.docx (16.3 KB)