Telecommunications Industry Therapy

 In this episode, we sit down with Tyler Blob and Brian Bicknese to unpack their co-authored white paper on Direct-Buried Steel Corrosion & Guy Anchors — a practical guide for owners, engineers, and operators managing aging and new infrastructure alike.   Discuss  Outlines practical approaches for site design, maintenance, and condition assessment as part of an effective corrosion management p...

In this episode, we sit down with Tom McGarry, VP of Standards at the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) , to explore the ANSI/TIA-942 standard—the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers. Tom walks us through what the standard actually covers: the minimum requirements for data center design, construction, and operation across telecommunications, power, physical secu...

In this episode, we sit down with Lemmy Recinos , Senior Structural Engineer at KPFF Consulting Engineers to discuss one of the industry’s most important evolving topics — Mount to Tower Interaction (MTI). As one of the primary authors of the PAN titled “The Last Piece of the Structural Analysis Puzzle – Mount to Tower Interactions,” Lenny shares insight into what MTI checks are, why they have bec...

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Vance, Founder of Vance Engineering, and Lynn Burnett,  Microwave Systems Engineer, to explore their recently co-authored Planning Advisory Notice (PAN): Microwave Backhaul Site Selection . https://tifonline.org/contentresources/microwave-backhaul-site-selection/ This discussion breaks down how microwave radio systems offer a practical, cost-effective soluti...

In this episode, we’re joined by Todd Schlekeway , President & CEO of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association , to reflect on 2025, a  milestone year for the organization as it celebrated 30 years of advancing the telecommunications infrastructure industry. Todd shares highlights from NATE’s 2025 accomplishments , including strategic partnerships with OSHA and the FTC t...

James Ruedlinger VP of Engineering at Fullwave Tower & Broadcast joins us for an in-depth conversation on the realities of working in wireless infrastructure and broadcast construction. James shares firsthand experience on the full scope of broadcast construction—from pre-site planning and safety preparation to managing known challenges on-site and handling critical construction information in...

As Michelle Kang and Scott Stekr reflect on the highlights of 2025 in their lives and the telecommunications industry, they also share insights into what to anticipate in 2026 for both the industry and our podcast, Telecommunications Industry Therapy. Stay tuned for exciting developments ahead! To learn more visit tifonline.org 

In this episode, we sit down with Dylan Pontes , Director of Operations & Safety Trainer at JHC Construction , to explore the critical role of structural steel in wireless infrastructure . Dylan shares insights on the technical challenges, safety demands, and craftsmanship behind building the backbone of connectivity — along with a look at what truly defines a tower technician’s work. To learn...

In this episode, Victoria Weidenthaler, President of the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF), gives us an inside look at how the organization supports, uplifts, and advocates for women in telecommunications. From mentorship to leadership development, Victoria explains how WWLF is creating pathways for growth and driving positive change across the wireless industry. To learn more visit tifonli...

 In this episode of Telecommunications Industry Therapy , we’re joined by Iain Gillot, VP of Innovation & Technology at WIA, for a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of in-building wireless networks. Iain breaks down where these systems deliver the greatest value today, how demand is expected to surge over the next five years, and the ROI organizations can expect when investing in improved...

Mitch Bennett, Vice President of Operations at Ontivity's CMS Division shares a contractor’s perspective on the most challenging aspects tower crews face when encountering bird nests on towers. He offers practical recommendations for preparing crews for success and emphasizes key lessons learned while highlighting how TIF’s recently published white paper, Bird Nests on Towers: Reaching Coexis...

Jennifer Fritzche, Managing Director of Greenhill Mizuho Digital Infrastructure Practice, joins our podcast to provide an outlook on current carrier spending trends and how that may be impacted by the new administration. Jennifer also provides her predictions on how carriers may pivot to optimize their investment of 5G deployment.    Disclaimer: The information contained in this podcast does not c...

Iain Gillot, a Senior Technical & Research Advisor with WIA and author of the WIA White Paper, The Fixed Wireless Network Opportunity, joins our show to discuss Fixed Wireless Networks. In this episode Iain addresses what factors have contributed to the growth of the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market, key limitations and advantages of these networks, and potential untapped opportunities.  To...

Colin Andrews, Senior Director of Government Affairs at TIA, and Patrick Lozada, Director of Global Policy at TIA, join our show to discuss how policy changes under the new administration will impact the telecommunications industry. Patrick sheds light on implications of tariffs on the telecommunications industry, and Colin discusses upcoming changes to BEAD funding and security regulations surrou...

Brian Bicknese, Director of Safety & Education at NATE, joins our show to talk about NATE’s Continuous Fall Protection campaign. We also discuss the history and evolution of tower climbing safety guidance, and Brian addresses some misconceptions about tower climbing safety.  To learn more visit tifonline.org 

Mike Watson, VP and Deputy General Counsel at Extenet, joins our show to discuss the history of wireless small cell infrastructure in the US, lessons he has learned over the years when it comes to having successful relationships between all of the stakeholders, current challenges and an outlook for the future.  To learn more visit tifonline.org 

Tim House, COO of WIA, joins us to talk specifically on WIA’s various initiatives surrounding workforce development including their involvement in the Broadband Sector Partnerships and how their experience as an industry intermediary in Ohio has shaped their path moving forward.  To learn more visit tifonline.org 

Sarah Channon, WIA’s Director of Meetings & Events, joins us to provide us an overview of the upcoming ConnectX show in Chicago and what attendees have to look forward to. To learn more visit tifonline.org 

In this episode we hear directly from the Competitive Carrier Association’s President & CEO, Tim Donovan, on an overview of their organization, the unique role that they fill in our industry, and the important role they serve in our society.  We also learn about the top 3 priorities of CCA as they head into their upcoming Mobile Carriers Show in Denver.  To learn more visit tifonline.org 

Authors of the TIF White Paper: “Bird Nests on Towers: Reaching Coexistence”, Scott Kisting of Congruex and Richard Hickey, Director of Regulatory Compliance at Vertical Bridge, join our podcast to talk about their unique experience that led to the creation of this white paper. They also provide several examples on how to practically apply the best practices discussed in the white paper and share...

Todd Schlekeway, President and CEO of NATE, joins us to discuss the organization’s major accomplishments in 2024 and what he takes the most pride in. We also take a behind-the-scenes look at NATE's structure and highlight some of the key individuals who contribute to its success. Additionally, Todd provides insights into what to expect in 2025, including the upcoming NATE Unite show in Februa...

As Michelle Kang and Scott Stekr reflect on the highlights of 2024 in their lives and the telecommunications industry, they also share insights into what to anticipate in 2025 for both the industry and our podcast, Telecommunications Industry Therapy. Stay tuned for exciting developments ahead! To learn more visit tifonline.org 

Sam McGuire, the CEO of Fieldsync joins our podcast to discuss the current state of drones in the telecommunications industry today. He also provides insight into the history of how drones have been used in this space, what has been learned, and current use cases.  To learn more visit tifonline.org 

In the revised version of ANSI/ASSP A10.48 that was released in 2023, one of the notable changes was the institution of construction plans replacing what was formerly referred to as “rigging plans”. What were the reasons behind this change, and how does a contractor navigate the various classes of construction plans and what is required? In this podcast, we are joined by Dale Shumaker and Brian Bi...

Marty Zimmerman, North America CTO for Outdoor Wireless Networks at Commscope, provides an overview of passive intermodulation and its impacts in the telecommunications wireless industry. During this session, Marty also describes current installation challenges and things that exacerbate PIM issues, while at the same time providing some valuable guidance on common solutions and best practices that...