The Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) opens its 2026 Mobility & Connectivity Show tomorrow in Louisville, Kentucky. In this Tower Talks podcast, CCA President and CEO Tim Donovan spoke with Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson before the show about hot topics for the association that represents competitive communications service providers and stakeholders across the United States. The NTIA’s BEAD program, spectrum access, permitting and the FCC’s Universal Service Fund are CCA priorities. So too, is where the Rip & Replace reimbursement fund stands.

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A 1988 Chicago-area telecom fire exposed how dangerous traditional cabling materials were, and how digital infrastructure depends on reliable power systems. As data demand grows and network integrity becomes increasingly critical, power conversion products and cabling must deliver consistent quality, resilience, and performance across wireless and fiber networks, and in central offices, and data centers.

In this episode, Jack Graves, Vice President, Strategic Verticals at Southwire, and Dave Nelson, Chief Operating Officer at Bekerle Consultants, join John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, to discuss powering the network and the essential components that keep it operating reliably.

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Many delays have impacted the federal government’s BEAD program. This and other events have slowed getting shovels in the ground for government help for states and their contractors looking to expand broadband deployment.

In this Tower Talks podcast, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez speaks with Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief Leslie Stimson about broadband deployment, as well as contested issues like pole attachments, and what the Commission considers when opposing parties both want the same spectrum.

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The tower business is alive and well. U.S. mobile network operators are expanding their networks and tower companies are benefiting from that increased deployment activity. Smaller, private tower companies remain active with new tower builds and consolidations but need funding.

Palistar Capital is a private investment firm that helps small tower companies grow. Omar Jaffrey, Palistar Capital Managing Partner and Founder speaks with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor about the company’s business model and the outlook for the tower business. Hear this and much more on the podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes.

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Increasing mobile data consumption and closing the digital divide are big drivers for continued capacity and coverage expansion among mobile network operators. Private tower companies have been most active in new tower builds and M&A activity in response to these market drivers. But scaling a tower company has its challenges – financing, competition, availability of quality assets to acquire. Jack Barry, Chief Financial Officer with Harmoni Towers shares his insights with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, regarding the opportunities and challenges in growing a private tower business. Hear about Harmoni’s recent $620M private placement financing and much more on the podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes.

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Co-hosts Patrick Halley, WIA President and CEO, and Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief, discussed the evolution of satellite-to-phone, direct-to-device (D2D) technology with Tim Farrar, founder of TMF Associates. Tim founded his consultancy in 2002 to undertake technical, market and financial consulting across the satellite and telecom sectors.

In this discussion, Farrar explains how D2D technology allows standard smartphones to access satellite networks, and highlights the limitations of the technology. The conversation also covers the recent announcement of Lynk Global to merge with Omnispace and the challenges of seamless switching between terrestrial and satellite networks.

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Residents often push back on new tower developments in their communities for various reasons – location of the tower, how it looks, health risks and lowering of property values. The last point is often the focus of much discussion and debate at municipal hearings. Is this a valid concern for residents?

Rod Carter and Jake Remington, Partners in the Telecom Law practice at Husch Blackwell, discuss with John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, the issues and suggested approaches for mobile network operators, tower companies and contractors to address the topic.

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Modern mounting systems for digital infrastructure equipment go beyond basic
frames—they're adaptable, configurable, and designed to secure active gear while
providing organized pathways for power and signal cables.

Calvin Waskey, with the National Sales team at Allfasteners, discusses with John
Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor, some unique aspects of the company’s
mounting systems and where these products are in demand.

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