The role of the wireless industry is one of critical importance in these times of global pandemic. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deemed wireless infrastructure as one of the critical industries that is ‘imperative during the response to theCOVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being’.
This directive also creates some conflict for many property owners, public and private, who, by governmental mandate or out of caution, have temporarily suspended operations during this time of crisis; however wireless infrastructure (i.e. cell sites) needs to be maintained. When local governments and businesses are closed, staffing may not be available to discuss access or approve work as needed or required by leases.
As Gunnerson Consulting is industry-specific, we are still operating and assisting our customers. Because we ‘speak the language’ of the wireless industry, we are able to quickly and efficiently determine what items are critical now, as well as what may be pushed out once the health crisis is resolved. We have been speaking with RF engineers, operations managers within the wireless carriers, as well as varying layers of contractors for each carrier to ensure that critical work is still able to be performed, while not requiring staff to be present unless absolutely necessary.
To those in the wireless infrastructure industry working to keep networks on-air, we wish you safety. To all our customers, we wish you peace and health, and we have your backs while you take care of truly important matters. To any who may need our assistance, our doors are [figuratively] open to assist in this time of trial.