[HCARC] Cell Tower Deaths Correction

[W4wj at aol.com]

The program is tonight on KLRN and  KLRU
 
73
Don
W4WJ
 
 
Long-awaited "Cell Tower Deaths" to air  tonight
Frontline will air its investigation of the cell  tower infrastructure 
industry on MAY 22, 2012 at 10 P.M. on most PBS  stations throughout America 
(check local listings). The documentary is expected  to look into the 
inordinate amount of deaths in the wireless construction  industry compared to other 
building trades.

Amongst other areas, the program will look  into major cell phone companies 
who are shielded from accountability in deaths  by relying on layers of 
subcontracting.

It is expected that AT&T's  higher fatality rate of workers on their 
projects will be explored. Although a  spokesperson for the nation's largest 
carrier said in March that they refused to  be interviewed for the documentary, 
they did provide answers to some of  Frontline's requests for information.

The National Association of Tower  Erectors also opted out of an invitation 
to be interviewed.

"Cell Tower  Deaths" is a joint investigation of Frontline and  
ProPublica.org.

"Legally, there's no way we can really get to that  company," says Jordan 
Barab, deputy assistant secretary of labor for OSHA in the  program. "Our 
problem in this industry is that you have these little contractors  that may 
set off in their pickup truck, you know,... and may never have any  contact, 
face-to-face contact, with their contractors."

Following the  airing, ProPublica will have an extensive article on their 
website going into  greater detail of the problems surrounding the industry 
due to the low prices  being set by turfing contractors and the ambitious 
build-out schedules set by  carriers.

Both media outlets started looking into the wireless  construction industry 
almost two years ago. Their investigation was supposed to  be aired in 
February, but was cancelled until today