New Trade group launched for wireless industry

SYRACUSE - New York has a new trade association aimed at serving the wireless industry.

The nonprofit group, the New York State Wireless Association, launched in January. It includes members from all sectors of the wireless industry from throughout the state.

Members include engineering

The association formed with encouragement from the Personal Communications Industry Association, a national trade group that represents the wirelessinfrastructure industry, says Douglas Dimitroff, president of the state association and a partner in the Buffalo and Albany offices of the law firm Phillips Lytle, LLP.

"New York is really a critical state in terms of the national landscape for wireless," says Dimitroff, who founded his firm's telecommunications practice. "[The association] grew out of that."

The association now has 400 total members, most of whom are connected in some way with work on wireless infrastructure. The group's goal is to promote and advance the wireless industry, It also plans to advocate at the state and local level for members' interests and be a networking resource for those in the industry.

One of the chief initial issues for the association will be the obstacles the wireless industry often faces in building physical infrastructure and expanding, Dimitroff says. Regulatory issues in general will be a major area of focus for the group, he adds.

"[The industry] requires more sites and more enhanced and upgraded sites," he says. "It can become very difficult to make that happen quickly and efficiently."

Dimitroff says the association will cultivate relationships with local and state officials and work hard to make sure when wireless companies deal with government, the exchanges are as easy and positive as possible.

"It's important to work with government officials to try to come up with ways to make it easier for the industry, while at the same time addressing the concerns of localities, which we understand are important," he says. "We want to work toward ways to bring the municipal folks together with the industry and networkdevelopment people to try to find common ground."

The association will also be a good way for members from around the state to connect with each other, says Thomas Erwin, director of leasing for Pyramid Network Services, LLC in Dewitt. Pyramid handles site acquisition, construction, technical services, and installations of telecommunications projects for customers across the country.

One of Pyramid's local projects was a new public-safety communications; system in Tompkins County that included a total of 10 communications towers. The company worked on the project with several other firms.

Erwin says he hopes the association will help all of New York have access to the latest in wireless technology.

"Frankly, I think it's an economic-development issue," he says. "Having access to the best technology or the latest technology in terms of wireless can make a difference for people doing business."

The association's members will drive and run by it Dimitroff says. The group has no staff.

Plans for the rest of the year include a golf-networking event in the fall or late summer and panel discussions with state and New York City telecommunications officials on their projects and initiatives.

Dimitroff declined to comment on the association's annual budget.