A mounting structure for protecting a transceiver located on an underside of a manhole cover is formed from a metal or rugged plastic in the shape of a truncated dome or cone with a sloping sidewall and a cavity configured to receive a transceiver, wherein the mounting structure is mountable to an underside of the manhole cover. A data communication system for an enclosure comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with a network outside of the enclosure and a mounting structure to mount the transceiver to an underside of the manhole cover. The mounting structure is configured to protect the transceiver from damage during removal of the manhole cover from the entrance port of the enclosure.