The United States has a history of tackling barriers to provide all its citizens with access to life-improving technology. For example, in the 1930s, the New Deal brought electrification to hard-to-serve rural areas through programs like the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Today, rural communities face a different kind of technological gap: the digital divide. Last week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the amount of funds each state will receive under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Act to achieve the goal of universal broadband connectivity, even in the most remote communities.
States will receive federal grants ranging from over $100 million to $3.3 billion, but there is a looming risk that states lack the workforce needed to carry out these major infrastructure projects in a timely way and close the digital divide in America once and for all.
The broadband workforce includes professionals who install, maintain and keep secure broadband networks nationwide. Providers already face shortages recruiting for their own workforce as well as in available sub-contractors, and the vast majority of federal funds have not even been disbursed to states yet. The infusion of billions of federal dollars will only exacerbate existing workforce shortages.
However, there are several policy actions state leaders can consider to ensure they are prepared to meet the growing need for a broadband workforce.
Short-Term Considerations
Policymakers can consider three steps in the next six months to close the gap between their currently available broadband workforce and the upcoming demand for jobs.
- Establish partnerships among broadband, government, education and industry stakeholders. Ohio is leading the way through its Broadband-5G Sector Partnership that brings the right stakeholders to the table to quickly launch new education and workforce training programs. The partnership has developed and implemented new training programs in fields like 5G Readiness and Broadband Infrastructure at 11 institutions of higher education. ExcelinEd spoke with Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted for more information on their model partnership.
- Raise awareness of broadband careers. Different occupations contribute to deploying and maintaining a broadband network, with in-demand skills ranging from laying fiberoptic cables and climbing telecommunications transmission towers to installing network equipment, troubleshooting problems and cybersecurity. Most of these jobs do not require four-year degrees, yet they offer a good starting wage and opportunities for advancement. Lack of awareness of these careers can significantly hinder recruiting students and other career-changers. Louisiana has developed certificate programs at Bossier Parish Community College specifically for exiting inmates from the nearby Caddo Correctional Center, who can earn industry-recognized credentials like Certified Fiber Optic Technician. This is among several innovative outreach and awareness programs in the Pelican State.
- Coordinate federal and state funds for broadband expansion and career and technical education (CTE). States can leverage federal apprenticeship programs and federal Perkins CTE funding to modernize and expand training programs related to broadband career fields. In addition, the BEAD Act allows for expenditures related to workforce development. By appointing a specific agency to oversee funding related to broadband workforce development, states can avoid duplication of efforts and ensure efficient use of funds.
Examples of states taking these and other steps toward strengthening their broadband workforces are available in ExcelinEd’s Broadband Workforce Policy Toolkit.
Long-Term Policy Improvements
Over the next five years of the BEAD Act grant term, state policymakers can consider long-lasting steps to ensure effective use of funds, particularly for educational needs, and to establish policies that keep their state’s workforce prepared for the next in-demand career fields.
- Prioritize educational needs when awarding and monitoring broadband expansion contracts. When states award broadband expansion contracts to internet service providers, they can incentivize those providers to improve access at educational institutions and to support digital literacy training in the communities they serve. State broadband and education leaders can also develop regular methods of sharing data on students’ needs and access to broadband to prioritize and inform policy and program decisions. ExcelinEd’s Closing the Digital Divide in Education model policy and brief provide further details on how to accomplish these goals.
- Establish or enhance comprehensive college and career pathways policies. State decision makers can ensure policies align with workforce needs, deliver quality and value, and close access and equity gaps. ExcelinEd’s Pathways Matter policy continuum provides states with a framework for evaluating existing policies and offers policy solutions to improve alignment between education and workforce. These policies can also help surface emerging digital career fields, as ExcelinEd discussed at a recent webinar with leaders from Georgia, Ohio and South Carolina.
Moving Forward
From remote work and new educational options to telehealth visits, almost every aspect of our daily lives requires high-speed internet. States have a critical role to play in strengthening the pipeline of employees who can build out broadband infrastructure, improve access to high-speed internet and ensure all citizens can benefit from the rapidly evolving digital tools available today. Together with industry experts and education leaders, state policymakers can make wise use of public investments, strengthen a key industry’s workforce and ultimately close America’s digital divide.
