The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the trusted industry association for the connected world, and Questex, a leading information and events company with a robust telecommunications portfolio including Fierce Network, today announced the launch of Broadband Nation – a new digital platform that is designed to help attract, train and deliver the next generation of broadband workers to build and upgrade communications networks that will conquer the digital divide across the country.
Several major government-funded broadband grant projects, including the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program are either already underway or will begin being implemented this year. Facing a workforce gap of over 200,000 qualified employees needed to build, upgrade and maintain communications networks, Broadband Nation is designed to help highlight the broadband technician profession, attracting a new vibrant and diverse generation of recruits to the workforce to fill this void.
"This is a great industry, providing critical services in rural, suburban and urban locales in every state and territory," said Dave Stehlin, CEO, TIA. "Having a viable workforce to upgrade, build and maintain the communications networks of tomorrow will be key to delivering on the BEAD program's mission of bringing high speed digital connectivity to all Americans over the next five years. Broadband Nation brings together key stakeholders across government, industry and academia to help address the critical labor shortage issue and deliver the training and resources needed to ensure our nation's communications networks are upgraded and built out for all Americans, regardless of where they live."
Broadband Nation will utilize a multi-dimensional approach to reach its intended audience, including:
- Career development website featuring training and job opportunities, lifestyle stories, resources and scholarships
- National brand promotions featuring typical lifestyles of broadband technicians and multi-media marketing campaigns
- Academic partnerships featuring awareness campaigns, educational webinars/road shows, train the trainer and onboarding programs
By helping to address the workforce challenge, Broadband Nation will expedite the deployment of high-speed internet to the unserved and underserved across the country, while enabling the industry to broaden and diversify its pool of employees.
"Broadband Nation is a resource that will help deliver the critical workforce of tomorrow's communications infrastructure," said Paul Miller, CEO of Questex. "We are proud to partner with TIA. By bringing together their expertise and relationships built across nearly 100 years of representing the development and support of communication technologies and information systems, alongside our extensive knowledge in technology, deep industry connections, and a strong track record of information and events, we are able to work together with other key partners to solve this complex issue."