The Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) and the Office of Future Work (OFW), a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment division, have jointly unveiled their plan to tackle a major obstacle hindering broadband deployment across the state. The Broadband Workforce Plan is vital to successfully distributing $826.5 million from the federal Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding program.
Over the next five to seven years, BEAD-funded projects will create more than 3,000 jobs in Colorado. By 2026, the BEAD program will create about 2000 construction and 1600 telecommunications jobs. Colorado will join 49 states and six U.S. territories to find and train workers for these jobs.
We must address the potential labor shortage and its impact on BEAD deployment and timelines. We need to solve this real problem before opening the Advance-BEAD grant program next year.
Broadband Workforce Plan Summary
The CBO and OFW worked with industry providers and labor unions to understand their needs and challenges.
- There is agreement among stakeholders that we need to create careers in construction and telecommunications.
- We must assess and measure effective training and placement programs for telecom and construction.
- Look at reviving apprenticeship programs.
- Raise awareness of job opportunities in telecommunications and broadband.
Evaluate the current workforce and identify job roles lacking enough people for broadband projects.
- Software engineers, trenchers, laborers, material movers, surveyors, drafters, master electricians, stage electricians, fiber technicians, and wireless technicians are the immediate job roles that need filling.
There is agreement among stakeholders that we need to create careers in construction and telecommunications.
- We must assess and measure effective training and placement programs for telecom and construction.
- Look at reviving apprenticeship programs.
Evaluate the current workforce and identify job roles lacking enough people for broadband projects.
- Software engineers, trenchers, laborers, material movers, surveyors, drafters, master electricians, stage electricians, fiber technicians, and wireless technicians are the immediate job roles that need filling.
Look at current options like rewards programs, employee funding and education that can be used now.
- Test and deploy training programs, particularly those that diversify the workforce.
- Bolster incentives for existing apprenticeship programs.
- Support programs that promote diversity and address the unique needs of Native American communities, low-income individuals, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Explore ways to develop a workforce for the future.
- Work with local high schools, colleges and universities to develop certification programs and degrees for construction and telecom jobs.
- Highlight the importance of community engagement.
- Propose support for industry curriculum development
Read the entire plan and comment here.