business backgrounder | education & workforce
Whidbey Telecom fiber technician Keagen Beumer , right , shows fiber optic technology to students in the OpTIC Path Program at Sno-Isle Technical Skills Center .
These fiber broadband skills will be in increasing demand as Washington sees a $ 1.2 billion infusion of federal funds as part of the Broadband Equity , Access , and Deployment ( BEAD ) program .
“ As the fiber workforce continues to age and many technicians near retirement , it ’ s important to ensure that the next generation of fiber technicians are qualified , ready , and excited to step up ,” said Todd Jackson , director of workforce development at the Fiber Broadband Association . “ Graduates of this course will be welcomed into a workforce that will remain high in demand for decades to come , offering a well-paid , long-term career , especially in the coming years as BEAD funding begins to roll out .”
The national broadband group sees a need for 205,000 new fiber-optic technicians to meet the demand created by the BEAD Program . The new program at Sno-Isle Tech could just be a template for how to help meet that need . Three miles and a 20-minute ferry ride away from Sno-Isle ’ s campus , Whidbey Telecom is one of those firms looking for new talent — and they ’ re leading the way to enable that future workforce .
“ Kids have pride in what they ’ re doing . They ’ re building skills , they ’ re receiving some realworld responsibility , they ’ re meeting those expectations , and I think that makes them feel good . It builds a strong foundation for their mental health .”
— Trudy Swain , partnership coordinator for Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center
46 association of washington business