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Telecommunications as an industry has faced a daunting challenge as companies look to meet demand with accelerated deployments in a labor climate where skilled workers are hard to come by.
As the great broadband build has continued through 2023, veterans have become a key focus of telecommunications companies looking to close the labor gap with well-rounded employees who can become trained fiber technicians, among a plethora of other potential roles.
Gary Bolton, the CEO and president of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), previously told Broadband Communities, the FBA estimates the country will need 205,000 fiber-optic technicians to meet the demand created by the BEAD program.
As more veterans enter the telecommunications industry, and with the United States about to observe Veterans Day, a federal holiday for America’s veterans, Broadband Communities will take a look at some of the top places for veterans to work in the telecommunications industry, according to Military Times.
Four telecommunications companies achieved a top 50 ranking as employers in the Military Times’ 2023 “Best for Vets” list. Among companies that participated in the Military Times survey, here are the telecommunications companies that appeared in the top 50.
AT&T
Ranked 47th on the overall Military Times list, AT&T also ranked fourth among telecommunications companies as the best employer for veterans. According to Military Times, AT&T has supported active military personnel, their families and veterans for over a century. The company participates in outreach at military job fairs and has developed relationships with the Military Transition Assistance Program, according to Military Times. AT&T, which is based in Texas, was also ranked fourth overall in the entire state, according to the publication.
Windstream
At 25th overall, Windstream Holdings, or Windstream, also holds the top spot as the best employer for veterans in the company’s home state of Arkansas, according to Military Times. The telecommunications company, which has operated as a broadband provider, has conducted outreach to veterans that has included posts on military job boards, the development of relationships with National Guard and reserve units, and work with recruiters who specialize in veteran job placement. Military Times said the company also offers flexible work schedules and remote work options.
Verizon
Coming in with the 12th overall ranking on the Military Times list was Verizon, which the publication said employs over 8,000 veterans. Verizon has previously been named a top 10 ‘Military Friendly Company’ by MilitaryFriendly.com for five consecutive years and grabbed the top ranking three times during that span. American Corporate Partners, Hiring Our Heroes, and the Wounded Warrior Project are some of the organizations Verizon has partnered with, according to a summary about the company’s activities with veterans. Military Times stated some of the resources available to veterans at Verizon and cited the company’s relationship with service member and veteran employee referral programs as a contributing factor to their high ranking.
Comcast
The top ranked telecommunications company in the Military Times 2023 “Best for Vets” list was Comcast NBC Universal, headquartered in Pennsylvania. Comcast was ranked second overall on the Military Times list, with a summary that said military hiring is a large part of Comcast’s identity as a company.
For veteran employees, Comcast has offered retention support services for women veterans, minority veterans, and military spouses. Military service is counted toward retirement at Comcast, according to Military Times, and the company has used accessibility technologies like screen readers, magnification programs, handsfree computer control, ASL resources, alternative media production, like materials in Braille, or closed captioning, transcriptions, and audio description for company videos, all to empower employees with disabilities.
