How telecom workforces are stepping up to fight human trafficking

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Companies like Legacy Towers and Vertical Bridge are participating in an initiative activating telecom workforces to fight human trafficking.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The rise of digital infrastructure needs has led telecom workforces to have a unique role in communities across America.

As such, telecom workforces often have a unique opportunity to spot the telltale signs of human trafficking, according to Josh Loaiza, of the 3Strands Global Foundation.

Loaiza, who helps direct a 3Strands initiative known as Telecommunications Against Trafficking and Exploitation (TATE), said telecom workforces are everywhere, “whether it’s rural communities, urban populations, they’re everywhere.”

“So, because of that, they have a unique opportunity to recognize things that nobody else is going to see,” he said. “You have workers that are in truck stops all the time that are travelling hundreds of days out of the year. They’re in hotels, they’re in motels. They’re in places where trafficking is happening.”

Loaiza explained that TATE is designed as an educational program to educate those in the telecom industry, who he considers “frontline workers.”

The program teaches participants how to recognize and report signs of human trafficking, Loaiza said.

“Hopefully within that process somewhere we’re changing lives,” he said.

Through working with companies like Apex Site Solutions, Vertical Bridge, and Legacy Towers, Loaiza said TATE realized how much the telecommunications industry gives back.

Loaiza also spoke about the urgent need to combat human trafficking.

He said the FBI has listed it as the second largest criminal enterprise. He also said human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise.

“Education can be such a difference maker in this fight,” he said. “When we are able to see what’s in front of us, we can’t ignore it anymore.”