News
A local internet service provider (ISP) in Washington is assisting a nearby technical school to cultivate the next generation of fiber-optic technicians.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
As officials in Washington prepare to utilize more than $1.2 billion awarded to the state by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, one local ISP, Whidbey Telecom, is taking the initiative to make sure the state’s labor force is ready to handle the job.
A new partnership forged between the ISP, the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), and the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, a free, public school that serves high-school students from Snohomish and Island counties based in Everett, will help make the school’s planned offering of Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) courses a reality.
According to an announcement from the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA), the OpTIC Path courses will be offered starting later this month to juniors and seniors, on May 28.
The FBA, which has engaged with at least 40 states and territories to rollout the OpTIC Path program thus far, has hailed the rollout of the OpTIC Path courses at the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center as a milestone.
Todd Jackson, the FBA’s director of workforce development, said adding a high school to the OpTIC Path program’s ecosystem of training is a crucial step.
“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,” Jackson said in comments included with the FBA’s May 21 release. “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 rollout.”
Previously, Gary Bolton, the president and CEO of the FBA, has estimated the United States will need 205,000 fiber-optic technicians to meet the demand created by the BEAD Program.
Whidbey Telecom Co-CEO George Henny said the company, which named after the island where it provides service (Whidbey Island), is excited to help bring fiber-optic technician training to the Pacific Northwest, according to the FBA’s announcement.
“At Whidbey Telecom, we are focused on the future of our connected community, and this education path is a great opportunity for our company to give back and for all of us to grow forward,” Henny said.
Wes Allen, the director of the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, was also quoted in the FBA’s announcement, and said the program will help set students on a pathway to family-wage careers. He said many will go on to server their own communities “by ensuring residents can connect to remote work, telehealth, education, and entertainment opportunities.”
The FBA’s release detailed why Whidbey Telecom’s involvement in the effort is important for the program’s success.
“With the help of this local ISP, these future fiber technicians will learn the challenges of the area they will serve before they hit the field, creating a smooth transition from classroom to field,” the FBA’s release stated. “The involvement of ISPs is crucial when shaping the next generation of fiber broadband technicians and they can offer more in-depth insight from their years of deployment experience.”
Earlier this month, nearly $4.5 million was allocated for Whidbey Telecom by the Washington State Public Works Board. The money will go towards constructing 44 miles of fiber to reach over 1,500 end users in the Clinton area. The money awarded, which is a combination of loans and grants, includes favorable loan terms and below-market interest rates.
