Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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Glenn Hegar
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
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programs Texas Broadband Development Office

Workforce Development

Texas, as well as every other state and territory in the U.S., is poised to make significant investments in broadband infrastructure in the coming years. To meet this historic undertaking, a trained workforce is essential. The Broadband Development Office (BDO) will leverage current workforce partnerships and create new programs to promote and support the workforce growth with the goal of filling potential gaps in Texas. The BDO will also ensure its subgrantees promote workforce development efforts that support obtainable job opportunities for all Texans.

To support this effort and develop a more comprehensive understanding of expanding access to high-speed internet service in Texas, the BDO drafted "Building the Broadband Industry Workforce and Supporting Digital Skills for Texans" (PDF, 27MB) as part of the development of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This research and continued engagement with key stakeholders will inform the office’s path forward by supporting immediate, direct and lasting effects for the broadband workforce in Texas. This paper outlines obstacles and opportunities to a comprehensive broadband workforce plan.

Obstacles

Common obstacles to meeting broadband telecommunication workforce needs include:

  • A lack of awareness about broadband jobs, required skills and training opportunities that provide digital skills and support services for covered populations.
  • A lack of financial investment in efforts to increase digital opportunity and workforce development.
  • Inconsistencies in training standards and programs for both employers and trainers.
  • A lack of connections that would support the efforts of broadband providers and digital skills trainers to raise awareness, get funding and connect to resources for overcoming challenges.
Strategies

The BDO’s strategies and goals for supporting Texas’ broadband workforce include:

  • Obtaining resources, such as a dedicated staffer, to coordinate interagency efforts and grant opportunities to advance broadband workforce jobs.
  • Promoting pre-existing training and apprenticeship programs to inform potential and existing employers through TWC and various industry programs.
  • Leveraging local programs that can serve as examples for other regional organizations to adapt or expand.
  • Coordinating with broadband workforce stakeholders to address the need for increased education and awareness about broadband careers.
  • Supporting efforts that ensure workers receive the digital skills training required for the job roles and occupations necessary for infrastructure deployment.
  • Ensuring all Texans, including the state’s covered populations and members of disconnected communities, can access the relevant digital skills training to participate in the state’s broadband workforce.

To better illustrate the need in Texas, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration used public data to assess the impact the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program will have on the state’s telecommunications workforce. (Note: These data do not include other funding programs that will likely further constrain the state’s workforce.) The table below displays workforce gaps that may impact the successful roll-out of the BEAD program.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Congressional Budget Office, CostQuest, Deloitte Analysis

Current job openings for fiber optic positions can be found at TWC’s job search platform WorkinTexas and on Indeed. For more information on broadband careers, including expected salaries, a day in the life and where to find training, please visit Broadband Nation.

TWC offers many workforce programs, including the Apprenticeship Program that allows employers to receive tax refunds for hiring apprentices.

Currently, there are multiple training programs that provide certification as a fiber optics technician. Visit these training providers for a list of available courses.

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