Fiber Broadband Association launches OpTIC Path to boost fibre technician workforce
Deborah Kish of Fiber Broadband Association
Fiber Broadband Association has announced a mini course for its Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) fibre technician training programme, titled “Broadband Basics: Your Future in Fibre!.” The mini course will introduce broadband concepts and career opportunities, attract new students, and help close the gap in skilled technicians needed to connect every community to high-speed fibre broadband services.
As broadband providers across North America look to expand fibre networks to reach the unserved and underserved, they are in desperate need of skilled fibre technicians that can build these networks safely. The OpTIC Path programme provides a training course that can be delivered by schools, colleges, training centres, and employers to develop the workforce needed.
Dura-Line Academy, which is part of Orbia’s connectivity solutions group, co-created the OpTIC Path “Broadband Basics: Your Future is Fiber!” mini course to help recruit potential technicians to the fibre broadband industry. The free, 15-minute introductory course will be available online 24/7 and participants earn a digital badge after completing the session.
“The OpTIC Path Broadband Basics course will drive awareness to today’s youth of the fibre broadband industry and the benefits fibre technicians can access as they plan their careers,” says Deborah Kish, vice president of research and workforce development at Fiber Broadband Association. “We pre-packaged our program’s value statements into an ultra-consumable session so it will be easy to understand why a career in fibre is a great decision. We hope this mini course will help recruit more technicians to fill the workforce pipeline for our members and the broader fibre broadband industry so we can build the networks every American deserves.”
FBA is currently engaged with 39 states to roll out the OpTIC Path programme, with 40 service providers and 67 community colleges and training institutions. Electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have either adopted or are interested in the programme. The OpTIC Path programme is also gaining support from employers across fibre broadband industry, working closely with schools and training facilities so they can hire certified technicians as soon as they are ready to enter the workforce.
For more information about the OpTIC Path programme, visit here.
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