It doesn’t take much to get your foot in the door in broadband — many roles only require a high school diploma. But investing in training will make a huge difference in getting the most out of its many trades.
According to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the average starting salary of a graduate from a registered apprenticeship is $80,000 — with 94% of apprentices sticking with the job after completing the program.
Not only does training through accredited programs like an apprenticeship provide solid entry to good wages and benefits, but it also gives you a sturdier base of the trade, its evolution and standard best practices.
The more you learn, the better the pay, the safer the work and the stronger the career foundation you can build.
Here are the top training-focused stories:
1. Understanding the different training requirements in broadband
A lucrative and rewarding career in broadband is much closer than many may realize. And while it doesn’t require anything near as expensive as a college degree, it is important to understand the respective training options within various fields that will help set you up for success in this dynamic industry... (Full Story)
2. Classrooms to cables: balancing program and on-the-job learning in fiber optics
As record funding is funneled into the industry, it's a good time to consider a career in fiber optics. Full of travel opportunities, diverse specialties and promising pay, the work can be deeply fulfilling for anyone with a willingness to learn in multiple environments, according to Brian Schrand.
Currently the VP of Application and Field Engineering at Clearfield, Schrand has worked in fiber optics — from splicing to network design — since it was still a nascent technology. And when it comes to training, he said the steps to success have changed a lot... (Full Story)
3. National Apprenticeship Week: why training matters in broadband tech work
According to The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the average starting salary of a graduate from a registered apprenticeship is $80,000 — with 94% of apprentices sticking with the job after completing the program.
As National Apprenticeship Week celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s a prime time to highlight training in the trades — particularly the lesser-known field of broadband technician work... (Full Story)
4. Get a head start in fiber optics: invest in proper training
In an industry like broadband, where mistakes can be costly and time-consuming to fix, the importance of proper training cannot be overstated, Kelly Weissmann told us in an interview.
Currently the Director of Technical Training and Field Support at Clearfield, Weissmann has worked across telecom and fiber as a jack of all trades — and she has witnessed the industry’s temperament around training change a lot... (Full Story)
5. What training is needed in broadband customer service?
Customer service centers around support for customer issues, complaints and confusion around an organization’s offering or product. Whether face-to-face, over the phone or through an online chat service, the role is really all about human interaction.
That means honing traits like empathy, patience and strong communication are key to the training process. But it also requires developing a good understanding of whatever service or product you are offering support for... (Full Story)
6. 'Nobody knows we exist' - The overlooked workers impacted by cell tower safety failures
In 2007, cell phones were making their way into every pocket and purse. The iPhone had entered the market and telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile raced to build out the latest and greatest cell network — 3G — to meet the voracious demand.
But 2007 was also a year when 11 cell tower technicians in the U.S. fell to their death while building out this same network.
The year after, 12 more technicians would lose their lives climbing. And in 2013, as 3G transitioned into LTE, 13 climbers died on the job — with six of those deaths occurring across just 12 weeks.
While the telecom industry may reflect on these years as one of major growth for cell network demands — and the broader world may remember it for the boom of smartphones and social media — the tower climbing workforce that made that network possible may look back on them more mournfully... (Full Story)
7. Special Report: Technician tips: broadband technician's share best practices of the trade
Just as the technological world we live in relies on the foundation of fiber-optic and coaxial networks, that infrastructure cyclically relies on people to install and manage it.
Broadly speaking, broadband technicians work on the installation, maintenance and repair of internet communication systems. Their primary focus is ensuring that these systems and the supporting equipment are properly functioning to facilitate high-speed internet connection and data transmission... (Full Story)
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