Broadband Investment Will Build the Next Generation Workforce
Lydia Kidder, former Consultant
Washington, D.C.
COVID-19 has changed the traditional employment needs of communities across the nation. To maintain productivity, many businesses have adopted a remote model of working. New data suggests that many employers have also considered plans to make their remote work policies permanent. A predominantly remote model presents significant opportunities for both businesses and employees, especially in non-urban areas, but these benefits will be realized only if these communities are equipped with accessible, robust broadband internet.
This quick shift to the “work from home” model has further illuminated the need for critical investment in infrastructure to meet our nation’s surging demands for high-speed internet. “The digital divide is one of those areas where technology is not just a passive consumption among people, but it's actively something that produces the next generation of our economy,” said Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Senior Fellow and the Director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution.
On Corner Alliance’s recent “Investing in Our Future” webinar , Dr. Turner-Lee noted that federal investment in broadband infrastructure is “really critical going forward because our economy is not going to be the same. There are 100,000 businesses that have closed permanently.” Planning for a future of more remote work requires multipart solutions to combine expansion of our nation’s broadband infrastructure with pathways to train individuals for the jobs created by these investments.
Infrastructure returns on investment are undoubtedly diminished in value if there is a shortage of skilled and specialized workers to execute the project at hand. The highest impact solutions must tie the threads of infrastructure investments with expanded avenues to the occupations critical to the buildout of broadband and 5G networks. Dr. Turner-Lee noted that the federal government must consider ways to leverage innovative technologies, expanded broadband access, and a skilled workforce “as one of the pathways towards American competitiveness. This is the path of a tech New Deal in this country.”
A foundation for growth
Any infrastructure job opportunities are a chance to establish a foundation for growth by fixing and improving our infrastructure while preparing a new generation of workers for stable, long-term careers. A major factor in expanding any industry (but in this case, the telecommunications industry) is the availability of training for individuals who wish to build a career within that industry. One potential solution is a competitive grant program to make funding available to develop certificate programs, classroom, and field-based curricula. Widely implemented certificate programs in telecommunications industry occupations at community colleges, vocational institutes, and military organizations would serve to attract and train a future pipeline of workers to build, deploy, and maintain the next generation of wireless networks and related infrastructure.
On-the-job learning is key for many of these positions; therefore, apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship programs are vital conduits for infrastructure careers. Expansions of public funding for apprenticeship programs may be beneficial, but incentivizing private industry and employers to invest in on-the-job training through tax cuts, grants, loans, or public-private partnerships would make a difference, too.
While investment in updated job-training solutions is necessary, it is crucial to consider the needs for targeted support in existing public education gaps as well. “A community's ability to connect broadband for job skills training in the digital age is tied to the success of our economy as much as it is in education,” noted Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on education, workforce leadership, and culture. When planning for workforce recruiting and training, it is imperative that the necessary technology access and skill building begin at school-age.
On the Corner Alliance webinar, Tijerino explained how the pandemic will continue to expand the “tech equity gap” and impact the nation’s future workforce, especially those already from under-represented communities. “We're touring the middle of a workforce crisis and if this digital gap persists, studies have shown the negative consequences: ‘76% of black people and 62% of Latinos being shut out, or under-prepared for 86% of US jobs by 2045.’ Our community's ability to connect broadband for job skills training in the digital age is tied to the success of our economy as much as it is in education."
Investing for the long term
Undoubtedly, federal and state governments investing in the expansion of broadband and fiber infrastructure will have a significant impact on the economy. These investments have the capacity to stimulate growth and employment in the short, medium, and long term. “What we're realizing across the country,” said Dr. Turner-Lee, “is that there must be synergy that exists between the federal government, local governments, as well as community-based partners and other civil society organizations that are doing this work.”
Cultivating a vision for the future intersections of broadband internet, infrastructure, and employment requires a long-term investment strategy. The careers created by this investment will eventually serve as a power source to build, deploy and maintain the next generation of high-speed internet and related infrastructure to support the future of working--remote work. While it is possible that some of these programs may not have demonstrable economic returns for multiple years, investments of this nature would have invaluable benefit to the future of our workforce due to the projected expansion of long-term career opportunities in the telecommunications and wireless industry.
Our next conversation
As we begin to explore plans for a future state, we must not only focus on short-term relief. Instead, we must take steps that will establish a pathway to long-term success for tomorrow’s workforce and tomorrow’s connectivity demands. Coordinated efforts to expand investment in our essential infrastructure workers can help us achieve both. “This country needs to fully establish a combination of infrastructure assets investments in addition to workforce investments,” said Dr. Turner-Lee.
Corner Alliance understands the need for innovative solutions to build a more connected future. Our current “Investing in Our Future” webinar series discusses actionable ideas to achieve the future state of digital broadband infrastructure as well as the government’s role in supporting specific priorities. By leveraging relationships with thought leaders and partners in this space, Corner Alliance is prepared to support the next generation of wireless networks and infrastructure jobs created to ensure the United States remains the global leader in wireless innovation.
Author
Lydia Kidder, former Consultant to the Department of Commerce, works to help government grant programs create measurable and demonstrable impact through data-driven assessments. After attending graduate school in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lydia worked as a monitoring and evaluation contractor at the Department of Labor before joining Corner Alliance.