Workforce a Focus in Broadband Deployment
Telecommunications industry leaders and state and federal officials, meeting October 22-23 in Charleston for the 2024 West Virginia Broadband Summit, expressed optimism as the federal government’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program promises to deliver high-speed service to the state’s unserved and underserved areas.
Summit organizers concentrated on workforce readiness as federally funded broadband expansion approaches. With $1.2 billion committed to West Virginia through the BEAD Program, workforce specialists plan to launch the Broadband Workforce Development Grant Program in 2025.
In published material, the West Virginia Department of Economic Development said it will provide information about best practices to support broadband workforce development.
Supporters of the program include the Wireless Infrastructure Association, Fiber Broadband Association, Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program, Communications Workers of America, Federal Communications Commission, WorkForce West Virginia, and the West Virginia Office of Broadband.
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