Colorado State University Global and SCTE broadband training program addresses rural workforce needs

Samira Rao, director of strategic partnerships for CSU Global, said the broadband training certificate provides training that previously did not exist.

“The partnership began with the aim to train the next generation of professionals,” she said. “It was specifically designed to bridge the digital divide, specifically in rural and underserved areas.”

Before this program came about, Colorado did not have a formal broadband training program. “In the state of Colorado, we realized there was not a training certificate program for the broadband industry,” Rao said. “After we met with SCTE and other members inside CSU, we built this certificate program based on industry needs, specifically for SCTE and the industry.”

Hands-on focus

Focused on providing training for new and existing broadband technicians, the new SCTE/CSU program is offered online with combined work-based learning for real-world, hands-on experience.

CSU and SCTE plan to officially launch the program following the TechExpo later this month.

Special tuition rates are available for SCTE members, along with academic credit for select SCTE certifications and courses, reducing both time and cost to complete a program.

It provides training in broadband infrastructure, focusing on four key areas: fiber optics, directional drilling, utility safety, and leadership skills.

“Based on the conversations we had, the goal was we have folks be able to come in with a foundational knowledge of broadband deployment and project management, so we focused the certificate on that,” said Dr. Matthew Brown, program director of computer science at Colorado State University Global.

One of the first goals of the training was to get students to demonstrate proficiency in fiber splicing, directional drilling and utility location techniques.

The program also trains students to apply safety protocols and regulatory rules to prevent hazards with fiber and underground construction projects. Collaboration was also a goal as the program looks to help students achieve project goals, plan and execute fiber construction tasks, as well as emphasize problem-solving to address technical and operational challenges.

“Each course is structured through video tutorials and case-based assignments where the student goes through and documents what they are learning and how they would apply it in a real-world scenario,” Brown said. 

Addressing workforce shortages

While it’s clear that service providers, both telcos and cable companies, have set aggressive broadband build-out plans, they all face a common reality: a shrinking workforce.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the overall number of telecom technician jobs is projected to decline by 3% from 2024 to 2034.

However, the BLS projects an average of 23,200 job openings each year over the decade. These openings are primarily due to the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as for retirement. 

Programs like the SCTE/CSU should help to ease the broadband worker shortage pain.

“This program is important for SCTE given the critical workforce shortage the broadband industry is facing,” said Cory Pavicich, director of product management--Professional Learning at SCTE. “The cable industry is losing technicians every year due to retirement and attrition to other industries in addition to network expansion.”

He added that when we look at the shrinking of the workforce, there has been no single training organization that could meet the industry’s needs.

“SCTE sees partnerships like what we’re doing with CSU Global as part of the workforce pipeline that we believe we’re well-suited to orchestrate,” Pavicich said. “As professional organizations grounded in standards for broadband, we can bring the voice of the industry throughout the entire pipeline.”

Furthering educational opportunities

This program with CSU highlights the current SCTE broadband certifications in installation, network and headend engineering.

While CSU isn’t the only college that it has partnered with, SCTE’s capabilities with a recognized educational institution like CSU “can be recognized for academic credit.”

Besides providing training for network and fiber installation, the program can be a starting point to potentially advance into a management role at the service provider or vendor they work for.

“We’re not only thinking of the early days of trying to get people to bury the cable, but also what you do when you have your certification and want to get advancement?” Pavicich said. “We want to SCTE members and get the degree or academic credit to move forward.”

To train top talent, Pavicich said, “SCTE can do that by giving current and new broadband workers opportunities.”

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