Combination provides access to fiber broadband ecosystem, resources, and workforce training program

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today announced its OpTIC Path™ Membership Bundle that combines FBA membership with FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path) program. The bundle offers access to a deep ecosystem of broadband operators, suppliers, policymakers, and innovators, and is a wise option for organizations investing in workforce development and training.

Workforce development is a critical issue that the broadband market must overcome. A recent study published by FBA and the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) found that the current unprecedented level of broadband funding requires an extraordinary volume of engineering and construction activity that the market is not prepared to support and will result in broadband deployment delays. The study reported that the industry needs to recruit and train nearly 180,000 workers over the next 10 years to complete the networks that federal and state governments are currently preparing to fund.

FBA’s OpTIC Path program is a comprehensive training solution designed to address the growing need for skilled fiber optic technicians in the telecommunications industry. The program equips individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to design, install, maintain, and troubleshoot fiber optic networks. FBA is currently engaged with 40 states to roll out the OpTIC Path program, with 44 service providers and 70 community colleges and training institutions. The program is expected to graduate around 1,200 new fiber techs per year over the next five years as the need for skilled labor continues to grow.

“The fiber broadband industry needs to do everything it can to address the workforce shortage. This membership bundle creates a direct path to training materials, certifications, upskilling, safety practices, and more that will produce credentialed technicians ready for employment,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “Combining our program with the FBA membership benefits will foster growth, innovation, and a competitive edge in the dynamic broadband industry.”

“Evolving our membership options and packages to fit the changing needs of the industry is a high priority for FBA,” said Jennifer Vassil, Director of Membership, Fiber Broadband Association. “Workforce development is a challenge that is top of mind for many broadband businesses, and the OpTIC Path program makes it easier for the industry to properly train and hire the technicians that are so urgently needed. The new membership bundle will put the keys to workforce improvement directly in the hands of those that are building networks and connecting communities.”

To learn more about the OpTIC Path program, visit fiberbroadband.org/education-and-certification/fba-optic-path. To learn more about FBA membership, visit fiberbroadband.org/become-a-member. Or, subscribe to FBA’s Fiber Forward Weekly newsletter here.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts, and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities, and policymakers make informed decisions about how, where, and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations, and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in North America, LATAM, Europe, MEA, APAC, and South Africa. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.

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