State of Broadband Today
In today’s increasingly digital world, access to high-speed internet is not just a convenience but a necessity. From remote work and online education to telehealth services and e-commerce, reliable broadband connections are crucial for individuals and communities to thrive. However, there is a pressing issue looming over the expansion and maintenance of broadband infrastructure: the shortage of skilled technicians.
The Current Landscape: A Shortage of Broadband Technicians
As demand for broadband services continues to surge, the shortage of qualified technicians has become more pronounced. According to industry reports, there is a significant gap between the number of job openings for broadband technicians and the available workforce to fill these positions. This shortage is not only hindering the deployment of broadband networks but also impacting the quality of service for existing customers.
Why Technician Training Opportunities Matter
Investing in technician training opportunities is crucial for ensuring that the nation’s broadband infrastructure can meet the evolving needs of society. C-Tech is committed to equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot broadband networks, we can bridge the technician gap and pave the way for greater digital inclusion and economic prosperity.
5G Dominance
The rollout of 5G networks continues to be a focal point in 2024. This fifth-generation technology promises significantly faster data speeds, lower latency, and increased network capacity. As more carriers expand their 5G infrastructure, we can expect a surge in applications that leverage this technology, from augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to smart cities and autonomous vehicles.
Lac du Flambeau Band of Native Americans Seeks to Bridge Reservation’s Digital Divide
At C-Tech, we constantly strive to find ways to help prepare students for careers in the Broadband Infrastructure field. Currently, we work with Correctional and Educational Facilities across the nation, as well as religious and community-based entities such as Catholic Charities. In the future, C-Tech hopes to provide expanding opportunities in other areas. Stories like the one below demonstrate the need for broadband infrastructure nationwide, including in our Indigenous communities:
In Northern Wisconsin, on Pokegama Lake, resides the Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa Native Americans (Waaswaaganing in their native language of Ojibwe). Acquiring its current name from 18th-century French settlers who visited the area and observed the tribe’s practice of harvesting fish at night by torchlight, Lac du Flambeau, or “Lake of the Torches,” is home to picturesque waterscapes and forests, ideal for hunting and fishing in the fall, or ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter.
However, one thing Lac be Flambeau was not home to was reliable internet service for its businesses and homes. When residents found themselves being left behind by the digital divide, an issue made more prevalent by the pandemic, the tribe took matters into their own hands to provide themselves with the infrastructure needs that local internet providers had failed to deliver.
The community is currently in the process of building its own broadband network.
“The tribe stands ready to break ground in a matter of months, intending to put its first fiber cables in the ground by May. From there, they hope to connect their first home in the fall,” said Dion Reynolds, chief operating officer of Lac du Flambeau’s Business Development Corporation
The project, funded through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, aims to connect its approximately 3,000 residences on the Lac du Flambeau reservation with high-speed broadband internet by January 2026.