The Ohio State University (OSU), a school in the storied Big 10 conference, will receive $3 million to design curriculum for Ohio’s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership in an effort to develop a skilled broadband workforce, according to Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT).
As the host institution, OSU will identify a nonprofit telecommunications industry partner that will lead the effort. The Sector Partnership will work to design and distribute curriculum and training programs across the state and promote career awareness to supply the industry with a skilled workforce. The curriculum will then become available to all higher education institutions in Ohio as part of a larger effort by OWT and BroadbandOhio to grow the workforce needed to expand broadband access and 5G in Ohio.
“The State of Ohio is a shining example of an innovative plan to address broadband deployment and 5G workforce development, establishing programs and allocating both federal and state funds to the effort,” said Todd Schlekeway, President and CEO of NATE: The Communications Industry Contractors Association. “When a flagship institution like Ohio State gets involved and there’s funding, it’s certainly going to move the needle on the industry’s collective efforts to both close the digital divide while simultaneously developing the 5G workforce.”
5G joined the PAC 12 conference earlier this month. Verizon launched a 5G Innovation Hub at Arizona State University’s Learning Futures Collaboratory, Studios and Emporium, which will allow students, faculty and entrepreneurs to collaborate on 5G-powered educational experiences.
Last November, the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation launched Telecommunications Tower Technician Programs at North Central State College, Hocking College, and Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Center, Inside Towers reported. They use a curriculum developed by NATE.
“The Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation has worked closely with our industry to develop these first-class Telecommunications Tower Technician 1 (TTTI) programs that will ensure the Buckeye State’s educational system is graduating career-ready technicians,” said Schlekeway.
Previously, Husted announced the Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership Grant application, as well as the 5G Readiness Programs at Youngstown (OH) State University and Ashland University, in partnership with the Wireless Infrastructure Association, Inside Towers reported. The “Strengthening Ohio’s Broadband & 5G Workforce” Strategy, released in September 2021, called for a Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership that will give the telecommunications industry a chance to work alongside training providers to develop curriculum that will be available for any Ohio institution, according to Husted.
By J. Sharpe Smith Inside Tower Technology Editor
Reader Interactions