Biden Focuses on Broadband Workforce Development

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The White House detailed on Thursday how the President’s Build Back Better plan, if passed, would create a better future for young Americans. Specifically, the administration threw its support behind a $100 billion investment in workforce training programs, including registered apprenticeships.

The United States has underinvested in the workforce development system for decades, according to the administration. In 2018, for example, the U.S. spent less than one quarter of the average that other advanced economies spend on workforce and labor market programs as a share of GDP.  

Biden is calling on Congress to “significantly increase investments in American workforce development infrastructure and worker protection,” according to the document. This includes registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, creating one to two million new registered apprenticeships slots, and strengthening the pipeline for more women and people of color to access these opportunities through successful pre-apprenticeship programs such as the Women in Apprenticeships in Non-Traditional Occupations.  

The measure also invests in sector-based training programs, which are comprehensive training programs that include wraparound services, paired with high-quality training and effective partnerships between educational institutions, unions, and employers — guaranteeing placement in a good quality, in-demand job, notes the White House. “The sector-based training investments will provide millions of workers –particularly young workers, women and workers of color –with pathways into high job-quality sectors including, clean energy, manufacturing and infrastructure. This will ensure these underserved groups have greater access to new infrastructure jobs,” notes the administration in the fact sheet.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association applauded the administration’s “strong statement of support.” WIA President/CEO Jonathan Adelstein said the association “has been leading the way by bringing registered apprenticeship into the wireless industry for the first time, with the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP). TIRAP, which is registered with the Department of Labor, has succeeded by partnering with the Department of Labor in developing an initiative with 58 employers to train many more workers for the jobs of the future.”

He said the announcement comes on the heels of the reported bipartisan infrastructure agreement that also recognized the importance of workforce development in broadband deployment. “The reported deal includes $685 million for state digital equity programs, which can be administered by an entity that carries out a workforce development program,” said Adelstein.

“We need a workforce large enough and sufficiently trained to meet the demands of 5G deployment to beat countries like China in the race to 5G,” Adelstein emphasized. “The U.S. needs to reap all the economic and innovation benefits that 5G offers.”

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