Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, in partnership with NATE: the Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, announced the launch of Telecommunications Tower Technician I programs at three community colleges in the state. The three schools are: North Central State College, Hocking College and Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Center. They will use the NATE TTTI Turnkey Curriculum beginning in the spring 2022 semesters. Additionally, the state of Ohio is providing approximately $200,000 in funding to each of the three schools to get the programs launched.
“We can’t embrace the modern economy without access to the internet. You need to build it and maintain it. That requires a workforce,” Husted said at Wednesday’s event, held at North Central State College in Mansfield. That’s where the tower technician programs come into play. He said a program can be completed part-time in one semester. Afterwards, students can apply for certification from the National Wireless Safety Alliance.
He credited NATE for developing the courses. “This program is great for individuals who like hands-on work and like to be outdoors,” Husted explained. He also noted that individuals who complete the program can earn between $50,000-60,000 in their first year on the job.
Husted said the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation helped launch the programs and provided grant funding for each of the schools. Also, NATE member companies have committed to provide supplemental financial resources and in-kind contributions to ensure the programs are equipped with state-of-the-art training towers, PPE equipment and other technology and materials.
NATE Workforce Consultant Dr. Gemma Frock noted the association has 35 member companies in Ohio and the event is the third announcement the telecom industry has made in the state recently. “These programs represent a strategic workforce investment and will be an asset to the Ohio telecom companies,” she said, noting graduates will be “skilled, safe and certified tower technicians, meeting the standards and expectations of our telecom companies.”
In addition to Frock, NATE was represented by its Director of Safety, Health & Compliance, Kathy Stieler.
The Ohio programs will use the NATE-developed turnkey TTTI curriculum that includes the following courses:
- Introduction to the Telecommunications Industry
- Telecom Safety & Safe Practices (Part 1)
- Wireless Industry Best Practices (Part 1)
- Telecom Installation & Maintenance
- Telecom Antennas and Lines
- Telecom Structure, Construction, Modification and Maintenance
- National Wireless Safety Alliance TTTI Exam Preparation
Additionally, the TTTI curriculum also includes the following embedded certifications built into the courses:
- First Aid/CPR
- OSHA 10
- RF/EME
- Fall Protection
- NCCCO Telecom Rigging
- Defensive Driving
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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