By: Nicol Turner Lee & Jack Malamud (Tech Tank)
As the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) prepares to release the initial batch of state allocations for broadband funds in 2023, one of the mandated requirements focuses on workforce development as a crucial program outcome, particularly in the reconstruction and expansion of national infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which includes an unprecedented investment of $42.5 billion to enhance broadband deployment across the United States. The BEAD program has also incorporated several requirements aimed at fostering the development of an equitable telecommunications workforce, providing quality jobs and opportunities to workers in America, especially those who have historically been underserved by public policy initiatives, as outlined in its Workforce Planning Guide…
