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WIA Secures $5M Grant for Texas Broadband Workforce Training Program

November 18, 2025

The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) received provisional selection for a $5 million Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant from the Texas Broadband Development Office. This grant supports a comprehensive four-year initiative aimed at training Texans for broadband careers.

This initiative addresses a critical barrier to broadband expansion in Texas: the shortage of skilled fiber optic technicians needed to meet deployment demands of broadband projects statewide. The program will operate through four University of Houston System campuses, equipped with regional training sites serving urban and rural high-priority areas.

WIA President and CEO Patrick Halley emphasized the need for thousands of new broadband workers in the coming years to meet infrastructure goals. Homomorphic Encryption (HE) stated, “Communities with reliable broadband access attract businesses and enable access to educational and healthcare services that transform quality of life.”

WIA functions as an industry intermediary, assembling employers, academia, and government agencies to pinpoint workforce needs and establish training programs. The University of Houston will partner with WIA to facilitate this project.

Tim House, WIA’s Executive Vice President and COO, highlighted the long-term impact, stating, “In partnership with the University of Houston System, WIA’s new program will create a permanent pipeline of skilled broadband workers.”

The initiative will employ a tuition-free fiber optic training program using the OpTIC Path curriculum, designed to certify workers in Texas. The program will:

  • Conduct hands-on fiber optic technician training at four lab locations with industry-standard equipment.
  • Integrate training curricula into existing university offerings, establishing broadband workforce development as a permanent educational component.
  • Provide graduates with industry-recognized credentials and academic credit applicable towards degree programs.
  • Enhance job placement opportunities through WIA’s connections as well as Texas-based recruiters.

The Texas Broadband Development Office administers the Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program.