Wireless Infrastructure Association to lead Texas broadband workforce training

The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) has received provisional approval for a $5 million grant from the Texas Broadband Development Office. The funding will support a four-year program focused on training workers in broadband-related skilled trades across Texas.

This initiative aims to address the shortage of fiber optic technicians necessary to meet broadband infrastructure demands under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. The program plans to deliver training through four University of Houston System campuses and additional regional sites, targeting both urban and rural communities identified as high-priority areas for broadband expansion.

The program will utilize OpTIC Path curriculum, a 144-hour certification course developed by the Fiber Broadband Association, to provide hands-on fiber optic technician training. Training facilities will include four laboratories equipped with industry-standard technology. The curriculum will be integrated into the University of Houston’s course offerings, allowing students to receive industry-recognized credentials and academic credit applicable toward degree programs.

WIA serves as an industry intermediary, collaborating with employers, academia, and government entities to identify broadband workforce needs and develop corresponding training programs. The association operates fiber optic technician credentialing and apprenticeship initiatives nationwide. The University of Houston will act as a strategic partner in implementing this training program.

Patrick Halley, President and CEO of WIA, said, “Texas will need thousands of new broadband workers over the next several years to meet BEAD infrastructure goals, and this new program will deliver certified technicians to address this workforce gap. Communities with reliable broadband access attract businesses and enable access to educational and healthcare services that transform quality of life. WIA is proud to lead this transformative project that will accelerate connectivity and turn jobs into careers for individuals across the great State of Texas.” Tim House, Executive Vice President and COO at WIA, said, “In partnership with the University of Houston System, WIA’s new program will create a permanent pipeline of skilled broadband workers that will serve Texas for decades beyond this initial investment. We’re not just training workers, we’re building sustainable career pathways that fully integrate into Texas higher education, ensuring graduates receive both industry credentials and academic credit toward degree programs.” Dmitri Litvinov, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Research at the University of Houston, said, “The University of Houston is pleased to partner with WIA to implement a hands-on fiber optic technician training program throughout the UH System and across Texas. This initiative is an excellent addition to our career training programs and will serve to prepare the next generation of Texans for high demand jobs and fulfilling careers in the broadband industry. We’re excited to get to work, and we thank the Texas Broadband Development Office for their support for workforce development.”

The program will also work with Texas-based recruiters from Brooksource to enhance job placement opportunities for its graduates. The goal includes establishing workforce development in broadband as a sustainable component of higher education within the University of Houston System and leveraging WIA’s role as a trade association representing digital infrastructure employers to connect trained technicians with employment opportunities.