As Colorado invests in broadband, it’s looking to develop its broadband workforce.
The state expects roughly 3,000 “high-quality jobs” in telecommunications to be created once it spends its more than $1 billion – of state and federal funding – in the sector, according to Colorado’s Broadband Office website.
One thing it’s doing to try and bolster this workforce is to support training programs, like upcoming opportunities in Pagosa Springs and Mancos.
Both programs are two weeks long and cost $1,000 per student, down from the roughly $7,000 the class normally costs, said Emily Lashbrooke, executive director of the Pagosa Springs Development Corp.
Still, tuition assistance is available, Lashbrooke said.
A statewide initiative hopes to have 99% of the homes connected to broadband by 2027, she said.
“With the right talent, our vision for a fully connected Colorado remains attainable,” Brandy Reitter, executive director of the Colorado Broadband, said in an email.
“Investing in a skilled workforce is essential to completing broadband projects that will connect communities, empower individuals and improve life for Coloradans,” Reitter said.
Lashbrooke said Southwest Colorado is “active in broadband” and that the upcoming trainings are part of a pilot program that, if successful, will be launched statewide.
The first training is in Pagosa Springs and starts Monday, Feb. 17.
It’s at 2800 Cornerstone Drive, Suite A-1 and runs Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with its final day being Feb. 28.
The following week, starting March 3, the same training will be available at Pueblo Community College’s location west of Mancos.
Those who undergo said training will receive a broadband fiber installer certification.
Lashbrooke said that course content spans a spectrum, from the origins of broadband to how the industry has changed with time is now glass fiber, to fiber splicing.
That way, students can “learn everything they need to know to keep them safe on the job.”
“This training provides students with hands-on experience and certifications that make them highly competitive in the job market,” said Suzie Miller, director of the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
“It’s a chance to step into a career path with strong earning potential, job stability, and opportunities for growth as technology continues to evolve,” Miller said.
Some positions have a starting salary between $60,000 and $80,000, right out of high school.
To be sure, the Colorado Broadband Office and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment are not hiring for broadband fiber installer positions.
“Our role is focused on raising awareness about career opportunities, supporting training programs, and fostering job placement efforts in the broadband industry,” the state’s office wrote in an email.
But Lashbrooke said that those who complete the training will be connected with jobs and local providers who are hiring, and the Colorado Workforce Center will help with that.
Already, people from Fort Collins and Pueblo have signed up for the course, and a maximum of 30 can enroll per class.
“Training and certifications like this exciting opportunity will open the doors to a variety of positions within the broadband,” Miller said.
Those interested can register here, and the deadline to apply is the Friday before each class. Reach out to Emily@pagosaspringscdc.org with any questions.
