The race is on to build the skilled fiber workforce. In a recent webinar hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association, industry experts discussed how technician training fuels economic growth, empowers individuals and their communities, and ensures broadband projects succeed.
The panelists, who explored challenges in recruiting, preparing, and retaining talent, included:
- Tzeitel Buchanan, Director, Public Sector Programs & Community Partnerships at Lumen
- Kelly Weissmann, Director of Technical Training and Support at Clearfield
- Pete Bley, Director, Broadband and Tribal Business Development at Ciena
- Michael Wood, Market Manager – Broadband at Clearfield, who served as moderator
The webinar offered insights into the challenges and solutions shaping the broadband workforce of tomorrow. Panelists also provided background to Clearfield’s new, no-cost training initiative designed to bring meaningful career opportunities to Tribal communities.
You can find the top three takeaways below — or watch the webinar on demand.
1. Trained Fiber Techs Are in Short Supply
As broadband deployment accelerates across the United States, the demand for skilled fiber optic technicians has reached unprecedented levels. The aging telecom workforce has decreased by 25% over the past decade. This attrition of experienced fiber techs, in the face of an expected BEAD funding boom, makes training more critical than ever.
The success of broadband projects — and the economic growth they enable — depends on a highly skilled, local workforce. “There’s all kinds of pressure to be able to build the workforce up right now so that we can start building on a lot of these different projects,” Bley said. “They’re truly going to change how we look at the internet today within the next five years.”
2. Clearfield’s Training Offers Career Options
Clearfield’s Certified Fiber Optic Training (CFOT®) program stands out as a practical, accessible entry point for aspiring fiber technicians. This Fiber Optic Association (FOA)-certified course teaches foundational knowledge through classroom learning and hands-on experience, providing practical expertise for inside plant, outside plant, or access network applications.
The CFOT certification is a starting point for folks who are interested in a meaningful career in the industry. Fiber technicians can take the knowledge they gain into the field as they grow and chart their own journey. “It’s a career path, something that you’re going to be able to invest pretty much your lifetime into — a career that’s going to raise a family and build a community,” Weissmann said.
3. Invest in People, Invest in Communities
Beyond technical skills, fiber optic training programs offer life-changing opportunities for individuals and lasting benefits for communities. However, a lack of options close to home can force those in rural, hard-to-reach locations, including Tribal lands, to relocate. This causes communities to dwindle, while individuals lose connections to family and culture.
Providing training and jobs near those communities helps prevent that, according to Buchanan, a member of the Cherokee Nation. “As fiber rolls out, these are certifications and jobs that are going to be here for a very long time,” she said. “We need to get them filled with our own Tribal members who live on Reservation, understand the community, understand their customs and norms, and are able to help with that.”
Fiber Training for Tribal Community Members
Clearfield’s new fiber technician training program for Native American communities aims to remove those barriers. Presented with support from Lumen and Ciena, the no-cost, three-day training course will take place regionally in locations within driving distance of Tribal lands.
Buchanan recalled in recent years talking about the potential of a program like this with Clearfield COO Johnny Hill, then feeling overjoyed when he announced at ISE Expo 2025 that Clearfield was going to make it a reality. While meeting demands for fast fiber deployment is important, this initiative focuses on something much larger.
“It’s not just about building networks,” Buchanan said. “It’s about building people and communities.”