What’s New in Digital Equity: N.M.’s Free Workforce Program
Plus, during the State of the Net conference, officials discussed broadband funding proposals and the importance of AI-supporting communications infrastructure; new state bills address broadband; and mor
This week in “What’s New in Digital Equity” — our weekly look at government digital equity and broadband news — we have a number of interesting items, which you can jump to with the links below:
- N.M.’s Free Workforce Program
- BEAD Proposals Approved Amid Controversy
- State of the AI Network
- State Bills Address Broadband
- Charlotte, N.C., Program Addresses Divide
N.M.’S FREE WORKFORCE PROGRAM
The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE)has launched a free, statewide workforce program to build skills within the broadband industry.
Although nationwide broadband expansion is expected to create jobs, industry officials are grappling with challenges related to the necessary workforce to deploy planned broadband projects. Governments including Ohio and others are investing in skilling individuals for the field, and now New Mexico has followed suit.
New Mexico’s workforce development program will offer internationally recognized certificates. The classes and workshops, which kicked off this week, are free to participants; the program is paid for by the U.S. Congress and administered by OBAE.
The courses, held monthly across the state, will include five days of hands-on training. Participants can explore workshops and classes in the following areas: introductory installation, optical fiber installation, copper-based cabling installation, and technician training.
“This program will help train New Mexicans for good-paying jobs, strengthen our workforce, and connect our state to affordable, reliable Internet,” Sen. Ben Ray Luján said in a statement.
For details, visit here: https://www.govtech.com/network/whats-new-in-digital-equity-n-m-s-free-workforce-program#nc212