Vermont Business Magazine Northeast Kingdom residents looking for a new job/career are encouraged to sign up for a new Broadband Installer Apprenticeship Program. Free training starts this spring for a career as a fiber optic internet network maintenance technician, splicer, or installer.
NEK Broadband is building a 2,800-mile high-speed network to connect every address in the Northeast Kingdom and Wolcott that is currently underserved or unserved.
“We need more workers to get this job done, and we’d love to keep it local and employ as many people from the Kingdom as possible,” said Executive Director Christa Shute.
The course will include safety training, technology instruction, classroom and online work, and OSHA training. When successfully completed, trainees will enter an industry with potential for high paying jobs and opportunity for growth. These jobs will help first help build and then maintain the fiber optic network. In addition, this training can lead to careers in information technology, smart grid, and engineering trades.
The program is offered by the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB), Vermont Department of Labor, and Vermont Technical College (now part of the Vermont State University). Vermont Electric Cooperative is providing pole yard space for training. The goal is to get a cohort trained in the Northeast Kingdom.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to start a career or change careers. We have a list of employers who are looking to hire students upon completion of this program,” said VCBB Executive Director Christine Hallquist.
For more information or to apply for the program, go to Broadband Installer Apprenticeship - VTC CEWD, email [email protected], or call (802) 661-8493.
You can also learn more on April 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Fenton Chester Arena in Lyndonville at the Lyndon Institute’s career and apprenticeship fair. It’s made possible with help from a grant through the Vermont Community Foundation’s NEK Fund. Look for the NEK Broadband table to learn more about all the job openings to build the fiber-optic cable project.
About Nek Broadband: NEK Broadband is a Communications Union District that includes every town in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, plus Wolcott. We are building public infrastructure to help ensure that every address that has existing electric utility service will have access to reliable, high-speed broadband internet. As a non-profit municipality, any revenue created will go toward building and repairing infrastructure and increasing affordability for our residents.
Source: 4.7.2023. St. Johnsbury, Vermont – NEK Community Broadband https://get.nekbroadband.org
