Broadband Field Technician Apprenticeship Program Helps Build Careers

Every November, industry, labor, education and government leaders join forces for National Apprenticeship Week, a celebration of Registered Apprenticeship programs and their ability to create the workforce of tomorrow. Government data shows these programs produce a skilled workforce, improve productivity, and help retain workers.

We contribute to these efforts through our Broadband Field Technician Apprenticeship Program (BFTAP). Registered apprenticeships are industry-vetted and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor. New and existing field technicians with less than 18 months of service can participate in the program. The curriculum was designed entirely in-house and uses a combination of classroom, online and on-the-job training to teach customer service, safety and technical skills.

Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs has classified the BFTAP as a qualified education program, allowing employees who served in the military to receive GI Bill benefits in addition to their paychecks while they are enrolled. When participants complete the program, they receive a certificate of completion recognized across our industry. That program and our other veteran-focused efforts are among the reasons why Forbes has named Spectrum one of America's Best Employers for Veterans for the third consecutive year.

Right now, 3,500 employees are using the BFTAP to take the next step in their careers, following in the footsteps of the more than 1,400 technicians who have done so since we introduced the program in 2018. They have accepted the challenge from leadership to progress their careers.

Many of the program’s graduates are military veterans. Field Operations offers veterans several different opportunities to use the technical skills they developed while serving, and the BFTAP is one phenomenal opportunity to create that connection. National Apprenticeship Week gives us yet another chance to celebrate the contributions veterans make to our organization every day.

If you’re interested in learning more about earning a best-in-class recognition as a Certified Broadband Technician, click here.