Broadband Workforce Survey Shows Challenges Providers Expect During BEAD Rollout

A recently released survey of fixed-broadband providers demonstrates their workforce expectations as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program gains momentum across states. Representatives of 46 broadband providers—including electric cooperatives and fixed-wireless, telephone, and cable companies—completed the survey. These providers typically served between 5,000 and 50,000 customers. Over half of the respondents had between 50 and 200 employees, with another 40 percent having between 10 and 50 employees. Seventy-five percent of survey respondents expected to receive federal or state broadband funding over the next 5-10 years, and most (77%) envision a 10-50% expansion of the geographic size of their network during that time.

[Brian Whitacre is Professor and Jean & Patsy Neustadt Chair in the department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University. Brian’s main area of interest is rural economic development, with a focus on the role that technology can play.  He also serves as the chair of Oklahoma’s Broadband Expansion Council.]