Preparing the Wireless and Broadband Workforce for the AI Future

By Deb Bennett, Vice President, Apprenticeship, WIA

In recent congressional testimony, a senior NVIDIA executive stated that “the convergence of AI and wireless infrastructure will fundamentally reshape the global telecommunications landscape.” Simply put: wireless infrastructure is AI infrastructure. To stay competitive, companies in this sector must embrace AI—starting with foundational workforce training. WIA is already leading the charge.

For nearly a decade, WIA has been proud to lead TIRAP, the Telecommunication Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program, as the National Sponsor. WIA established TIRAP, a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) registered apprenticeship program, to fill a critical need for workforce readiness and safety training within the wireless infrastructure industry.

We are proud of the pipeline of career opportunities that has evolved from the program through 16 DOL-approved occupations across the wireless and broadband industries. With more than 100 employers participating and more than 6,000 apprentices registered to date, TIRAP is successfully helping digital infrastructure employers address workforce needs and train job seekers for well-paying careers.

These newly trained and upskilled workers will be essential to advancing national connectivity goals—from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s Build America agenda to NTIA’s BEAD Program, which aim to expand connectivity access across the country. Registered Apprenticeships will continue to play a critical role in supplying the skilled workforce needed to efficiently deploy America’s digital infrastructure.

AI and Skilled Trade Jobs

 In a recent Presidential Executive Order on skilled trade jobs of the future, President Trump committed to “further protect and strengthen Registered Apprenticeships and build on their successes to seize new opportunities and unlock the limitless potential of the American worker.” The executive order called for a plan to expand Registered Apprenticeship with a goal of 1 million apprentices. It also called for a comprehensive worker investment and development strategy to include the opportunities to upskill workers to meet rapidly evolving demands of their industries, including the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leading the charge to increase the number of Registered Apprenticeships with an eye toward how AI is changing our world. “To maintain America’s global dominance in an age of technological revolution, Registered Apprenticeships, and even school curricula, must adapt to meet AI literacy and proficiency needs,” Secretary Chavez-DeRemer told Congress.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is right – AI in the workplace will have an impact on how we all conduct our work. This is certainly true within the wireless and broadband industries. As such, WIA is implementing a plan to revise current TIRAP occupations to incorporate AI advancements, enhancing the learning and development process for the apprentice. As a first step, TIRAP’s Advisory Committee – made up of 8 representatives from participating companies – has undertaken a project to evaluate several TIRAP apprenticeship occupations with the goal of updating approved occupations to reflect industry trends and technology upgrades, including the use of AI on the job.

Modifying occupations to incorporate AI-related skills is not just a forward-thinking strategy, but a necessary evolution for the industry. By integrating AI training into our apprenticeship programs, we can ensure that the America’s digital infrastructure workforce is equipped with the latest technological competencies, fostering innovation and efficiency. This proactive approach will not only enhance the adaptability and resilience of our workforce but also drive the industry towards a more sustainable and competitive future.

Supporting a New Golden Age for American Workers

WIA is committed to expanding the reach and impact of TIRAP as a proven Industry Intermediary model for workforce development in the telecommunications sector. DOL’s continued support for scaling employer-sponsored programs will help to significantly grow Registered Apprenticeship adoption across the industry. Under Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s leadership, we look forward to supporting her efforts to usher in a new Golden Age for American workers through future-ready Registered Apprenticeships.