WIA’s TIRAP Provides Apprenticeship Materials in Spanish to Support Diverse Workforce

April 25, 2019
Contact:
Amy-Gabrielle Bartolac, Public Affairs Manager
703-621-0527
Amy-Gabrielle.Bartolac@wia.org

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s (WIA) Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) is pleased to provide the Telecommunications Tower Technician Mentoring and Education Guide in Spanish to address the nation’s growing Spanish-speaking population.

“TIRAP-participating employers are hiring in seven of the top ten Spanish-speaking states[1],” said WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein. “Reducing language barriers in the telecommunications industry is a no-brainer. Offering training materials in an apprentice’s native language will result in training efficiency, meaningful careers, and a more diverse workforce ready to build and maintain next-generation 5G infrastructure.”

“It is crucial to provide this resource to a diverse workforce so that each individual is able to clearly understand the program’s policies and procedures and can successfully progress from apprentice to fully-trained technician,” said TIRAP Chairperson David Sams. “Providing training materials in more than one language offers opportunity to a wider audience of individuals looking to join or remain gainfully employed in the workforce, and most importantly, these materials will have a positive impact on safety in the wireless industry.”

The Telecommunications Tower Technician Mentoring and Education Guide is also available in English.

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The Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) is a joint venture of telecommunications companies, industry associations, and the U.S. Department of Labor (“DoL”) that develops DoL-credentialed apprenticeship programs available to qualified employers for career development of the telecommunications workforce.

TIRAP’s mission is to partner with stakeholders to promote safety, enhance quality, and enable education and advancement opportunities in the telecommunications workforce that will meet network infrastructure build-out needs.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is the National Sponsor of TIRAP.

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[1] https://telelanguage.com/spanish-speakers-united-states-infographic/