WIA Supports Training 5G Workforce through Public-Private Partnership

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), the national sponsor for the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), announced today its strong support for a public-private partnership between Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP), NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA), and Wake Technical Community College (WTCC) to develop curricula and train and certify Tower Technicians and develop apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.

“WIA and TIRAP thank TEP, NATE, NWSA, and WTCC for their leadership in spearheading this admirable effort. WIA is thrilled this partnership will build on apprenticeship efforts underway to prepare the workforce to deploy 5G networks,” said WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein. “This initiative will provide a model for developing the wireless workforce of the future that is prepared for 5G roles, including tower technicians.”

“Public-private partnerships like these can be replicated throughout the United States as we develop a pipeline of qualified candidates for the telecommunications industry,” said TIRAP Chair Paul Roberts, Vice President, Compliance, American Tower Corporation. “Pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship is an effective way to train the wireless workforce, and we look forward to working with partners and consortiums such as this in providing these opportunities to the industry.”

TEP is a Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP)-participating employer.

WIA welcomes inquiries from other educational institutions on apprenticeship programs and TIRAP. For information, please contact:

Deb Bennett
Director of Apprenticeship
913-707-0528
Deb.Bennett@wia.org

###

Contact:
Amy-Gabrielle Bartolac | Public Affairs Manager, WIA
Amy-Gabrielle.Bartolac@wia.org | 703-621-0527