Workforce Forward
By Chris Bastian
Training for the future with an upskilled workforce
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cable providers have taken action to ensure people, businesses and communities stayed connected. With 4.8 million new cable subscribers in 2020 and an additional 2.9 million in 2021, leading broadband providers now serve more than 108 million subscribers in the United States, according to Leichtman Research Group data.
With an enormous volume of subscribers and an exponential increase in time spent at home, and the bandwidth required to power households’ many technologies, networks have needed to support a vastly larger and more consistent traffic load. Never before has there been a greater dependence on a trained workforce in cable telecommunications.
In today’s world, broadband is the great equalizer. The pandemic continues to shine a spotlight on the need for universal access to high-speed, reliable Internet for school, work, and remote healthcare in addition to staying connected with loved ones. Through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the public and private sectors are joining forces to expand broadband connectivity across America. Sadly, this transformative $42 billion investment in broadband deployment is in danger of being hindered by a looming labor shortage.
Cable leaders must not only focus on attracting new employees to the industry, but it is imperative to upskill the existing workforce to support the global expansion of connectivity and technological innovation.
SCTE® has organized course offerings into Learning Journeys that focus on industry-specific areas of expertise. Regardless of where industry professionals are in their career, SCTE can help them elevate their skills and level up those skills. To date, our training has helped thousands of professionals earn SCTE certifications and we have established educational partnerships with colleges and universities including Cornell, Georgia Tech and Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth. Earlier this year, we announced an expanded partnership with Fort Hays State University and SCTE. Learners can now earn an Associate of General Studies degree with an emphasis on Computer Networking & Telecommunications. SCTE online courses count toward the associate degree that can be completed through FHSU Online.
Applying a scientific method to learning and development (L&D), SCTE is also the first in the industry to offer 3D interactive training. CORTEX® VirtuLearn is a revolutionary, interactive, multisensory training experience for today’s cable technical workforce. In as little as 10 minutes, learners get a clear and concise overview of course content to prepare their minds for training with LightningMods™. Correlating eBooks provide content presented at a custom pace for learners, providing more in-depth knowledge of how and why. We also have patent-pending games which improve knowledge absorption and retention, and 3D simulations which bridge the gap between eBook knowledge and application.
Aligned with the surge in broadband usage, SCTE has experienced double-digit growth in the number of certifications, microlessons, and courses completed in 2021.
We celebrate the growing interest in L&D offerings from throughout the cable industry, and proudly support this dedicated “workforce issue” of Broadband Library. Be sure to check out “Training Videos Aren’t the Only Answer” from Charter’s Abbie O’Dell, “The Future of Learning is Now – Foundational Principles to Invigorate your Learning Culture” from Cox Communications’ Agnes Francis-Adolphine, and “Leading Cable’s Continuum for Training” from SCTE’s Robin Fenton in this issue.
Please also make plans to visit “Infinite Learning — Inspire, Motivate, & Cultivate,” the L&D Experience during the upcoming SCTE® Cable-Tec Expo®, September 19-22 in Philadelphia, PA.
Billions of dollars are invested annually to deliver ultra-fast Internet speeds, power new innovations and create award-winning TV programming. With a growing workforce and continued investment in the Internet’s infrastructure, the cable industry is truly an American economic leader, with an economic impact estimated at $460 billion. Supporting a diverse workforce of 3 million direct and indirect jobs, these employees play a critical role in our economy. By providing access to career journey mapping, online courses, certifications, best practices and standards, we are educating the workforce of the future.
Chris Bastian
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, SCTE® a subsidiary of CableLabs®
Chris Bastian is senior vice president and chief technology officer for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE®), a subsidiary of CableLabs®. With three decades of leadership in advanced cable and network security technologies, Chris is responsible for all areas of technology and engineering to ensure that SCTE maintains a leadership role in standardizing and operationalizing advanced technology, including the SCTE Standards Program and the SCTE Engineering Committee — as well as groundbreaking efforts such as SCTE’s Energy 20/20 program.
