The CARDBoard Project’s Broadband Fiber Optic Project expands workforce access by partnering with a leading fiber optics training school to deliver high-quality, industry-recognized instruction.

Through this collaboration, participants receive hands-on training in fiber installation, splicing, testing, troubleshooting and workplace safety — skills aligned with national certification standards and the needs of Texas’ rapidly growing broadband sector.

The program is built on a 10-Step Pathway to Self-Sufficiency: (1) intake and goal setting, (2) digital skills assessment, (3) career readiness onboarding, (4) foundational digital literacy, (5) advanced fiber optics training, (6) certification preparation, (7) supportive services, (8) employer engagement and job-matching, (9) job placement and (10) post-hire coaching for retention and advancement. This partnership strengthens career mobility while supporting statewide broadband expansion.

The City of Pharr, in partnership with the PossAble Dream Foundation, IDRA, the RGV Broadband Coalition and regional workforce partners is launching a comprehensive broadband workforce development program to expand digital infrastructure and create high-demand career pathways across the Rio Grande Valley. The initiative provides tuition-free fiber optic technician training using the Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path™ curriculum, combining classroom instruction, hands-on labs and paid internships with local broadband employers. Training will be delivered at a fully equipped facility in Pharr and supported by wraparound services, job placement assistance and coordinated recruitment targeting underserved populations. Over the grant period, the program will prepare 240 trainees for industry-recognized certifications, strengthen the region’s broadband workforce pipeline and support long-term employment in a rapidly growing sector. This collaborative effort will help accelerate broadband deployment, improve economic opportunity and build a skilled, future-ready workforce for South Texas.

Gilmer-based Etex Communications, a leader in rural connectivity, is partnering with workforce-education innovator Transfr Inc. to develop and launch L.I.N.K. (Learning Immersively for Next-Gen Knowledge), a comprehensive virtual-reality and web-based broadband training program. Employer led and guided by broadband providers, associations and subject-matter experts across Texas, LINK prepares rural high school students and new employees for in-demand careers in broadband and telecommunications.

LINK extends beyond the classroom with immersive simulations and hands on skill building tied to an employer-aligned curriculum. Participants will earn industry-recognized credentials and micro-credentials mapped to industry standards and best practices supported by industry leaders. By building an early, local talent pipeline, LINK strengthens rural communities and supports the growth of Texas’s digital workforce.

Laredo College's Continuing Education department is launching a Broadband Fiber Optic Technician Training Program to prepare Texans for high-demand careers in broadband deployment. This program provides hands-on training aligned with Fiber Optic Association (FOA) certification standards and connects participants to apprenticeships and career opportunities with local internet service providers. The initiative will build a skilled workforce in South Texas, ensuring communities are prepared for the growing needs of the broadband industry. This program supports the college’s mission by equipping students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to secure gainful employment. By offering industry-recognized training that leads directly to workforce opportunities, the program empowers students to improve their economic mobility and contribute to the region’s technological advancement.

The Fiber Ready Texas Workforce Initiative equips Texans with the technical skills and nationally recognized credentials needed to support the state’s accelerating broadband expansion efforts. Through hands-on fiber and wireless installation training, Learning Alliance Corporation (LAC) prepares participants for immediate entry into high-demand, high-wage telecommunications roles. In collaboration with MasTec, Next-Edge, and Brazos Communications, the program delivers employer-aligned training, jobsite simulations, and direct interview opportunities that lead to real employment outcomes. Graduates earn stackable credentials and gain eligibility for U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship pathways, ensuring long-term career advancement in Texas’ broadband sector. This initiative strengthens the statewide workforce pipeline, supports Texas’ broadband deployment goals, and creates sustainable career opportunities for veterans, career-seekers, and underserved communities.

Texas A&M University – Kingsville’s Workforce Initiative for Rural Expansion (WIRE) will develop a skilled talent pipeline to support broadband deployment and technician readiness across rural Texas. The program offers short-term, hands-on training in fiber optic installation, splicing, testing, basic networking, troubleshooting, and jobsite safety, all aligned with industry-recognized technician credentials. Training will be delivered in partnership with local employers, workforce boards, and community organizations to ensure alignment with real-world technician demands and evolving broadband technologies. Participants will receive career-readiness coaching and direct connections to employers, creating clear pathways into high-demand broadband technician roles that strengthen regional digital infrastructure and expand economic opportunity.

Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA), the premier trade association for the telecommunications infrastructure industry, is partnering with the University of Houston and Brooksource to deliver the OpTIC Path™ fiber broadband training program. Leveraging WIA’s proven hub-and-spoke model, training will be offered across University of Houston campuses to reach underserved communities identified in the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan. This industry-aligned curriculum prepares participants for critical broadband deployment roles, supported by state-of-the-art facilities. Beyond managing and leading the program, WIA will provide industry-validated curriculum for our program partners to implement fiber optic technician training programs. The curriculum will prepare participants to immediately enter the broadband workforce to support broadband deployment and will be tied to WIA’s Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP). As the lead educational partner, the University of Houston provides facilities, faculty, student services, and integrates telecommunications training into its curriculum, while Brooksource contributes specialized workforce development support and job placement services to ensure successful career transitions. Training is provided at no cost for Texas residents.