A new law has been proposed by lawmakers in the U.S. to address the broadband worker shortage. The Broadband Industry Development Act was introduced by Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) with the aim of providing support for the development of broadband services in rural and underserved areas.

The broadband industry is facing a significant workforce shortage, which is having a detrimental impact on the efforts to expand broadband access in rural areas, resulting in delays.

“Federal resources are available to expand broadband, but not its workforce, leading to unnecessary delays," Molinaro said. "Rural communities are being left behind because there’s not enough manpower to install broadband services. We can’t let that happen. My grant program will bridge this gap to get more trained workers in the field, rolling out broadband services.”

The proposed law creates a grant program within the US Department of Labor (DOL) to provide training and development opportunities for broadband workers. The program will be accessible to local labor organizations, non-profits, private businesses, and educational institutions. The new law aims to bridge the gap between worker supply and demand, and to ensure more broadband services to rural communities.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is advocating for investment in apprenticeship programs to improve training and build a more competent broadband workforce.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association also expresses its support for the initiatives outlined in the law, stating that Congress has made significant investments in rural broadband deployment but there are still significant unmet demands for a qualified and trained broadband workforce.