Pew Warns That Workforce Issues Could Hamper BEAD Rollout

Pew Warns That Workforce Issues Could Hamper BEAD Rollout

States might struggle to meet BEAD deadlines, given workforce issues that range from lack of skilled telecom workers to training requirements, Pew's Broadband Access Initiative said in a report last week. It's tough to accurately calculate workforce needs to support...

Pew: Bad Data a Barrier to Shoring up Broadband Workforce

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2025 – The national broadband workforce is widely expected to be strained by an influx of projects funded by the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.  Faulty data is a major barrier to the industry adequately meeting that demand, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative.Pew said it found 41 states that identified workforce shortages as a risk factor in t…

Workforce Shortages Threaten $42.5B Federal Broadband Rollout

The success of the $42.5 billion BEAD broadband program hinges on whether the U.S. can train enough skilled workers to meet tight deadlines, according to a study by Pew Charitable Trusts. A new brief warns that workforce shortages, training delays, and inconsistent job data could stall deployments. The Department of Commerce’s updated BEAD rules, issued June 6, 2025, may further complicate timelines by reopening provider selection and limiting w…