The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) announced that College of The Albemarle is the latest education institution to offer FBA’s Optical Telecom Installer Certification (OpTIC Path™) program. Partnering with broadband internet provider Fybe, the two organizations will use the OpTIC Path course to produce a pipeline of expertly-trained fiber broadband technicians that will connect rural, eastern N.C. communities to high-quality fiber broadband networks.
Like in many areas of the country, the need for fiber infrastructure in eastern N.C. continues to increase. Fybe recognized that the availability of qualified fiber technicians would be critical in its ability to successfully deploy and maintain reliable, high-speed fiber networks. It noticed other N.C. communities offered FBA’s OpTIC Path program and gained a pipeline of talented fiber technicians, so Fybe partnered with College of The Albemarle to adopt the course and foster local talent.
“There has never been a better time to begin or continue a career in fiber. The OpTIC Path program will deliver robust technical training and create a healthy pipeline of highly qualified fiber technicians for a high-demand, lucrative, long-term career,” said Bo Coughlin, Chief Operations Officer at Fybe.
"I’m incredibly excited for College of The Albemarle to partner with Fybe and add FBA’s OpTIC Path course to our available programs," said Robin Zinsmeister, Dean of Workforce Development, Public Services and Career Readiness and Campus Administrator at College of The Albemarle –EdentonChowan.
“It is thrilling to see the OpTIC Path program grow and help communities across the nation build highspeed fiber broadband networks,” said Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at the Fiber Broadband Association. “The benefits of the OpTIC Path program are twofold. For graduates, the program provides training for a lucrative, long-term career that will remain in high demand for decades to come. For the communities, the broadband infrastructure that OpTIC Path technicians build connects residents and businesses to new opportunities and advanced capabilities for education, health care, employment, and more.”
College of The Albemarle will launch the OpTIC Path program in February 2024. FBA is currently engaged with 40 states to roll out the OpTIC Path program, with 44 service providers and 70 community colleges and training institutions. Electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have either adopted or are interested in the program.