NATE Applauds Introduction of Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018
For Immediate Release:
April 26, 2018
NATE Applauds Introduction of Communications Jobs
Training Act of 2018
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced by U.S. Representatives Loebsack and Mullin; Addresses Industry’s Workforce Development Challenges
(Washington, D.C.) – The NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released a statement on the introduction of the Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018 in the United States House of Representatives.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) from Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District and U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) from Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District, is designed to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding for job training to enhance communications tower service. Specifically, the bill would direct the Federal Communications Commission to carry out a grant program to make grants to community colleges, post-secondary vocational and technical schools and any organization that provides career and technical education to veterans to establish or expand job training programs for communications tower service, construction and maintenance. The legislation would authorize $20 million per year in fiscal years 2018-2020.
“NATE enthusiastically supports the Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018 and commends Congressmen Loebsack and Mullin for their initiative in introducing this legislation,” said Chairman Jim Tracy from Burley, Washington. “Workforce development is a top priority for the Association. The grant funding made available through this legislation will play a critical role in recruiting and training a pipeline of future workers at community colleges and technical schools as the industry prepares for substantially greater demand for communications tower services resulting from the Broadcast Repack transition, FirstNet build-out and the densification of networks on the road to 5G,” added Tracy.
The concept of the Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018 was conceived by Congressman Loebsack after a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on the Broadcast Repack transition where workforce development emerged as a common theme. Tracy delivered witness testimony at the hearing and the Association later provided additional feedback on the proposed contents included in the Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018.
NATE’s membership includes over 825 companies representing all layers of the diverse wireless and broadcast infrastructure chain. For more information on the Communications Jobs Training Act of 2018, visit www.Congress.gov.
 U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack(D-IA) |
 U.S. Congressman Markwayne Mullin(R-OK) |
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About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association in the wireless infrastructure industry providing a unified voice for tower erection, service and maintenance companies. Today the Association boasts over 825 member companies located throughout the United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Trinidad. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.
