NATE Newsroom:

NATE Statement on Introduction of IMPACT Act in U.S. Senate 

Posted on: March 25, 2021 Category: NATE News

For Immediate Release: 
March 25, 2021

NATE Statement on Introduction of IMPACT Act in U.S. Senate 

(Washington, D.C.) – NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association today released the following statement on the introduction of the Improving Minority Participation and Careers in Telecommunications Act (IMPACT) in the U.S. Senate:

“NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association commends Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) for introducing bipartisan legislation designed to help address the telecommunications industry’s workforce shortages by establishing a federal grant to promote the development of telecommunications education and job-training programs at minority institutions,” said President & CEO Todd Schlekeway.

“The Association is extremely pleased to have worked with Senator Wicker in the development of the IMPACT Act. We are particularly excited that this is a bipartisan proposal that appropriately recognizes the critical importance of promoting educational and employment opportunities in the telecommunications field, which is so essential to the nation’s economy, competitiveness, security, and vital communications capabilities. This legislation, if passed, can play a major role in developing a pipeline of future workers that is an integral part of NATE’s workforce development strategic plan,” Schlekeway added.

The bill proposes to award $100 million in grants to certain institutions of higher learning to educate and train students to participate in the telecom workforce. Entities eligible for grants under the legislation are principally Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or minority-serving institutions. These schools would be required to partner with industry or an organization with experience providing workforce training to the telecom industry, to develop programs to ensure that students have the skills needed for the workforce.

For more information on the IMPACT Act, visit www.Congress.gov. To learn more about NATE, visit www.natehome.com. 

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About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. Today the Association boasts over 1,020 member companies located throughout the United States, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, China, Guam, Israel, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. For additional information on NATE, please visit natehome.com.

Contact: Todd Schlekeway
(605) 882-5865