The Rural Wireless Association, Inc. (RWA) along with other trade associations joined today in urging the Chair of key House and Senate committees to adopt legislation that supports communications workforce development programs.  The letters, to Sen. Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, urged adoption of legislation that would address the current shortage of a properly trained and qualified communications workforce.  Such legislation may be stand-alone or part of a larger package, and may include the Communications Job Training Act (H.R. 1848), the Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act (S. 3355), and the TOWER Infrastructure Deployment Act (H.R. 3255). Joining RWA on the letters were the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), CTIA, Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association (NATE), National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) and the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA).

“RWA’s members need competently trained workers in order to build out and deploy new 5G networks in their rural areas.  Skilled workers are also needed to assist some RWA members with the expeditious replacement and removal of Huawei and ZTE equipment to meet the requirements of the Secure Networks Act.  The proposed legislation will also create much needed jobs to help get Americans back to work building the infrastructure needed to support all Americans,” noted Carri Bennet, RWA’s General Counsel. We look forward to working with our colleagues and Congress to get this enacted.