AI and broadband work together to engineer infrastructure to carry us into the future. Learn how employees with AI skills are crucial to helping power the new digital age.
Dave Stehlin
CEO, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accelerating America’s digital evolution — and broadband is the heart that pumps us forward. This is our chance to engineer infrastructure that is smarter, faster, and more secure, enabling advanced connectivity and resilient networks. It’s not just a challenge; it’s a strategic opportunity to define the next generation of technology and global leadership.
AI now plays a major role in broadband. It helps plan fiber routes, predict wireless network outages, monitors undersea cables, and manages internet traffic in real time. Security teams use AI to spot threats, and service providers rely on automation to speed up repairs and improve customer service. These tools are becoming essential in a world where everything is connected.
At the same time, America is investing big in broadband. In 2024 alone, more than $100 billion was invested in fiber, wireless, and satellite networks from private, state, and federal sources. More than $1 trillion will be invested in AI data centers over the next five years. That means thousands of new jobs for fiber installers, network technicians, and construction crews.
But states report worker shortages and long training times, which could slow down projects and limit the impact of this historic investment. The shortages are for both AI technology and broadband network positions, and we don’t have enough training programs to keep up.
Meeting demand
AI skills now show up in nearly 80% of tech job postings in major economies. Companies are looking for AI engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts, and specialists who can manage AI safely. Network planners and technicians, fiber splicers, and construction crews are also in high demand. And employers want workers who understand AI tools and automation and are comfortable working with new technologies.
So what’s the solution? Public and private sectors must work together. That means creating fast-track training programs, adding AI skills to tech courses, and building partnerships with employers so training matches real-world needs. Soft skills, like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, are just as important as technical know-how because people will work alongside AI every day.
AI is here to stay, and broadband is the heart powering this new digital age. Workers who learn these new skills will have the best shot at great careers for the future.
Want to explore training options and stay informed? Visit broadbandnation.org.
