About
Our mission is to empower underserved rural communities with access to broadband by creating a highly skilled and capable workforce in the field of broadband infrastructure.
Through effective coordination, comprehensive training programs, and the collective expertise of our guild, we strive to enhance the quality and quantity of Broadband Professionals serving rural communities across the nation.
We envision a nation where everyone has access to a high quality, reliable broadband network with an effective and safe workforce to deploy, maintain and repair that network.
BBG’s effect on Workforce Development: We will support the creation and growth of certified, well-paid jobs that have national portability, with a focus on enhancing economic opportunities in rural areas.
BBG’s effect on Digital Equity: Our workforce development activities will speed up and power America's broadband network rollout, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Programs
BBG is committed to providing long-term sustainable solutions to this issue in the following ways:
- By providing state of the art technical training for broadband deployment in rural areas, through a network of Fiber Training Yards across the US.
- By partnering with rural electric cooperatives, government partners, community partners, educational institutions, and key stakeholders in the industry to invest in training, certifications, and apprenticeships.
- By developing a pipeline of new workers to the industry through advocacy, promotion, and partnership with workforce development and trade focused educational partners.
Contact us for more information on our training programs. Programs are available to individuals wanting to enter the Fiber Deployment industry, to Electric Cooperatives looking to begin or further their broadband deployment services, and to any broadband deployment specialists.
Programs include:
BBG Electric Cooperative Fiber Onboarding: Designed for electric linemen whose Cooperative is adding fiber for their customers or has already added and needs onboarding training for new lineman.
- The course is a two-week intensive on-site program.
- Teaches participants how to lay out, install and maintain fiber optic outside plant systems.
- This course builds on the knowledge gained from experience in the field or from prior fiber optic installer courses.
- The skills learned in this course are applicable to all the requirements to safely and competently install, maintain, and test fiber optic cabling systems.
BBG Electric Cooperative Fiber Custom Instruction: Designed based on the specific needs of an Electric Cooperative that is adding fiber to their customers or has added it and needs additional training.
- Safety refreshers, new hire onboarding, technology updates, etc.
- A 2-day on-site discovery visit is available to help cooperatives determine their needs. The cost of the discovery visit can be used as partial credit toward the customized training.
BBG General Public Instruction: - Available to all
- BBG Fiber Program LEVEL 1: Fiber Optic Installer. Classes are held at the BBG Michigan Fiber Training Yard in White Cloud, MI, opening September 2025. The program schedule will be announced this summer.
- BBG Fiber Program LEVEL 2: Fiber Optic Technician – Classes are held at the BBG Michigan Fiber Training Yard in White Cloud, MI, opening September 2025. The program schedule will be announced this summer.