By Tina Metzer, Co-Founder, RuralRISE
We are often asked – who were some of the partners when RuralRISE launched. One of those partners… A small, entrepreneurial community college – tucked in the hills of West Virginia- whose vision for local innovation helped catalyze a national rural movement. One of the smallest in the state, yet one of the boldest, this institution became the heartbeat of our first RuralRISE gathering.
If you’ve ever talked to any of us at RuralRISE, you’ll quickly discover our deep belief in the power of rural community colleges. These institutions are far more than places of learning—they’re economic anchors, workforce engines, and centers of innovation for rural America. And in today’s digital age, their role is more important than ever.
As broadband deployment ramps up across the country, fueled by transformative investments like the BEAD program, rural communities are asking a crucial question: Do we have the workforce to build and sustain this infrastructure?
The Unsung Heroes in Broadband Expansion
Fiber doesn’t install itself. Towers don’t rise on their own. Security doesn’t just happen. High-speed internet is a human challenge as much as a technical one—and rural America is rising to meet it.
That rise begins in the classroom.
Community colleges—especially those in rural communities—are stepping up with flexible, career-aligned programs in:
- Fiber Optics Installation and Maintenance
- Network Cabling and Structured Wiring
- Wireless Systems and 5G Technologies
- Cybersecurity and Network Security
These aren’t theoretical exercises. They’re hands-on, practical programs, often built in collaboration with local ISPs and infrastructure firms. Apprenticeships and work-based learning are core to the model. Students are learning while building their own communities—literally.
Just as importantly, these programs equip students with skills that will be applicable in the long-run. The fiber lines laid in the 90s are still in use today, and the fiber laid today will be just as durable. And with recent Congressional action to make more wireless spectrum available, we can expect to see wave of wireless deployments that will fuel the American workforce in the years to come.
By training workers to operate and build these networks, our community colleges are creating workforce pipelines that will flow for decades.
Real Impact, Right Where It’s Needed
Consider this: The U.S. needs over 200,000 fiber technicians in the next five years, according to the Fiber Broadband Association. For rural towns—where workforce pipelines are thin and job creation is critical—this is an opportunity that can’t be missed.
Community colleges are filling that gap. In North Carolina, Cape Fear Community College offers a full-year fiber apprenticeship. In Virginia, Virginia Peninsula Community College is training broadband techs with career-ready skills. Dozens more have implemented the OpTIC Path™ program, ensuring consistent training and standards across the country. Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), in collaboration with AT&T, launched a Certified Fiber Optics Technician bootcamp—a hands-on, industry-led training program that equips students with essential skills in fiber splicing, termination, testing, and outside-plant installation to support regional broadband infrastructure.
Why Rural Community Colleges Matter More Than Ever
Let’s not forget: over 65% of U.S. community colleges are located in rural or small-town areas. They are not just educational hubs—they are economic development engines, cultural centers, and innovation incubators. They reach students who may be the first in their families to go to college. They partner with local employers to meet real needs. They are trusted, affordable, and deeply embedded in the communities they serve.
And in many rural areas, they are the only institution capable of delivering broadband workforce training at the scale and speed required.
The RuralRISE Call to Action
At RuralRISE, we’ve long known the transformative power of rural community colleges. They were with us from the beginning, and they remain central to our vision for resilient, connected rural futures.
If you’re a rural leader, advocate, or changemaker—don’t overlook the potential sitting right in your own backyard. Community colleges can be your strongest ally in preparing for the broadband-driven economy ahead.
What You Can Do Now:
- Identify a local community college offering or willing to start broadband-related training
- Explore partnerships
- Advocate for funding
- Host an apprenticeship or externship—give students a real project with real impact
The infrastructure is coming. Let’s make sure our people are ready to build it.
