Local Workforce: The Secret to Building Sustainable Rural Fiber Networks

In Episode 2 of Talk Fiber to Me, Baby, Caleb and Josh Etheridge dive into one of the fiber industry's toughest challenges: building networks that last in rural America. With $20.4 billion in RDOF funding on the table and Louisiana alone needing 20,000 workers just for BEAD deployment, the brothers aren't just talking fiber-they're weaving together the real questions about sustainability. (Pun fully intended.)
Key Topics Include:
· Why investing in rural broadband without a local workforce strategy is like building a bridge that leads nowhere.
· EPC’s evolution from 'How do we hire 20 people?' to 'How do we create lasting economic impact?'
· The critical link between local workforce development and network sustainability (because fiber doesn’t fix itself).
· Why state-level decisions often trump federal mandates.
Drawing from their experience scaling EPC to 120+ employees, Caleb and Josh share practical insights on:
· Building lasting workforce development programs (translation: solving rural talent shortages without smoke and mirrors).
· Training local talent for long-term maintenance.
· The real costs of maintaining rural networks.
Whether you’re an ISP mapping out your long-term sustainability, a contractor looking to grow, or just someone fascinated by rural broadband’s future (and fiber puns), this episode delivers the straight talk you need.