In 2021, Congress passed the bipartisan infrastructure law which included $42.45 billion committed to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This once-in-a-generation investment in states was intended to expand access to broadband and to develop the workforce required to make this expansion possible.
Recognizing the opportunity at hand, WRTP|BIG STEP, an established workforce intermediary in Wisconsin and leader of the Wisconsin SkillSPAN coalition, brought partners together to found the Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition. National Skills Coalition supported this effort through our Infrastructure Equity Policy Project.
Through strategic organizing and coalition building, WRTP|BIG STEP brought partners together to develop a shared vision: build a resilient and diverse broadband workforce that would both meet employers’ needs and expand access to high-quality career pathways that support residents’ economic mobility. Together, the group positioned Wisconsin to act – especially by leveraging to expand industry-sector partnerships, grow apprenticeship programs, and increase access to support services. Thanks to this leadership, Wisconsin is ready to deliver a pipeline of skilled local residents that meet the needs of broadband employers – if the state channels federal funds wisely. Furthermore, WRTP|BIG STEP’s efforts are a model for how other industries in the state can grow their workforce and contribute to the state’s economic development through strategic organizing and advocacy.
A skilled and inclusive workforce cannot be created in silos. With five decades of leadership in the state, WRTP|BIG STEP was familiar with the challenge of managing and meeting varying interests while advancing high-quality workforce development. The Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition was established with this in mind; it convened a broad range of stakeholders and set out to build allyship and alignment. Members of the Coalition included:
WRTP|BIG STEP’s leadership brought together stakeholders that were traditionally at odds with one another, supported the development of authentic relationships, and established a commitment to collaboration in service of mutual goals.
With their powers combined, the Coalition set out on an advocacy campaign targeting state leaders, elected officials, and other decision makers with a clear message: Wisconsin must invest in workforce development that equips employers with a highly skilled labor pipeline Because without it, the state can’t deliver on its broadband expansion goals.
It also emphasized the need for training programs that empower local residents with transferrable, foundational skills needed across multiple infrastructure industries to better support access to meaningful, quality career pathways that lead to true economic mobility. The group led data-driven case-making that demonstrated anticipated labor needs across industries, the impact these jobs would have on residents’ economic mobility, and the potential for increased economic competitiveness if such plans were pursued.
Research leveraged included NSC’s research on the potential employment and economic impacts of federal infrastructure investments, as well as NSC’s public opinion findings on voters’ support for investments in skills training. WRTP|BIG STEP also led roundtable discussions, interviews, and focus groups with partners who serve local residents, like training providers and community-based organizations, to ensure the nuanced perspectives and lived experiences of all stakeholders were reflected in their efforts.
These resources collectively reinforced that the best way to address emerging labor demands is to develop a skilled labor pipeline. And Wisconsinites (both workers and business leaders) support it.
Because of the Coalition’s advocacy Wisconsin is now prepared to deliver a high-quality, highly-skilled broadband workforce when funds become available. Thanks to allyship and coordination among partners, the state is positioned to benefit exponentially from broadband workforce investments and ensure that local employers and families will also thrive through this flourishing industry.
State leaders have a responsibility to honor the efforts of their constituents in the Wisconsin Broadband Workforce Coalition by directing BEAD funds in alignment with the group’s plans. This once-disconnected group is now a coordinated coalition ready to propel the state’s economy even further through the expansion of broadband. And it was WRTP|BIG STEP’s leadership that built this ecosystem, laid the groundwork, and positioned Wisconsin for long-term economic impact. These efforts, recognized by Governor Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, also serve as a model for advancing other workforce development opportunities in the state.
Wisconsin’s state leaders can continue to strengthen its economic competitiveness and the prosperity of businesses and workers by leveraging federal investments to build a skilled labor force in other emerging industries. For example, the state has yet to leverage new funding flexibility under Section 504(e) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to expand a workforce that would contribute to improvements in surface transportation like highways.
Too much is at stake for leaders in Wisconsin to shy away; if pursued, these investments can help Wisconsin remain competitive. WRTP|BIG STEP and its partners are already exploring these opportunities and working with NSC to advocate for investments and policies that lead to a high-quality labor force that benefits both employers and workers.
Advocates and leaders interested in advancing similar priorities in their states are encouraged to learn more about NSC’s People-Powered Infrastructure Campaign and to reach out to our State Strategies team.
