Media Contact: Will Adams, (202) 418-2007 will.adams@fcc.gov For Immediate Release Carr Praises 5G Workforce Legislation Senate Bill Would Advance Government-Wide Action on Training and Recruitment WASHINGTON, DC, February 27, 2020—Commissioner Brendan Carr praised legislation introduced in the Senate today that would advance government-wide efforts to expand the skilled workforce needed to build 5G. The Telecommunications Skilled Workforce Act, introduced by Senators Thune, Wicker, Tester, Moran, and Peters, would create a working group pulled from the FCC, Labor Department, Commerce Department, and Education Department, in addition to the private sector, to leverage federal resources to meet the 5G workforce challenge. Labor and GAO also would be required to issue guidance and reports. “To complete America’s 5G build, we need nearly to double the number of skilled tower techs and telecom crews working in this country. U.S. leadership, jobs, next-gen services, and bridging the digital divide depend on meeting this 5G workforce challenge.” said Carr. “The legislation that Senator Thune and his colleagues introduced would meet this challenge head on and advance a truly government-wide effort to train and connect workers to these good-paying jobs.” Carr last year announced a 5G jobs initiative aimed at standing up tower tech training programs through community colleges and trade schools. Since announcing the initiative, programs have been started in South Dakota, North Carolina, and more trade school programs are in the works. ### Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr: (202) 418-2200 www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr