ATHENS, Ohio – In an innovative push to build the workforce needed to bring high-speed internet to rural communities, Ohio’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service is using virtual reality headsets to immerse local students in the world of broadband infrastructure.
At a recent outreach event, the school took its VR technology directly into high schools and career centers across southeast Ohio. The immersive simulations allow participants to experience what it might feel like to dangle from a 400‐foot-high tower while equipped with a tool belt—an experience designed to spark interest in the field. The Voinovich School is a key partner of the Southeast Broadband Network, a public-private initiative dedicated to expanding fiber optic and 5G access to 25 counties in the region.
Local officials note that over 50% of southeast Ohio residents still lack readily available high-speed internet. To address this gap, experts estimate that more than 30,000 workers—primarily in-the-field equipment installers and engineers—will be required. “These are highly skilled positions with a starting salary of nearly $50,000,” said Laurie McKnight, senior research manager at the Voinovich School and a leading advocate for broadband expansion. “The headsets are a great way to get kids interested in these careers.”
Training programs for these roles are available throughout Ohio, with some courses lasting as little as two weeks. At an October event in Nelsonville, 70 students from Nelsonville-York and Trimble high schools, along with attendees from the Tri-County Career Center, had the opportunity to try the VR headsets. Jocelyn Howard, broadband coordinator for Hocking, Athens, and Perry counties, remarked on the technology’s impact: “Everyone who has used them is impressed. It’s always one of the most popular tables at our job fairs. They’re very cool little simulations.”
The VR headsets were acquired through a federal grant from the Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training (QUEST) program, administered by the Offices of Workforce Transformation and Development, which helped cover both start-up and equipment costs.
The push for a skilled workforce comes at a time when Ohio is witnessing significant investment in the tech sector. With Intel recently investing $20 billion in new chip manufacturing facilities and more than $86 million being designated for start-ups in underserved communities, state officials emphasize the importance of robust infrastructure and a prepared workforce. “This is workforce and economic development for the whole state of Ohio,” McKnight added. “The infrastructure has to be there to keep attracting more companies like Intel and Microsoft. The VR headsets are a tremendous recruiting tool.”
Local educators and workforce developers are hopeful that the combination of cutting-edge technology and hands-on career exposure will inspire the next generation of broadband technicians and engineers, ensuring that rural Ohio stays connected in an increasingly digital world.