Resources

Mentoring & Education Guide

• Telecommunications Tower Technician Mentoring & Education Guide
• Telecommunications Tower Technician Mentoring & Education Guide (Spanish)

 

TIRAP Launch Press Release (10-13-14)

A consortium of telecommunications companies and industry associations joined with the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to unveil a public-private partnership aimed at developing apprenticeships to improve workplace safety, address industry workforce needs, and provide workers
with greater employment and advancement opportunities.

Wireless Infrastructure Association

The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) is the National Sponsor of the registered apprenticeship program known as TIRAP. Since 2017, WIA has administered National Standards of Apprenticeship along with the United States Department of Labor approved, apprenticeable occupations associated with the program. Graduates of the program receive a national, industry-recognized credential that certifies occupation proficiency and provides opportunities for career advancement. WIA’s approach, working with participating employers and industry advisors, promotes a consistency and uniformity in training across occupations.

Telecommunications Education Center

The Telecommunications Education Center (TEC) is a dynamic learning program devoted to improving education, quality of work, and safety within the telecommunications industry. TEC trains the wireless workforce for the future to meet the demands of 5G. TEC is developed by the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) with significant contributions from academia, subject matter experts, and WIA members. TEC partners with businesses to meet training, education and professional development needs through unique blended learning environments: classroom, field and online.

Department of Labor

• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
  • OSHA Communications Tower page
• Employment & Training Administration
• Office of Apprenticeship

Federal Communications Commission

• Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
• Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau

National Association of Tower Erectors

• Safety Task Force
• Tower Family Foundation

National Wireless Safety Alliance

The impetus behind the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) occurred when top safety and operations executives representing the wireless carriers, tower owners, OEM’s and turnkey/construction management firms met with officials from Black & Veatch and the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) at the Telecommunications Industry Safety Summit in Dallas, Texas in October of 2013.

Pre-Apprenticeship Program Providers

• Warriors4Wireless
• Air Streams Renewables, Inc.
• Learning Alliance Corporation
• Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

Telecommunications Industry Association

• Engineering Committee TR-14 – Structural Standards for Communication and Small Wind Turbine Support Structures

Telecommunications Industry Foundation

• Appurtenance Installation Impact to Climbing Facilities and Antenna Supporting Structures
  This Telecommunications Industry Foundation White Paper (the “White Paper”), authored in 2019, on the impact of new appurtenance installations and how to maintain the design performance required by End Users (defined below) to antenna supporting structures (each, a “Structure”) and the Climbing Facilities. A “Climbing Facility”, as referenced in this White Paper, is intended to be designed in accord with Section 12 of the ANSI / TIA 222 Rev. H standard and incorporates items such as rung and rail, steps, step bolts, climber platforms, and safety climbs.