Clearfield Offering FOA-Accredited Certification to Tribal Members at No Cost
Johnny Hill, Clearfield's chief operating officer and a member of the Ojibwe Nation
Clearfield Inc. recently announced the launch of its Tribal Broadband Training Initiative, a program developed with the support of industry leaders to expand fiber workforce training across Tribal lands. Designed to provide meaningful career paths in fiber optics to enrolled Tribal members, the initiative offers no-cost Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) training to support Tribal Nations in building the skilled workforce needed to deploy and sustain high-speed broadband networks, creating long-term economic opportunities within their communities.
When announcing the program on December 4, Clearfield explained the initiative was born out of a workforce development session held at Fiber Connect 2025, during which discussion focused on the need for accessible, skills-based training tailored to Tribal communities.
“Training today’s fiber workforce is critical to ensuring broadband expansion creates lasting, local impact,” said Johny Hill, Clearfield’s chief operating officer and a member of the Ojibwe Nation. “Our goal is to go beyond connecting homes. It’s about connecting people to meaningful careers that strengthen their own communities for generations.”
Clearfield’s goal is to host one training session each quarter near Tribal lands across the United States. The first session will take place January 13-16, 2026 at Clearfield’s headquarters in Brooklyn Park, MN. The second session is slated for April 7-9, 2026 at the Hopi Telecommunications office in Kearns Canyon, AZ, followed by July 21-23, 2026 in Bartlesville, OK.
The 3-day CFOT course, accredited by the Fiber Optic Association, combines classroom learning with hands-on training. Participants gain practical expertise across inside plant, outside plant, and access network applications, preparing them for real-world fiber deployment roles. Upon successful completion, participants earn an industry-recognized certification that boosts employability and opens doors to advanced specialization within the broadband industry.
Kelly Weissmann, Clearfield’s director of technical training and support, says the training builds pathways to long-term success. “It’s a career path that you will be able to invest your lifetime into,” Weissmann says, “a career that can raise a family and build a community.”
Clearfield pointed out the initiative addresses the national challenge of meeting the need for skilled fiber technicians. “According to a joint study by the Fiber Broadband Association and the Power & Communication Contractors Association, the U.S. broadband industry must add nearly 180,000 workers over the next decade to meet the demands of federally and state-funded broadband network construction,” Clearfield said. “Without sufficient workforce development, the report warns that deployment bottlenecks could delay connectivity projects by two to three years. Clearfield’s Tribal Broadband Training Initiative helps fill this critical gap, ensuring these projects deliver sustainable, community-based employment.”
Tzeitel Buchanan, a member of the Cherokee Nation and director of public sector programs and community partnerships at Lumen Technologies, provided industry insights that helped inform the training initiative. “As more modern fiber networks are being built, these are certifications and jobs that are going to be here for a very long time,” Buchanan said. “It is critical to fill these roles with technicians who understand the Tribal community, understand the customs and norms, and are able to help with that.”
Clearfield’s Hill and Lumen’s Buchanan shared the initiative’s vision and long-term goals at the 2025 AISES National Conference, which is the largest college and career fair for Indigenous professionals, high school students, and college students in the U.S. and Canada. “It’s not just about building networks. It’s about building people and communities,” Buchanan concluded.