Broadband Brigade Report

Welcome to the bi-weekly update from the CWA District 1 Broadband Brigade, working to expand broadband access throughout the Northeast and ensure quality work done by a union workforce! Broadband Brigade members are all telecom workers representing CWA Locals throughout the District, and meet every week to plan upcoming work, political action, and strategy for our campaign to expand broadband access and create jobs.

New York

Broadband Brigade members met with Jodia Vanel, the New York Program Officer for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, on April 26th. This first meeting touched on how the federal government and CWA can work together on decisions related to broadband implementation in New York.

The Broadband Brigade is expanding! James Tobin, CWA Local 1103, joined the team this week. With ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) in New York that aim to empower our communities and drive economic activity, we're expanding the Brigade to include one CWA member per REDC. The NY Brigade’s current task: gathering and organizing information on the local broadband landscape to help prioritize areas for broadband buildout and educate key stakeholders on implementing this work.

Connecticut 

CWA Local 1298 members are making progress on passing legislation requiring strong labor standards for any broadband buildout funded by public dollars.