Broadband Academy and The Broadband Success Playbook for Tribes: 2025 Leading Lights Award Winner
Calix is proud to announce Broadband Academy and The Broadband Success Playbook for Tribes contributed to winning the category, “Outstanding Use Case: Bridging the Digital Divide,” for Light Reading’s 21st annual Leading Lights Awards. The “Outstanding Use Case: Bridging the Digital Divide” category is awarded to the company or institution presenting the best example of how it works to broaden access and reduce barriers to affordable internet connectivity for underserved communities.
Leaning In To Provide Broadband Education for All
Both Broadband Academy and The Broadband Success Playbook for Tribes are exceptional, award-winning examples of leaning in to provide broadband education for all—no matter where they live—and are part of the Success Education Broadband Workforce Transformation initiative from Calix.
This initiative helps customers, tribal-led service providers, and educational institutions deliver world-class technical education and direct support—all while removing traditional barriers like cost and equipment. Strategic partnerships were also formed with organizations such as the N50 Project/Geeks Without Frontiers, Fiber Optic Association, National Tribal Telecommunications Association, the Institution for Local Self-Reliance, and Connect Humanity to amplify reach and impact.
Broadband Academy: “A Great Learning Resource To Understand the Telecom Industry at a High Level” With a 4.48/5 CSAT Score
Broadband Academy is a complimentary e-learning resource offered to all—not just Calix customers—that boasts a 4.48/5 CSAT score. The curriculum offers step-by-step guidance for aspiring broadband leaders seizing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the digital divide.
According to Jason Hall, tribal broadband projects manager at Mohawk Networks, “Broadband Academy is a great learning resource to understand the telecom industry at a high level. Learning how to fund, design, build, operate, and market your network will help you prepare to apply for and execute grant awards. Broadband Academy is also a great training tool for new employees.”
With seven courses and 46 lessons, there’s 384 minutes of educational content for everyone to access and earn certifications upon completion. To get started, explore our current Broadband Academy course catalog.
“Clear, Simple Explanations and Visuals” for Tribal Leaders and the Broadband Success Playbook
The Broadband Success Playbook for Tribes, endorsed by the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA), is a guide for tribes sharing the vision of delivering broadband to their community while still maintaining tribal sovereignty—particularly digital, network, and data sovereignty.
The Broadband Success Playbook for Tribes outlines the ins and outs of broadband for tribal leaders, including:
The benefits of delivering broadband to the community
Different ownership models for tribes, including full ownership and partnerships with third-party service providers
Guidance on picking trusted partners and vendors throughout the broadband journey
The basics of designing and building a long-term, sustainable network
Go-to-market strategy for successful subscriber acquisition and loyalty
Educational resources and other assistance throughout the process
As Amanda McDonald, program manager at Gila River Telecommunications says of these educational resources, “I learned a lot about broadband networks that I have been trying to figure out on my own for almost two years! Thank you for using clear, simple explanations and visuals so that someone with my lack of knowledge finally understands the process and terminology used in this field!”
Launching a broadband project can be overwhelming to many, especially those with no industry background. Education is a core tenet of success in the broadband industry—and it should always be accessible to all. By sharing foundational knowledge and best practices, more people can feel confident as they pursue closing the digital divide.
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