Bridging the Gap Career Paths in Telecommunications
By Barbara Sorensen

Tribal communities across the country are working to address what is commonly referred to as the ìdigital divide.î In a recent study released by the National Congress of American Indians, it was reported that tribal communities have less access to communication services than low-income communities in general.

 One way to address the technological discrepancies tribal communities face is to encourage Native young people to pursue educational and career paths in telecommunications.
 Weíve asked three Native American professionals to provide insight and suggestions on what it takes to forge a career in the telecommunications field. Cara Cowan, Cherokee Nation/Choctaw, is the international manager for Williams Communications in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Charles Gray, Choctaw descent, is senior lecturer in telecommunications at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Roger Scheer, Shoshone descent, is staff engineer at Motorola PCS Research Labs in Harvard, Illinois.

Winds of Change: Why is telecommunications such an important area right now?
Cara Cowan: The telecommunications industry is an important part of our daily lives whether you live in New York City, rural Oklahoma, near the Canadian border or the middle of a Pueblo. Telecom holds great promise to link the world in ways in which we have not even considered. With an annual growth rate of approximately 90%, our industry enjoys growth rates that other industries envy. The opportunities for a new employee in the telecommunications industry continues to be good for individuals graduating with degrees in the areas of business, finance, engineering, IT and telecommunications. These degrees are considered key attributes of our future telecom industry workforce.
 Charles Gray: Leading nations of the world have learned in the last 30 years that a widespread and reliable telecommunications network is as important to modern life as is the supply of clean drinking water. There is a direct positive correlation between the telecommunications capability of a country and the overall welfare of its citizens. Even though computers are important in the world economy, they are essentially useless for anything but typing a memo unless they are interconnected by a means of telecommunications. Banking, agriculture, steel, textiles, and other commodities and services are also important, but it is the framework of telecommunications that allows tremendous advantages to planning, managing, and using these goods and services.
 Citizens of the developed nations of the world have become accustomed to highly sophisticated telecommunications capabilities, and lose sight of the fact that half of the population of the world has never spoken on a telephone, much less even seen a computer. There are over 500,000 villages in China that do not have any telephone service at all. There is a vast unserved market for telecommunications services in about two thirds of the world, so it is a very important field in which to work.
 Roger Scheer: Telecommunications improves the quality of life and has been a catalyst for the accumulation and distribution of knowledge at unbelievable rates. Telecommunication services improve health care, provide greater safety, and connect people across boundaries and cultures.
 Advances in technology can provide advances in civilization itself if technology is used appropriately. The best way to guarantee that Native people have input into the use of technology and to guarantee that Indian communities are not left behind as technology advances is to have more Native American engineers and scientists.

What educational direction would you advise young people to pursue if they are interested in telecommunications?
 Scheer: Native American engineers and scientists have the capability of advancing technology from a standpoint that is well grounded in cultural and environmental values. It is important that Native American students get the math and science preparation that they need to be successful in technological degree programs and that they seek out colleges with Native support programs in place. It is also important that students seek out mentors who understand the challenges and issues that technological degrees present to Native Americans.
 The hottest degrees for telecommunications are electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. Mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, structural and environmental engineers as well as some mathematicians and physics majors are also utilized in parts of the industry. Two-year associate degrees with a technical or telecom orientation are also valuable, particularly with telecom operators looking for field technicians. Business students should try to distinguish themselves by taking some technically oriented courses, taking business courses that highlight issues facing the telecommunications industry, or by focusing class projects on issues important to the industry.
 Some schools offer degree programs that are focused on telecommunications. The requirements for the degree are more important than the name of the degree. Talk with people in the industry to make sure that what you are learning will transfer to skills needed in telecommunications jobs.
 Cowan: I would recommend students who are interested in pursuing telecommunications as a degree, to investigate university or college programs that offer telecommunications classes in network infrastructure, IP (Internet Protocol), the history of the telecommunications industry and other related classes.
 Telecommunications degrees are becoming more available to students due to the telecom industry continually growing. With this growth rate, students want to pursue a higher level of education and study beyond a bachelorís degree. Universities are recognizing the demand of the telecom industry and now offer a variety of masterís degrees in telecommunications. To illustrate, Oklahoma State University offers a masterís of science in telecommunications management (MSTM) that requires business, engineering and industry specific courses to graduate. Many other universities across the U.S. have begun offering similar programs that range from more business emphasis to pure research opportunities in fiber optics.
 If you think you would like to pursue telecommunications but are not absolutely sure, I would consider electrical or mechanical engineering. Both of those disciplines put more emphasis on systems approaches and prepare you for most jobs in telecommunications.
 Gray: People with all kinds of skills are needed in the telecommunications industry. However, those with technical skills such as engineering, mathematics, and analysis are in the most demand. To be successful in these disciplines, students should concentrate their early studies in the areas of science, mathematics, and perhaps computer technology/ programming. For those more interested in ìhands onî technology, schools such as Oklahoma State Tech in Okmulgee offer numerous degrees in engineering technology. Companies such as Cisco and Lucent Technologies provide training and certification in operating and maintaining their highly sophisticated equipment. For those more inclined to go into telecommunications engineering, system design, planning, or more highly technical positions, some colleges and universities are now offering undergraduate (bachelor) degrees in telecommunications. These programs are usually broader than just a degree in electrical engineering, and ultimately lead to higher degrees in telecommunications management and strategic planning. At the masterís degree level, many schools offer programs in engineering or information technology, but only a few, such as Oklahoma State University, offer a truly interdisciplinary program that encompasses management, engineering and information technology.
 The telecommunications industry also employs large numbers of lawyers, accounting specialists, financial analysts, and other people with highly developed general business skills.

What are some other ways that a young person can prepare him/herself for a career in telecommunications?
Scheer: Education, work experience, and an interest in the industry are good factors to focus on.
 Remember that the majority of people working in the telecommunications industry are technically oriented, so it is good to have a technical background in related areas. Knowledge of computer networks, Internet protocols, programming languages, switching technologies, and wireless communications can be very valuable. Read about the industry. Ask people working in the industry what types of knowledge and education you need and how you can get an internship with their company.
 People interested in the business of telecommunications also need to have a general understanding of the technical aspects, as well as the business aspects, of the industry. Take courses that focus or touch on issues important to the telecommunications industry and read industry publications. Research companies and develop a target list.
 Focus on an area within your curriculum that you enjoy and find out how this area fits into the telecommunications industry. Consider taking telecommunications- oriented courses if offered at your school. Read industry trade publications and relate your experience and courses to jobs and issues within the industry. Finally, seek internship opportunities with telecommunications companies.

Would finding a mentor be helpful?
Scheer: Yes. A mentor is someone who takes an interest in you and offers encouragement, advice, constructive criticism, and guidance based on their experience in the industry and their personal desire to see you succeed. College is not easy and the support of a good mentor, along with that of a strong peer support group, can help you through the uncertainties that come from academic pressures, family separation, and life among other cultures.

What about internships during college?
Scheer: Internship programs allow students to compare their academic experiences with actual job requirements and provide valuable work experience in the process. These opportunities also allow students to test-drive jobs, companies, and locations and allow companies to evaluate students. Good internship programs provide a taste of the jobs available in the industry, provide focus points for future academic work, and build rÈsumÈs. Having internship experience can be an important factor in getting the job that you want after graduation.

What are some of the upcoming trends in telecommunications?
Gray: I would say that the three major upcoming trends in telecommunications are: wireless, wireless, and wireless. No, seriously, mobility is a primary ìway of lifeî in the world today, and any technology that supports the untethered ability to communicate while one is on the move will be increasingly important. Huge advances in wireless (e.g., cellular phone) technology are expected in the next five years, and a large number of engineers, planners, and operations personnel will be needed. At the same time, improvements in fiber optic equipment continue to amaze everybody with the tremendous increases in speed and capacity far exceeding any plannerís imagination even five years ago. Satellite communications continues to improve, which will lead to more wide-spread deployment in the less developed regions of the world for both business and entertainment.
 Scheer: The growth rate projected for the wireless telecommunications industry is phenomenal. Higher data rates, increased capacities, and voice over IP (Internet Protocol) are exciting trends that will be realized with the next generation of wireless technologies.
 Another great trend in the telecommunications industry is the drive to improve telecommunications services on tribal lands. The federal government is aware of the discrepancies between telecommunications services on tribal lands and those offered in other rural areas of the country and is beginning to offer programs to help rectify this. More and more tribes are also becoming actively involved in improving telecommunications services on their reservations. Telecom job opportunities on and around reservations should see a slow but steady increase over the next several years.
 Cowan: With new technologies and consumer products gaining acceptance, the telecommunications industry will soon be thriving again. The industry will continue to grow and need knowledgeable professionals. The work the government started under Clintonís administration to ìbridge the digital divideî is beginning to take hold in Indian Country and other rural communities. As Native Americans, we will need individuals with experience in corporate telecommunications to help drive programs and take initiatives in our home communities to build a better tomorrow economically.

Barbara Sorensen is senior editor for Winds of Change magazine.