WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission has launched a program intended to help recruit students and recent engineering school graduates to work at the commission and in related technology and communications fields, according to an announcement.
The new Honors Engineer Program “is an opportunity for individuals to gain public sector experience at the beginning of their careers through” a year-long program, the commissions says. Additionally, the FCC will consider participants for “continued employment” after their year is up.
Interested candidates should apply online, but the announcement cautions that the selection process will be highly competitive. Important elements include: “academic achievement, technical skills, engineering and extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest in government service and/or the communications sector.”
[Learn about the man who might be your next boss.]
“Many of the issues we confront today are technically complex. That makes it all the important to bring the best engineering talent to the commission,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in the announcement.
To wit, current engineering tasks and issues include:
- New communications technologies and services — 5G, the Internet of Things, next-gen TV, new broadband satellite systems, etc.
- Broadband services deployment
- Identifying technologies to improve access to communications services
- Supporting communications technologies for public safety and homeland security, as well as health care, energy, education and transportation
- Encouraging innovation and investment in new devices and services through policies
