Why Telecom Needs to Be Standardized Again
Telecom is one of the most important industries in America. We connect homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. We’re building the backbone of modern life.
And yet — we have fewer standards than the people that cut your hair.
How We Got Here
When I started in this industry, standards weren’t optional — they were a requirement.
If you wanted to be an OSP engineer at AT&T, you had to go through their training pipeline. You started as an assistant engineer, then you completed the course for Engineer 1, Engineer 2, and Engineer 3. You didn’t get the title until you earned it. You were expected to understand the Blue Book, know how to walk a route, and apply real-world field knowledge to your design.
Compare that to today. Many “engineering firms” are nothing more than someone who can draw a line on a page. They don’t go to the field. Some have never even heard of the Blue Book. And increasingly, companies are outsourcing design overseas — to the Philippines, to India — where people are literally copying lines from Google Earth with no context for what’s in the ground or above it.
The result? Prints that don’t match reality. Crews in the field wasting time, burning money, and taking risks because the engineering wasn’t grounded in the actual environment.
The Bigger Problem
It’s not just engineering. Deregulation and the rush for faster, cheaper builds stripped away many of the standards that once defined telecom.
Now anyone with a drill and a locator can call themselves a contractor. No national licensing. No certifications. No consistent quality bar.
And we’re paying the price:
Sloppy workmanship.
Inconsistent practices.
ROWs destroyed.
Gas and power lines hit.
Entire municipalities freezing permits because they’re tired of telecom contractors tearing up communities — and in some cases, literally blowing up houses.
Why Standards Matter
Other industries don’t operate like this.
Electricians must be licensed.
Linemen in power go through apprenticeships, journeyman tiers, and master certifications.
Even barbers have stricter licensing than telecom contractors and engineers.
Standards aren’t about red tape — they’re about protecting public safety, protecting workers, and protecting the reputation of the industry.
Why We Can’t Wait for Government
If we don’t fix this ourselves, government will. Cities are already forcing moratoriums. DOTs and utilities are tightening inspections. And it won’t be long before federal regulators step in to impose their own rules — ones we may not like or control.
What Needs to Happen
We have to police ourselves. That means:
Schools & Apprenticeships for both field crews and engineers.
Certification & Licensing that proves knowledge, not just the ability to draw a line on a CAD program.
National Standards that restore accountability and consistency.
A Culture Shift — away from “fastest and cheapest” toward “safest and highest-quality.”
This isn't the O.K Corral
Telecom isn’t the Wild West anymore. We’re not cowboys throwing cable on poles. We’re building the infrastructure that powers America’s economy, security, and future.
If we don’t set and enforce our own standards, others will set them for us.
It’s time to raise the bar. It’s time for telecom to be standardized again.
By: Mark Ramsey