Students Teach Seniors About Telehealth, Digital Banking, and Online Safety in Transformative Program From Beacon Broadband and Calix University
Beacon Broadband's "Connected Senior" program, guided by Calix University, pairs seniors with high-school student instructors to develop essential online skills. The initiative expands digital literacy among one of Oregon's largest senior communities while introducing students to broadband fundamentals, fostering the next-generation workforce to close a widening industry talent gap.
Calix, Inc. (NYSE:CALX) announced that Beacon Broadband, a subsidiary of Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, has launched a six-week digital literacy class in Oregon to help senior citizens learn to navigate the internet securely, enhancing their lives. The class pairs seniors with high-school student volunteers as instructors, covering topics like telehealth, digital banking services, and cybersecurity. The class is part of Beacon Broadband's Connected Senior digital literacy program, developed with guidance from Calix University—a learning platform from award-winning Calix Success that offers industry-wide educational resources. Calix University partners with broadband service providers (BSPs) and their local educational institutions to advance technology education and equip current and future workforces with essential skills. Calix Success, led by John Durocher, is the only dedicated customer success organization of its kind in the broadband industry.
Beacon Broadband harnesses the power of the Calix Broadband Platform and SmartHome managed services to elevate the residential experience for their subscribers. The Connected Senior program further enhances this commitment by addressing the growing need for tailored digital literacy in Curry County, Oregon where 38 percent of residents are over age 65. Offering weekly in-person classes, the program begins with computer basics and advances to critical topics like phishing protection. The class has received overwhelmingly positive feedback—seniors find it invaluable, and students take pride in giving back. The program also introduces student instructors to basic broadband concepts. As Beacon Broadband expands the Connected Senior program, they are partnering with Calix to provide student instructors with enhanced educational resources, equipping them with broadband expertise and exposing them to career opportunities that will help build the industry's future workforce.
"It's important that the community knows we're here to support all their internet-related needs," said Bill Gerski, vice president of marketing and sales at Beacon Broadband and the originator of the Connected Senior program. "With deep roots in this area spanning 80 years, we understand our unique community and strive to be a resource for everyone. The Connected Senior program delivers an intergenerational learning experience that helps seniors navigate the online world, strengthens network security and sparks student interest in broadband careers. We couldn't have done this without Calix University and Arizona Parker, our Calix course developer, who worked closely with us to design a curriculum tailored to seniors. We're committed to growing this program to support our communities—seeing students and seniors connect in such a meaningful way was truly inspiring."
By supporting such programs, Calix University advances its mission to strengthen industry knowledge and empower BSPs to protect their subscribers and communities. Calix University drives local digital literacy and broadband workforce transformation by:
- Strengthening cybersecurity awareness with tailored digital literacy curriculums. Initiatives like Beacon Broadband's Connected Senior program equip communities with digital literacy and cybersecurity resources tailored to different audiences. By increasing local digital literacy, BSPs ensure safer online experiences for subscribers and stronger network protection against evolving threats.
- Partnering with technical colleges, universities, and learning centers to bridge the talent gap. Calix University works with BSPs to provide free industry-aligned curricula, expert guidance, and hands-on training to educational institutions in their communities. Broadband educators can gain complimentary access to e-learning, skill labs, and senior technical trainers, helping to develop the next generation of broadband professionals.
- Helping BSPs attract, upskill, and retain local talent as current leaders retire. The United States needs an additional 58,000 skilled workers in the next several years to meet broadband industry demands. Calix University equips BSPs with industry-leading training and resources to build skilled teams and address workforce challenges. Developing robust talent pools ensures BSPs have the expertise they need to meet growing subscriber demands.
Calix continues to expand its education initiatives, including upcoming Broadband Business Transformation offerings. These will include enhanced cybersecurity awareness, sales skill scenario practice for non-sales BSP roles, and AI-assisted strategies for optimizing subscriber satisfaction.
"Beacon Broadband's community-driven approach made partnering with Calix University a natural fit," said John Durocher, chief customer officer at Calix. "They asked us to help develop a program that not only empowers seniors with digital skills but also introduces students to essential broadband concepts, opening doors to future career opportunities. The broadband industry faces a significant workforce gap, with tens of thousands of skilled workers needed in the coming years and nearly 200,000 jobs to fill over the next decade to meet growing subscriber demand. The majority of broadband service providers will struggle with hiring, which could hinder innovation, service quality, and network expansion—especially in rural and underserved areas. Through Calix University, we are committed to helping customers build the next-generation broadband workforce and encourage young people to stay in their hometowns and contribute to their local economies. We applaud Beacon Broadband for investing in the future of Oregon communities."
Learn more about how Calix University is helping customers enhance the future broadband workforce in their communities.
About Calix
Calix, Inc. (NYSE:CALX)—Calix is a platform, cloud, and managed services company. Broadband service providers leverage Calix's broadband platform, cloud, and managed services to simplify their operations, subscriber engagement, and services; innovate for their consumer, business, and municipal subscribers; and grow their value for members, investors, and the communities they serve.
Our end-to-end platform and managed services democratize the use of data—enabling our customers of any size to operate efficiently, acquire subscribers, and deliver exceptional experiences. Calix is dedicated to driving continuous improvement in partnership with our growing ecosystem to support the transformation of our customers and their communities.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix's business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.
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