Earlier this year, the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) called for public comments on the issue of internet data centers in the wake of soaring demand for online access, especially for artificial intelligence (AI) applications, which increase data centers’ broadband use significantly.
Among other questions, the agency inquiry asked where to locate data centers, including rural areas.
Open AI, the developer of ChatGPT, pointed to the need to modernize both telecommunications and electric infrastructure. On the telecommunications side, it said, “Access to high-speed broadband and robust telecommunications infrastructure is essential to support large-scale data processing and low-latency communication.
“Dark fiber availability in large quantities over land and sea is a critical variable in constructing the necessary AI data center fabric. Also important is their location in proximity to the power sources to minimize regulatory and deployment delays from additional grid extensions.”
Accenture’s comments show interest in rural data center construction. The greatest challenge the company saw to rural data center establishment was a shortage of technically qualified workers.
“Long-term operation of the data center could benefit from recruiting from the local community, providing high-paying technical jobs which will encourage future economic growth for the community at large,” it said. It encouraged the creation of apprenticeship programs that could “result in a solid career path with high pay and government-assisted schooling.”
Along with the need for a technical workforce in rural areas, Accenture’s also emphasized that more electricians and plumbers are needed throughout the country to maintain data centers. Along with increased power demand, data centers will employ extensive water-based cooling systems.
The Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) data center comments also identified workforce needs, especially in the broadband industry:
“The workforce needed to support data centers expands beyond just the individuals working in the centers but also includes those working to deploy the needed infrastructure to connect these centers to the wider broadband ecosystem. WIA supports the creation of competency-based programs that help train the next generation of broadband workforce quickly and help individuals embark on important careers.”
