This is a temporary position to support the NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program Contract No. C230600300. This position is a minimum of one year or until the completion of the NTIA Grant project. This position will also support the upcoming BEAD project. The Fiber Transmission Technician, under the direction of the Outside Plant Field Manager, installs, troubleshoots, splices and maintains fiber optic cables in both outdoor and indoor settings; reads, creates and maintains splicing schematics and diagrams; maintains control of Outside Plant activities surrounding the assigned work site(s); takes and maintains accurate splicing and field notes, supports project timelines, and inspects, designs, and provides accurate staking sheets for projects.

Responsibilities

The Employee will:

• Know and uphold the established IT&E Mission, policies and procedures, Department and Division objectives, quality assurance and safety programs and standards.
• Install, troubleshoot, and maintain all (OSP) Outside Plant fiber optic systems to include businesses, homes, schools, and other organizations to ensure that they are working properly.
• Measure signal strength of telephone and internet connections to ensure that there is adequate performance.
• Create sensors and perform inspections to make sure that the fiber optic systems do not have defects that undermine performance.
• Conduct regular inspections of the systems with the aim of locating and repairing any defects detected during the inspections.
• Perform premises cabling and run fiber optic cables above underground.
• Determine solutions to any problems and issues that are preventing the fiber optic systems from performing optimally.
• Construct proper splice case as well as preparing and maintain records, diagrams and schematics relating to the splice case.
• Cable locates underground fiber facilities at the request of contractor/utility companies.
• Splice fiber optic cables including both loose tube and ribbon optic cables. Construct a proper splice case, including but not limited to: grounding, bonding, isolating, slacking storage and sealing. Prepare and maintain splicing records, schematics and diagrams.
• Build graphical worksheets for contractors use and use drafting technique in Visio and other required programs. Understand Staking Sheets and MSTATIONS blueprints.
• Perform work in accordance with industry standards. Be familiar with RUS standards, read and follow design engineers instructions and specifications, maintain the scope of work on the project and adhere to safety procedures.
• Prepare engineering field notes. Interpret buried underground and aerial telecom facilities in records on maps and in the field with clarity and detail and make recommendations for changes in running line or construction methodologies. Facilitate conversion into CAD and Vision programs.
• Update and maintain outside plant records.
• Participate in engineering, permit and construction processes to support project contracts.
• Perform routine maintenance. Recognize and repair route issues including Hand Hold cleanup, sign placement, and weed control.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills

• High school graduate or equivalent required; Technical school graduate desirable.
• One year of experience in telephone installation and repair and Outside Plant operations, to include fiber optic cable splicing and repair. 1 -3 years of experience must be in construction with Outside Plant Telecom Engineering.

Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities, And Skills

• Certification for Fiber Optic Cable installation or vendor certification for business systems installation and maintenance are desirable but not required at time of hire.
• Valid Drivers License and ability to drive with manual gear shift required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The physical activity of this position includes Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling, repetitive motions making substantial movements of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers, grasping, feeling, Talking-Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, repetitive motions.

The physical requirements of this position involve medium work: exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform an activity such as: operating machines such as lathes, drill presses, power saws and mills where the seeing job is at or within arms reach; performing mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a no