OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2026) – Those hungry for a new career are invited to attend one of five upcoming Splices and Slices information sessions to learn about fiber optics training.
The open-house styled sessions take place each Thursday from Sept. 17 through Oct. 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the College of Central Florida Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 US-19, Chiefland. Splices and Slices are hosted by CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion in partnership with CF. Pizza and beverages will be provided.
Those interested in attending one of the sessions should register by calling 800-434-JOBS, ext. 4206 or sending an email to broadband@careersourceclm.com.
“If you’ve ever wondered what a future in broadband telecommunications may be like, then drop by, grab a slice and find out how you can become a fiber optics technician,” said Michele Shulze, CareerSource CLM’s Creating Connections broadband program coordinator. The bootcamp is available to residents of Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties.
Program representatives will be on hand at each Open House to answer questions about the next one-week Fiber Optics Bootcamp which takes place in November at CF’s Levy campus.
“True to any ‘open house,’ Splices and Slices is fairly informal, you can stop by anytime during the two-hour session to learn about the fiber optics training and explore career opportunities in a high-demand, growing industry that keeps communities connected,” Shulze said.
For eligible participants, the one-week bootcamp features:
- Hands-on training with fiber optic cable, patch panels and test equipment
- Ability to earn three industry recognized certifications at no cost (a $3,350 value)
- Job placement support in broadband telecommunications
- Wrap-around services such as travel assistance, uniforms and tools of the trade
Funding for Creating Connections comes from a $1.73 million grant that is part of the federal Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs program.
The fiber optics training is conducted by BDI DataLynk, a standards-based company offering Fiber Optic Association (FOA) sanctioned fiber optics network technician training. FOA is the largest professional fiber optics society in the world.
To register for one of the information sessions or for more information about enrolling in the training program, call 800-434-JOBS, ext. 4206 or email broadband@careersourceclm.com.
