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Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

In the Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers occupation, workers install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics. O*NET rates it as some preparation, which usually means a few months to a year of learning on the job. It leans on speaking, quality control analysis, and monitoring. A regular part of the work is to splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment. On the six-type interest model it reads RCI, meaning hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world comes first, followed by orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.

Main tasks

  • Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
  • Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
  • Clean or maintain tools or test equipment.
  • Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment, such as digital subscriber line modems.
  • Access specific areas to string lines, or install terminal boxes, auxiliary equipment, or appliances, using bucket trucks, climbing poles or ladders, or entering tunnels, trenches, or crawl spaces.
  • Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Troubleshooting
  • Time Management

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and quality control analysis.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Also called

  • Cable Splicer
  • Cable Tech (Cable Technician)
  • Cable TV Tech (Cable Television Technician)
  • Combination Technician (Combination Tech)
  • Fiber Optic Splicer

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.