What You'll Do

  • Travel to customers' premises to install, maintain, or repair audio and visual electronic reception equipment or accessories.
  • Inspect or test lines or cables, recording and analyzing test results, to assess transmission characteristics and locate faults or malfunctions.
  • Splice cables, using hand tools, epoxy, or mechanical equipment.
  • Measure signal strength at utility poles, using electronic test equipment.
  • Set up service for customers, installing, connecting, testing, or adjusting equipment.
  • Place insulation over conductors, or seal splices with moisture-proof covering.
  • 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.
  • String cables between structures and lines from poles, towers, or trenches, and pull lines to proper tension.
  • Install equipment such as amplifiers or repeaters to maintain the strength of communications transmissions.
  • Lay underground cable directly in trenches, or string it through conduits running through trenches.

Essential Skills

Speaking 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5
Operations Monitoring 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Operation and Control 3.0/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.0/5
Troubleshooting 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5
Reading Comprehension 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cooperation, Self-Control, Integrity

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Oral Expression 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.38/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.38/5
Extent Flexibility 3.38/5
Manual Dexterity 3.25/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Cisco IOS Customer relationship management CRM software Email software Mapcom systems M4 Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word Operating system software Ping tools Slack Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software Web browser software Workforce management system software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.52/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.46/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.38/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.33/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aerial Installer Aerial Lineman Block Cableman Broadband Cable Installer Broadband Cable Specialist Broadband Technician Buried Wire Technician Cable Assembler Cable Inspector Cable Installation Tech (Cable Installation Technician) Cable Installer Cable Layer Cable Mechanic Cable Repairer Cable Splicer Cable Systems Installer Cable Systems Maintainer Cable Technician Cable Television Installer (Cable TV Installer) Cable Television Technician (Cable TV Tech) Cable Tester Cable Wirer Cableman CCTV Technician (Closed-circuit Television Technician) Climber Coax Splicer Combination Man Combination Technician Conduit Installer Conduit Mechanic Conduit Worker Customer Service Technician Fiber Optic Splicer Fiber Optic Technician Fiber Splicer Fiber Technician Field Service Technician FIOS Line Installer (Fiber Optic Service Line Installer) Installation and Repair Technician (I and R Technician) Installer Installer Technician Jointer Line Inspector Line Installer Line Mechanic Line Repairer Line Service Tech (Line Service Technician) Line Tester Lineman Low Voltage Cable Technician (Low Voltage Cable Tech) Low Voltage Technician (Low Voltage Tech) Network Cable Installer Network Cabler Outside Plant Technician Overhead Utility Installer Technician Power Line Installer and Repairer Reel Cart Operator Reel Man Reel Worker Service Technician Splicer Splicing Technician Structured Cabling Technician (Structured Cabling Tech) Submarine Cable Equipment Technician Telecommunication Lines Repairer Telecommunications Installer Telecommunications Line Installer Telecommunications Technician Telegraph Lineman Telephone Cable Splicer Telephone Lineman Telephone Lines Repairer Telephone Lineworker Telephone Technician (Phone Technician) Television Cable Installer Television Installer Toll Line Mechanic Toll Lineman Toll Patrolman Underground Utility Installer Technician Utility Locator Utility Technician Wire Splicer Wire Stretcher Wire Technician