FCC trumpets new call center jobs

Call centers are planning to hire 100,000 new employees in the U.S. over the next two years, Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, announced at an event in southern Indiana Thursday. 

Genachowski credited the growth in call center jobs to improvements in broadband access.

Many of these new jobs will be "on-shored" from foreign countries, according to the FCC. Call center employees handle customer service calls for companies.

“This initiative involves meaningful job creation that will have a meaningful impact across America," Genachowski said. 

"Bringing broadband to your town and home in the 21st century is like bringing in electricity in the 20th — connecting you and your community to the larger economy and opening up new worlds of commerce and opportunity.”

Due to improved broadband access, many people will perform the new call center jobs from home. Currently, 17 percent of all call center jobs are home-based, according to FCC data.   

Genachowski made the announcement at an event in Jeffersonville, Ind. along with leaders from the business group, Jobs4America.

He said businesses planned to hire 175 new call center employees in Jeffersonville. 

Rep. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents Jeffersonville, also attended the event.

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