Requirement waiver granted in 2022 is now permanent.
SUMMARY
On June 26, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order eliminating the certified Professional Engineer (PE) requirement and replacing it with a requirement that biannual Broadband Data Collection (BDC) filings be certified by a “qualified engineer” as to its accuracy. These filings typically involve certifying the accuracy of service availability to locations for both fixed and wireless broadband providers.
A “qualified engineer” may be:
- a corporate officer possessing a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in engineering and who has direct knowledge of and responsibility for the carrier’s network design and construction;
- an engineer possessing a bachelor’s or post-graduate degree in electrical engineering, electronic engineering, or another similar technical discipline, and at least seven years of relevant experience in broadband network design and/or performance; or
- an employee or agent with specialized training relevant to broadband network engineering and design, deployment, and/or performance, and at least 10 years of relevant experience in broadband network engineering, design, and/or performance.
WHAT IMPACTS ARE ANTICIPATED
Providers are no longer required to have a registered Professional Engineer certify to the accuracy of its BDC submissions and can instead utilize a “qualified engineer” meeting the above criteria.
NEXT STEPS & VANTAGE POINT ASSISTANCE
Vantage Point Solutions (VPS) retains registered Professional Engineers and other qualified engineers on staff that can assist BDC filers with their submissions and certifications. Please contact us for assistance:
