FCC Eliminates Administrative Burden for Broadband Data Filers

The Federal Communications Commission eliminated an unnecessary barrier to providing reliable broadband data for inclusion on the FCC’s National Broadband Map. The action provides clarity and reduces costs for filers, and removes the need for additional waivers, safeguarding agency resources. Prior to this action, FCC rules required providers to certify the data in their biannual Broadband Data Collection filings by a corporate officer and a “certified professional engineer.” In practice, very few engineers who specialize in RF engineering and broadband network design are “certified” by a state licensure board, making it difficult and costly for providers to meet the certification requirement. As a result, this requirement has been waived for each filing round since the launch of the Broadband Data Collection in June 2022. To ensure the FCC receives reliable data, the updated rules will require certification by a qualified engineer who is familiar with the design of the network and has a minimum number of years of experience. Eliminating this burdensome requirement better aligns broadband data collection rules with market realities, while ensuring that the FCC continues to receive accurate data from filers.