Each BDC filing must include a certification signed by a corporate officer of the provider. The corporate officer must certify that she or he has examined the information contained in the submission and that, to the best of the officer’s actual knowledge, information, and belief, all statements of fact contained in the submission are true and correct.
In addition, each BDC filing must include a certification of the accuracy of the submission by a qualified engineer. That certification states that the engineer is employed by the provider and has direct knowledge of, or responsibility for, the generation of the provider’s BDC filing. The engineer also must certify that he or she has examined the information contained in the submission and that, to the best of the engineer’s actual knowledge, information, and belief, all statements of fact contained in the submission are true and correct, and in accordance with the service provider’s ordinary course of network design and engineering.
If the certifying corporate officer of the provider is also an engineer and has the requisite knowledge required under the Broadband DATA Act, the provider may submit a single certification that fulfills both certification requirements (the corporate officer certification and engineering certification).
A qualified engineer certifying a BDC filing must be one of the following:
- A certified Professional Engineer;
- A corporate engineering officer with at least a Bachelor of Science in engineering (BSE) degree who has direct knowledge of, and responsibility for, the carrier’s network design and construction; or
- As a result of the Limited Waiver, an “otherwise qualified engineer,” which means an engineer with either:
- A bachelor’s or postgraduate degree in electrical engineering, electronic technology, or another similar technical discipline, and at least seven years of relevant experience in broadband network design and/or performance, or
- Specialized training relevant to broadband network engineering and design, deployment, and/or performance, and at least ten years of relevant experience in broadband network engineering, design, and/or performance.
If you wish to have your BDC filing certified by an “otherwise qualified engineer,” include the following certifying language in the “Explanations and Comments” box of your submission in the BDC system:
“The engineer certifying our submission meets the minimum qualifications outlined in the Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waiver adopted on July 8, 2022 in WC Docket No. 19-195.”
Licensed professional engineers or corporate engineering officers making the certification do not need to enter this statement in the Explanations and Comments section. Note that all BDC submissions, including those filed under this Limited Waiver, must still have a corporate officer certification.
For more information, please refer to the Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waiver at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/declaratory-ruling-and-waiver-engineering-certification.
