Nokia has become the first technology vendor to self-certify its fiber products manufactured in the U.S., ensuring each meets the requirements outlined in the recently announced BABA compliance and self-certification guidelines for the BEAD program.
This should be helpful because BEAD Applicants can now obtain a Certification Letter from Nokia to prove BABA compliance.
Service providers and infrastructure players who want to participate in BEAD are required to ensure that certain fiber broadband equipment used in their network buildouts is manufactured in the U.S.
Nokia’s list of certified products includes:
• Nokia FX and MF OLT modular product lines
• Nokia SF-8M sealed OLT
• XS-220X-A ONT
“As a certified vendor, we can now provide BEAD applicants with a certification letter that’s become essential for applications and BABA reporting requirements,” said Sandy Motley, president of fixed networks at Nokia. “It also provides the confidence and assurance several need to submit product orders today without fear of being out of compliance.”
BEAD applicants can visit the Nokia Buy America website for information on obtaining a Nokia Certification Letter, which can be uploaded with a BEAD application to prove BABA compliance.
NTIA created a self-certification and compliance framework for manufacturers, allowing each to show that its products meet these requirements. Manufacturers that complete the self-certification process are added to a list managed by the Department of Commerce.
The list focuses on reducing the number of fraudulent claims of BABA compliance. It requires manufacturers to have an officer of the company certify that their products are Buy America-compliant. Manufacturers must also be able to provide a BABA certification letter to subgrantees for audit purposes.
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.