VBE Certification for Telecommunications Companies

For businesses that are at least 51% owned by one or more veterans.

Telecommunications offers some of the largest diverse supplier programs in the world. Here's why certification matters:

Billion Dollar Roundtable Members: AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast NBCUniversal are all charter or long-standing members of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, each spending over $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers. AT&T alone has spent over $230 billion with diverse suppliers since it began tracking this metric.

Regulatory Expectations: State public utility commissions, such as the CPUC in California, require telecommunications companies to report diversity procurement. Verizon reported over $5.7 billion in diverse supplier spending in 2024. T-Mobile exceeded $1.4 billion in diverse spend in California alone in 2023.

Infrastructure Investment: The telecom industry is investing heavily in 5G deployment, fiber-to-the-home expansion, and data center construction. These massive capital projects require contractors, material suppliers, equipment vendors, and professional services firms—creating opportunities for diverse suppliers at all tiers.

Broad Procurement Needs: Telecom companies buy everything from network construction and fiber installation to marketing, fleet management, facilities services, IT consulting, and customer equipment. Diverse suppliers across many industries can sell into telecom.

BEAD Program: The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program is distributing $42.45 billion to expand broadband access. This creates additional subcontracting opportunities for diverse suppliers in broadband construction and deployment.

Note: Several major carriers have been restructuring their diversity programs in 2025 in response to evolving legal and regulatory landscapes. However, the scale of telecom procurement with diverse suppliers remains substantial.

Must be at least 51% owned by veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

VBE eligibility requires veteran status, honorable discharge, and genuine 51% ownership and control. There is no disability requirement.

Veteran status

• Must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force
• Discharge must be under honorable conditions: honorable discharge, general under honorable conditions, or medical separation
• Other-than-honorable and dishonorable discharges do not qualify
• Reservists and National Guard members who completed active duty service qualify if discharge meets the above standard

Ownership

• At least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more veterans who are U.S. citizens
• Ownership must reflect genuine equity, not a nominal arrangement created to qualify
• For corporations: veterans must own at least 51% of all voting stock
• For LLCs: veterans must hold at least 51% of membership interests without override provisions that give non-veteran members effective control

Control: management and operations

• Veteran owner(s) must hold the highest officer position (President, CEO, or Managing Member)
• Veteran owner(s) must control day-to-day operations and make long-term strategic decisions
• Management authority cannot be effectively delegated to non-veteran individuals through employment agreements or informal arrangements

Business requirements

• For-profit enterprise operating in the U.S.
• No specific years-in-business minimum, though newer businesses may be asked for additional evidence of operations
• Independent business: not a subsidiary or affiliate where a non-veteran entity exercises control

Step 1: Locate your DD-214 before anything else Your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the foundational document for VBE certification. It must clearly show your character of discharge. If you need a replacement, request it through the National Archives milrecs.militaryrecords.archives.gov (allow 3-4 weeks for standard requests). Start here if there's any doubt about your DD-214 status.

Step 2: Gather your full document package Before opening the NaVOBA application, collect: DD-214, articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreement or bylaws showing the veteran owner's percentage and management authority, stock certificates or membership ledger, government-issued photo ID, two to three years of business tax returns, current financial statements (P&L and balance sheet), business license, and a representative signed contract or purchase order. Complete preparation prevents mid-session delays.

Step 3: Create your NaVOBA account and complete the application at navoba.org Register at navoba.org/certification/ and work through the application. Sections cover veteran status documentation, ownership structure, management authority, and business profile. Be precise and consistent; any discrepancy between application answers and uploaded documents will trigger a follow-up request.

Step 4: Pay the application fee NaVOBA fees scale with company size, tiered from $350 to $2,000. Verify the current fee schedule at navoba.org before starting the application. Payment is generally required before review begins.

Step 5: NaVOBA review NaVOBA staff reviews the application and supporting documents. For some applicants this includes a follow-up request for clarification or additional documentation. Respond within any stated deadline to avoid delays.

Step 6: Certification decision NaVOBA targets a decision within 30-60 days of a complete application. Once certified, you are listed in NaVOBA's veteran supplier database and can begin using the VBE certification mark.

Federal Opportunities

Key agencies purchasing telecom products and services:

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Regulatory technology, broadband programs
• Department of Defense (DoD): Military communications, satellite systems, cybersecurity
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Emergency communications, network security
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA): Broadband deployment programs including BEAD

Key Programs and Contracts

• Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) - GSA's $50B government-wide telecom contract
• BEAD Program - $42.45B for broadband expansion with subcontracting opportunities
• FirstNet (AT&T) - National public safety broadband network
• GSA MAS for IT and telecommunications equipment and services

Categories of Government Telecom Procurement

• Network infrastructure design and installation
• Managed network services
• Unified communications (UCaaS)
• Cybersecurity for telecom infrastructure
• Fiber optic cable installation
• Wireless tower construction and maintenance
• Satellite communications
• Video conferencing and collaboration tools

State and Local

State broadband offices administering BEAD funds, municipal broadband projects, school district connectivity (E-Rate program), and public safety communications all create telecom contracting opportunities.