FCC Engineers Awarded for Project PERMIT Development
Three Enforcement Bureau staffers received a 2026 technical award for creating a tool to support agency field operations.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Telecommunications
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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr presented the 2026 Excellence in Engineering Award to Nathan Bohne, Adam Wofford, and Eric Krueger. The trio was honored for their development of Project PERMIT, a system designed to assist commission field offices.
Why it matters
The award recognizes staff who make significant technical contributions to the agency, specifically through tools that modernize enforcement capabilities. Project PERMIT plays a vital role in executing the mission of the Enforcement Bureau as it conducts field operations.
Project PERMIT was developed to modernize enforcement tools used by FCC field offices to carry out agency mandates. The system directly supports the implementation of requirements established under the federal PIRATE Act.
The players
Brendan Carr
He serves as the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
Nathan Bohne
He is the equipment development group director at the FCC Enforcement Bureau.
Adam Wofford
He is an electronics engineer serving within the FCC Enforcement Bureau.
Eric Krueger
He is a software developer employed by the FCC Enforcement Bureau.
The details
Developed by the trio, Project PERMIT assists the commission in identifying and addressing unauthorized radio operations as mandated by the PIRATE Act. The software tool updates legacy enforcement workflows to better assist property managers and field personnel in compliance efforts.
Timeline
The FCC held an open meeting in September 2026 to announce the award recipients.
The Tech Race
The development of tools to support the PIRATE Act reflects the ongoing push to modernize federal radio enforcement technology. This effort highlights how software-driven solutions are increasingly replacing manual oversight in agency field operations.
The implementation of modernized enforcement tools helps the commission more effectively regulate unauthorized broadcasts that can interfere with legitimate communication signals. Consumers may experience reduced signal interference as federal field teams utilize updated software to identify illegal radio operations.
The takeaway
The recognition of technical innovation within the FCC highlights the agency's shift toward custom software solutions to handle complex regulatory tasks. These advancements demonstrate how specialized engineering can bridge the gap between legislative mandates and daily field implementation.
Further reading
Learn more about federal efforts to modernize radio oversight at the Telecommunications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio World.
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