*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 4802.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 00- 2572 Released: November 15, 2000 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SOLICITS ASSISTANCE IN UPDATING COMMERCIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION (COLE) QUESTION POOLS FOR ELEMENTS 1 AND 7, AND SEEKS COMMENT ON DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES TO UPDATE COLE QUESTION POOLS Comment Date: December 15, 2000 Reply Date: January 2, 2001 In furtherance of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to improve upon the content of the Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE), we hereby solicit private sector assistance in updating the COLE question pools for Elements 1 (Basic Radio Law) and 7 (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio operating procedures). The Commission’s goal is to ensure that the questions reflect the current duties and responsibilities of commercial radio operator licensees and state- of- the- art technologies. The National GMDSS Implementation Task Force 1 has examined the current question pools and submitted for our review a completely revised model test pool for Element 7. It has proposed that we adopt this question pool in its entirety. Accordingly, we seek comment on whether this question pool should be adopted either partially or in its entirety, and whether any changes should be made thereto. In addition, with respect to Element 1 and (in the event the question pool proposed by the GMDSS Task Force is not accepted) Element 7, we seek suggestions regarding what current questions should be eliminated and what new questions should be added. Each proposed new question must be stated as a complete sentence and include a narrative statement regarding the question’s importance. For each question, the following information must be included: 1. Element number associated with the question. 1 The GMDSS Task Force was chartered by the U. S. Coast Guard to supplement government functions in expediting the implementation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) recently introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Task Force membership includes nearly 1000 representatives of government agencies, commercial vessel owners and operators, recreational vessel interests, training institutions, service agents, manufacturers, trade associations and maritime labor organizations. 1 2. Correct answer and at least three multiple- choice distracters. 3. Name of source document upon which the question is based, and 4. A citation for the correct answer. More broadly, in order to ensure that, at all times, the content of all COLE question pools is maintained and international requirements are reflected, we also seek comment on the implementation of a system for the regular maintenance of question pools. Specifically, we seek suggestions on procedures for the consistent updating of question pools, including the frequency with which such updates should occur. Interested parties may file comments on the question pool submitted by the GMDSS Task Force, suggestions on topics and questions, and/ or suggestions for the procedure and frequency of question pool updates on or before December 14, 2000. Parties interested in submitting reply comments must do so on or before December 29, 2000. All submissions should reference this Public Notice, including the DA number, and should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., TW- 325, Washington, D. C. 20554. A copy of each filing should be sent to International Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20 th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20036, (202) 857- 3800, and Genevieve Augustin, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Policy and Rules Branch, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., Room 4- C421, Washington, D. C. 20554. The current COLE questions and answers, the model theoretical test pool submitted by the GMDSS Task Force, and all submittals in response to this Public Notice and reply comments will be available for inspection and duplication during regular business hours in the Reference Information Center (RIC) of the Consumer Information Bureau (CIB), Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., Room CY- A257. Copies may also be obtained from ITS. For further information regarding the public reference file, interested persons should contact Maria Ringold, Chief, Wireless Branch, RIC, (202) 418- 1350. The GMDSS Task Force’s proposed question pool is also available on the Internet at http:// www. uscg. mil/ hq/ g- m/ marpers/ examques/ achome. htm. We believe it would be in the public interest to treat this matter as a permit- but- disclose proceeding under the ex parte rules. See Sections 1.1200( a), 1.1206 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1, 1200( a), 1,1206. Therefore, subsequent to the release of this Public Notice, ex parte presentations that are made with respect to the issues involved will be allowed but must be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.1206( b) of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). For further information, contact Genevieve Augustin of the Policy and Rules Branch of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418- 0680, TTY (202) 418- 7233, or via e- mail to gaugusti@ fcc. gov. By the Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. -FCC- 2