*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 41874* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 04- 2876 Released: September 3, 2004 Commission Opens Filing Window For Commercial Operator License Examination Managers WT Docket No. 98- 228 On January 14, 1993, the Commission privatized the administration of license examinations for Commercial Radio Operators, 1 and delegated authority to the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (formerly Private Radio Bureau) to certify private entities to be Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) managers. In its initial solicitation for COLE managers, 2 the Commission stated that “other” filing window( s) may be opened in the future if the Commission determined that additional COLE managers would be beneficial. The last filing window was announced on October 9, 2001. 3 The purpose of this Public Notice is to announce a filing window for requests from additional entities interested in being certified as a COLE manager. In the COLE R& O, the Commission established that certification of an entity as a COLE manager would be through the use of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Entities interested in becoming a COLE manager should familiarize themselves with the Commission's rules pertaining to COLE administration before applying. For background information, a copy of the COLE R& O can be found on- line at http:// www. fcc. gov/ e- file/ ecfs. html 4 or may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., located at The Portals II, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, telephone number (202) 488- 5300 or 1 (800) 378- 3160, facsimile number (202) 488- 5563 or via e- mail at fcc@ bcpiweb. com. 1 Amendment of Part 13 of the Commission’s Rules to Privatize the Administration of Examinations for Commercial Operator Licenses and to Clarify Certain Rules, Report and Order, FO Docket No. 92- 206, 8 FCC Rcd 1046 (1993) (COLE R& O). 2 Commission Opens Filing Window for Commercial Operator License Examination Managers, Public Notice, 8 FCC Rcd 2570 (1993). 3 Commission Opens Filing Window for Commercial Operator License Examination Managers, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 17966 (2001). 4 To access the COLE R& O on the ECFS website, select the "Search the ECFS" link, then enter the numeric portion only of the originating docket number (92- 206) in field #1, and select RO in field #7. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov 1 Each request for certification must be signed and include the name and telephone number of a person familiar with the request and must include: 1. a description of the entity requesting to be certified and its qualifications, 2. how it will prevent any conflicts of interest, 3. its proposed fee structure. The Commission will consider the following factors in deciding whether to certify an applicant as a COLE manager: 1. Experience and ability to administer qualification examinations both by means of computer and by written examinations. 2. Area applicant is willing to administer examinations. NOTE: Preference will be given to applicants that can provide nationwide testing and have existing administration infrastructure to do so. 3. Frequency of examinations that applicant is prepared to offer at each examination point. NOTE: Preference will be given to applicants that offer examinations on a more frequent basis. 4. Length of time before an applicant can begin administering examinations. All requests should address each of the four (4) factors identified in this Public Notice. Interested parties should bear in mind that only applicants that propose to administer all written examination elements will be considered. All requests for certification as a COLE manager must be received between Monday, October 4, 2004 and Thursday, November 4, 2004. Requests received before or after these dates, or which do not comply with the filing procedures, will not be considered. The names and addresses of certified COLE managers will be announced in a future Public Notice. Requests may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceeding, (ECFS), see Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998), and may be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . Entities who submit by paper should send original and five copies of their request to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D. C. 20054. Whether submitted electronically or as paper copies, requests should be identified as submissions to WT Docket No. 98- 228. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, requests should include the entities full name, Postal Service mailing address, as well as the docket number. 2 Questions regarding this public notice may be directed to Ms. Joy Alford, Policy and Rules Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (202) 418- 0694, TTY (202) 418- 7233, joy. alford@ fcc. gov. Action by Chief, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. -FCC- 3