*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 58796.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 06- 1559 Released: August 1, 2006 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU APPROVES NEW COMMERCIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION (COLE) QUESTION POOLS FOR ELEMENTS 7 (GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEM (GMDSS) RADIO OPERATING PRACTICES) AND 7R (RESTRICTED GMDSS RADIO OPERATING PRACTICES) On May 2, 2006, the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, released a Public Notice inviting parties to file comments regarding a proposed revision of the Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) question pools for Elements 7 (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio operating practices) and 7R (Restricted GMDSS radio operating practices). 1 The proposed updated question pools were submitted by the GMDSS Task Force (Task Force) 2 as a replacement for the GMDSS question pools currently used to examine candidates for the Commission's GMDSS Radio Operator’s License and Restricted GMDSS Radio Operator’s License. The Task Force was the only party to submit comments. We have reviewed the record and find that the adoption of the new question pools for Elements 7 and 7R is appropriate and would promote efficient and effective COLE administrations. We conclude that adoption of the updated question pools is warranted because it eliminates questions involving implementation dates that have already passed, and reflects the current duties and responsibilities of commercial radio operator licensees. Entities administering COLEs may begin using the new question pools immediately, or may continue to use the old questions for a period of six months following the release date of this Public Notice. 3 However, the new questions must be used beginning six months from the release date of this 1 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Solicits Assistance in Updating Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Question Pools For Elements 7 and 7R, Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 5013 (WTB PSCID 2006). 2 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. The Task Force membership includes over 1500 representatives of government agencies, commercial vessel owners and operators, recreational vessel interests, training institutions, service agents, manufacturers, trade associations and maritime labor organizations. 3 In order to allow this six- month transition period, we hereby, on our own motion, waive Section 13. 215 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 13. 215, which otherwise would require use of the new pools immediately. We believe that a waiver is in the public interest in order to accommodate applicants and instructors whose preparations relied on the existing question pools. See also Amendment of Parts 13 and 80 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, Second Report and Order, Sixth Report and Order, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, WT Docket No. 00- 48, 19 FCC Rcd 3120, 3164 ¶ 84 (2004) (proposing to revise Section 13. 215 to allow a transition period following the approval of a new question pool). 1 Public Notice. The new question pools will be available on the Commission’s web site at http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ commoperators/ eqp. html. Copies also may be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D. C. 20554. Customers may contact BCPI through its web site, http:// www. bcpiweb. com, by email at fcc@ bcpiweb. com, by phone at (202) 488- 5300 or (800) 378- 3160, or by facsimile at (202) 488- 5563. For further information, contact Ghassan Khalek of the Policy and Rules Branch, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418- 0680, TTY (202) 418- 7233, or via email to Ghassan. Khalek@ fcc. gov. By the Chief, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. -FCC- 2