PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 09-664 March 24, 2009 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ACTION WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU RELEASES COMMERCIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION (COLE) QUARTERLY STATISTICAL REPORTS AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR 2004-2008 By this action, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Mobility Division1 releases the 2004-2008 Quarterly COLE Statistical Reports (Statistical Reports) and the 2004-2008 Annual COLE Financial Reports. On January 14, 1993, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) privatized the examination of applicants for commercial radio operator licenses, and subsequently authorized COLE managers to prepare and administer commercial radio operator license examinations that must be passed by persons in order to be eligible to obtain certain FCC licenses. See 47 C.F.R. § 13.209. The COLE manager system was created to meet the demands of applicants for frequent examination opportunities at convenient locations and of industry for examinations that reflect state of the art technology and contemporary operating conditions. Each COLE manager is authorized to administer examinations nationwide and, in some instances, at foreign sites, and is required to provide a quarterly report to the FCC on the results of the examinations administered. The Statistical Reports summarize information received from each of the nine COLE managers authorized by the Commission to administer commercial operator examinations. A list of the current COLE managers is attached as Appendix A. (This information is also available on the FCC Commercial Radio Operator website at 1 Pursuant to a Commission reorganization effective September 25, 2006, certain duties of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division were assumed by the Mobility Division. See Establishment of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Order, 21 FCC Rcd 10867 (2006). News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=cole.) The Statistical Reports show that 13,386 examinations were administered to 7,995 individuals in 2004, 11,877 examinations were administered to 7,287 individuals in 2005, 12,593 examinations were administered to 7,388 individuals in 2006, 12,178 examinations were administered to 7,045 individuals in 2007, and 12,627 examinations were issued to 7,232 individuals in 2008. A composite statistical profile and individual statistical profiles for each COLE manager, based on data submitted in their submissions, is attached as Appendix B.2 The 2004-2008 Annual COLE Financial Reports indicate that examinations administered by COLE managers generated $404,898.85 in revenue in 2004, $383,783.00 in revenue in 2005, $391,480.45 in revenue in 2006, $392,453.90 in revenue in 2007, and $396,802.00 in revenue in 2008; with examinations prepared and administered at a cost of $419,237.00 in 2004, $391,677.00 in 2005, $406,693.14 in 2006, $401,709.39 in 2007, and $409,497.23 in 2008. COLE managers thus operated with an overall net loss of $14,438.15 in 2004, an overall net loss of $7,884.00 in 2005, an overall net loss of $15,212.69 in 2006, an overall net loss of $9,255.49 in 2007, and an overall net loss of $12,695.23 in 2008. A composite analysis indicating the revenues and costs of COLE managers associated with preparing and administering the examinations is attached as Appendix C. Questions regarding this public notice may be directed to Mr. Scot Stone, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0638, Scot.Stone@fcc.gov. Action by the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC - 2 Due to space limitations, Appendices B and C set forth data only from the years 2004-2008. Data from earlier years can be found in prior public notices. See, e.g., Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Releases Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Quarterly Statistical Reports and Annual Financial Report for 2002 & 2003, Public Notice, 19 FCC Rcd 22471 (WTB PSCID 2004). Appendix A Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Managers BFT Training Unlimited P. O. Box 2677, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 Contact: J. David Byrd (800) 821-0906 or (707) 792-5678, info@elkinstraining.com. Electronic Technicians Association International, Inc. 5 Depot Street, Greencastle, IN 46135 Contact: Teresa Maher (800) 288-3824 or (765) 653-4301, eta@eta-i.org. Elkins International, Inc. P. O. Box 797666, Dallas, TX 75379 Contact: Laura Elkins (888) 621-8876, elkins@eitn.com. International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians 3608 Pershing Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76107-4527 Contact: Ed Clingman (817) 921-9101, ed@iscet.org. LaserGrade Computer Testing, Inc. 16821 SE McGillivray, Suite 201, Vancouver, WA 98683 Contact: Linda Small (800) 211-2753 or (360) 859-1277, linda.small@lasergrade.com. Marine Technical Institute 1915 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 Contact: Jack Krantz (954) 525-1014, info@MPTUSA.com. International Association of Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics 840 Queen St., New Bern, NC 28560 Contact: Brian Lawrence (800) 89-NARTE or (252) 672-0200, lawrence@inarte.us. National Radio Examiners P. O. Box 565206, Dallas, TX 75356-5206 Contact: Larry Pollock (817) 860-3800, colem@radioexaminers.com. Sea School 8440 4th Street, N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702 Contact: Mary Foster (800) 237-8863, hqstaff@seaschool.com.