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 12-1988
Released:  December 10, 2012
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU APPROVES NEW COMMERCIAL 
OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION QUESTION POOLS FOR ELEMENTS 7 AND 7R
WT Docket No. 12-219
On August 8, 2012, the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, released a 
Public Notice inviting parties to file comments regarding a proposed revision of the Commercial Operator 
License Examination question pools for Elements 7 (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System 
(GMDSS) radio operating practices) and 7R (Restricted GMDSS radio operating practices).  The 
proposed updated question pools were submitted by Owen Anderson and the GMDSS Task Force.  
Commenters support adopting the proposed question pools.   
We have reviewed the record and find that the adoption of the new question pools is appropriate 
and would promote efficient and effective Commercial Operator License Examinations.
1
  In this regard, 
we conclude that adoption of the updated question pools for Element 7 and 7R 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.  Our goal is to ensure that the questions 
reflect the current duties and responsibilities of licensees and state-of-the-art technologies.  
Entities administering Commercial Operator License Examinations may begin using the new 
question pools immediately, or may continue to use the previous question pools for a period of six months 
following the release date of this Public Notice. After that date, only the new question pools may be used.
The new question pool can be obtained from the Commission's Web site, at 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/commoperators/index.htm?job=question_pools, and can be obtained from Best 
Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12
th
St., S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C.  20554, 
telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, email FCC@BCPIWEB.com.
For further information, contact Ghassan Khalek of the Mobility Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-2771, TTY (202) 418-7233, or via email to 
Ghassan.Khalek@fcc.gov.
By the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
                                                     
1
In his comments, Mr. Anderson corrects typographical errors regarding format and punctuation in the proposed 
question pools that were submitted to the Commission.  We approve the corrected versions of the pools.
-FCC-