Federal Communications Commission	"FCC/DA  XX-XXX"



DA 21-1250
Released:  October 6, 2021

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU APPROVES NEW COMMERCIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION QUESTION POOL FOR ELEMENT 7
WT Docket No. 21-238

On June 8, 2021, the Mobility Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released a Public Notice inviting parties to file comments regarding a proposed revision of the Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) question pool for Element 7 (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Radio Operating Practices). See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Updating the Commercial Operator License Examination (COLE) Question Pool for Element 7, Public Notice, DA 21-659, 2021 WL 2366817 (WTB MD rel. June 8, 2021).
  The proposed updated question pool was submitted by the GMDSS Task Force. See Letter from Captain John C. Fuechsel, UCG, Retired, Director, GMDSS Task Force, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC (July 24, 2020).
  All of the commenting parties support adoption of the revised question pool. See Comments of Kurt Anderson (filed June 22, 2021); Comments of Joseph Allen (filed June 24, 2021); Comments of Peter Hyams (filed June 25, 2021).  


	We have reviewed the record and find that the adoption of the new question pool is appropriate and would promote efficient and effective COLE administration.  The adoption of an updated question pool for Element 7 is warranted because it reflects state-of-the-art technologies and the current duties and responsibilities of commercial radio operator licensees.
	Entities administering COLEs may begin using the new question pool immediately or may continue to use the old questions for a period of six months following the release date of this Public Notice.  After that date, only the new question pool may be used. Kurt Anderson recommends that we provide more than six months for Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs) to transition to the new question pool, but we see no reason to depart from our typical practice of providing a six-month transition period.

	Links to the COLE question pools, including the updated question pool for Element 7, are available at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/commercial-radio-operator-license-program/examinations.
For further information, contact Ghassan Khalek of the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680, TTY (202) 418-7233, or via email to Ghassan.Khalek@fcc.gov.

By the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
2