Note: This text was was downloaded from the FCC Internet server
on 6 Oct 1995.


Subject: New COLE question pools released for elements 1,3,8

                                    
                                    
                              PUBLIC NOTICE
                    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                           1919 M STREET, N.W.
                         WASHINGTON, D.C.  20554                  
              
    
          

      News Media Information (202) 418-0500.  Recorded listing of
releases and texts (202) 418-2222.

                                 
                                 DA 95-2                          
                                    040

                                                                  
      RELEASED: October 3, 1995


NEW COMMERCIAL OPERATOR LICENSE EXAMINATION (COLE) QUESTION POOLS
RELEASED FOR ELEMENTS 1, 3, AND 8

The Commission has revised the Commercial Operator License
Examination (COLE) question pools for Element 1 (basic radio
law), Element 3 (radio electronics), and Element 8 (ship radar
techniques).  These revisions are the product of industry
recommendations and the Commission's ongoing commitment to
improving the quality of the COLE test questions.  These revised
question pools will supersede the current question pools as
described below.  The questions in each pool were examined for
clarity as well as content, and up to 10 percent new questions
were added to each pool.  Effective January 1, 1996, for all test
sites in the continental United States and February 1, 1996, for
all other test sites, Element 1, Element 3, and Element 8
examinations will contain only questions taken from the newly
revised pools.

To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must
submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written Elements as
illustrated in the following table.  The number of questions and
passing score for each written exam is shown in parentheses.




License Type
Element 1 
(18/24)
Element 3 
(57/76) 
Element 5
(38/50)
Element 6
(75/100)
Element 7
(57/76)
Element 8
(38/50)
Element 9
(38/50)


First Class Radiotelegraph
Operators Certificate
 

Second Class Radiotelegraph
Operators Certificate
 

Third Class Radiotelegraph
Operators Certificate
 

General Radiotelephone
Operators License
 

Marine Radio Operators
Permit
 

GMDSS Radio Operators
License
 

GMDSS Radio Maintainers
License
 

Ship Radar Endorsement


In addition to the written Elements, applicants for the First
Class Radiotelegraph Operator Certificate must also submit, to
the Commission, proof of passing Telegraphy Elements 3and 4. 
Applicants for the Second or Third Class Radiotelegraph Operator
Certificates must submit proof of passing Telegraphy Elements 1
and 2.  Applicants for a Ship Radar Endorsement must either hold
or qualify for one of the following: First or Second Class
Radiotelegraphy Operators Certificate, General Radiotelephone
Operators License, or GMDSS Radio Maintainer License. 

The Commission released revised question pools for Elements 7
(GMDSS radio operating procedures) and 9 (GMDSS radio maintenance
practice and procedures) on September 1, 1995.  Additionally, the
Commission intends to revise the question pools for Elements 5
(radiotelegraph operating procedure) and 6 (advanced
radiotelegraph) in the coming months.

The questions and answers for COLE Elements 1, 3, and 8 are
available through the Commission's duplicating contractor,
International Transcription Services, Inc., 2100 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC  20037, telephone (202) 857-3800.  The revised
pools are also available for downloading via the Internet through
anonymous FTP at ftp.fcc.gov in the
"/pub/Bureaus/Wireless/Informal" directory and on the World Wide
Web at http://www.fcc.gov.  All COLE question pools are available
for inspection during normal business hours in the
Private Wireless Division, Room 8010, 2025 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC  20554, telephone (202) 418-0680, and in the
Public Reference Room, Licensing Division, 1270 Fairfield Road,
Gettysburg, PA  15251, telephone 1-800-322-1117.  

For further information, contact Cecilia Sulhoff of the
Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at
(202) 418-0680 or via internet at csulhoff@fcc.gov.

                         - FCC-