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Statement
of William E. Kennard Chairman Federal
Communications Commission Before
the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee
on Benefits Hearing
on Veterans Employment: Credentialing
(Licensure, Certification, Accreditation, and Apprenticeship)
Requirements September
9, 1999
Subcommittee
Chairman Quinn, Representative Filner -- I am pleased to submit
written testimony for the oversight hearing by the Subcommittee on
Benefits regarding Veterans'
Employment: Credentialing (Licensure, Certification, Accreditation,
and Apprenticeship) Requirements.
I am pleased to offer the following testimony regarding
credentialing requirements administered by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) in which exiting members of the armed services have
expressed an interest. Specifically,
I will take this opportunity to provide the Subcommittee with
information regarding the FCC's Commercial Radio Operator licensing
program. I fully support
efforts to make application for FCC licenses by exiting service
members as efficient and fair as possible, and I congratulate you for
holding this important hearing.
By way of background, a Commercial Radio Operator license (with
appropriate endorsements) is required by the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, for individuals who operate certain types of
transmitting equipment at civilian radio stations, or who repair radio
transmitting equipment used in certain radio services.
The Commercial Radio Operator licenses and endorsements issued
by the FCC are classified in accordance with the Radio Regulations of
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The specific FCC rules governing Commercial Radio Operator
licensing are set forth in Part 13 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. There are
currently eight types of Commercial Radio Operator licenses, and two
types of endorsements. The
eight licenses are: Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RP),
Marine Radio Operator Permit, General Radiotelephone Operator License,
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Radio Operator's
License, GMDSS Radio Maintainers License, Third Class Radiotelegraph
Operator's Certificate, Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's
Certificate, and the First Class Radiotelegraph Operator's
Certificate. The two
endorsements are the Ship Radar Endorsement and the Six-Month Service
Endorsement.
The FCC's Part 13 rules set forth the specific requirements for
obtaining these licenses. For
example, a person interested in obtaining a RP only needs to file an
application. However, to qualify for any of the other seven licenses noted
above, and the Ship Radar Endorsement, one must pass a written
examination(s) and, for certain licenses, an additional telegraphy
exam. On the other hand,
to obtain a Six-Month Service Endorsement, one must have a First or
Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate.
One must also provide certain documentation with the
application, including proof of employment as a radio operator on
board ships of the United States for an aggregate period of at least
six months. In addition,
an applicant must also show that the ship he or she was aboard was
equipped with radio stations complying with the provisions of the
Communications Act. For
military personnel, we give credit for time served on ships owned and
operated by the United States Government.
While passing a written examination is a requirement for
certain of the Commercial Radio Operator licenses, the FCC does not
administer such examinations. In
1990, Congress gave the FCC authority to allow private sector entities
to give the written examinations for Commercial Radio Operator
licenses. As a result,
the examinations are given by Commercial Radio Licensing Examination
Managers (Examination Managers), who are specifically certified by the
FCC to perform this function. Currently,
there are ten Examination Managers.
Privatizing the examination program has greatly increased the
public's accessibility to testing.
Examinations are now given throughout the year at numerous
locations across the country and in some foreign countries.
It is my understanding that service personnel also can take the
necessary examinations at military installations overseas through an
agreement between the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational
Support group (DANCES) and at least one of the Examination Managers.
Individuals wanting to take one or more examinations should
contact the Examination Managers to determine the most convenient time
and place to take the test. I
have included a listing of these organizations and information about
them as an Appendix to this written testimony.
Once an individual passes the required examination(s), the
appropriate FCC Form, along with the appropriate Proof of Passing
Certificate issued by an Examination Manager, is submitted to the FCC,
which grants a license. Applicants,
however, do not have to wait for the Commission to issue the license.
Once a valid application for a Commercial Radio Operator
license is received at the FCC, applicants are authorized to exercise
the rights and privileges of the operator license for which they
applied, provided the individual's Commercial Radio Operator's license
was not revoked or suspended, and is not the subject of an ongoing
suspension proceeding. This
authority is valid for a period of 90 days from the date the
application is received by the FCC.
The 1997 report, Study of
Civilian Licensure and Certification for Veterans, submitted by
DynCorp to the American Legion's Washington office, states that
"obtaining an FCC license should not pose much of a problem for
exiting service personnel."
I concur with this assessment and I note that in addition to
the broad accessibility of testing locations described above, the FCC
has increased its outreach efforts regarding its Commercial Radio
Operator licensing program. For
example, the FCC has detailed information on its web page about the
Commercial Radio Operator licensing program, including how to obtain a
license or endorsement (http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/commoperators),
and the question pools for the written examinations (except those
pertaining to radio telegraphy) (http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Informal).
The FCC also publishes a Fact Sheet on the Commercial Radio
Operator licensing program (http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/csinfo/factsheets.html).
Further, it is my understanding that there is a wide range of
study material available commercially and in public libraries
regarding the program. The
attached list of Commercial Operator License Examination Managers
(COLE Managers) can be found at (http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Public_Notices/1999/da990678.txt).
In addition, the FCC provides information regarding the
standard types of documentation of military training and experience
that are available to support veterans' requests for credit toward
licensure or certification requirements based upon their military
training and experience.
In conclusion, the FCC has tried wherever possible to eliminate
barriers to individuals, including those currently in the military,
wanting to obtain a Commercial Radio Operator license or endorsement.
Specifically, the FCC has taken measures to ensure that
information is available on applicable licensure and certification
requirements. As noted in
the DynCorp report to the American Legion, the Commission makes
information available to the public, which clearly and succinctly
describes under what conditions someone would need a license, permit
or endorsement." While
the FCC has made significant strides in this area, the FCC is always
receptive to obtaining input from the Subcommittee and/or interested
members of the public as to how we can make the Commercial Radio
Operator licensing program even more accessible to exiting service
personnel. Please do not
hesitate to contact my staff or me should you wish to discuss these
issues further. Thank you
again for the opportunity to submit this written testimony. Appendix Individuals
need a Commercial Radio Operator license to operate the following
types of radio stations:
Ship
radio stations if:
- the
vessel carries more than six passengers for hire; or
- the
radio operates on medium (300-3000 kHz) or high (3-30 MHz)
frequencies; or
- the
ship sails to foreign ports; or
- the
ship is larger than 300 gross tons and is required to carry a radio
station for safety purposes.
Public
Coast stations which operate on medium or high frequencies, or operate
with more than 1500 watts of peak envelope power.
Aircraft
radio stations, except those that use only VHF (30-300 MHz)
frequencies on domestic flights.
International fixed public radiotelephone and radiotelegraph
stations.
Public
Coast and ship stations transmitting radiotelegraphy. Individuals
also need a Commercial Radio Operator license to repair and maintain
the following radio stations:
all
ship and radar stations.
All
coast stations.
All
hand carried units used to communicate with ships and coast stations
on marine frequencies.
All
aircraft stations and aeronautical ground stations (including hand
carried portable units) used to communicate with aircraft.
International fixed public radiotelephone and radiotelegraph
stations. Back to Witness List |