Excerpted from W5YI Report, August 1, 1996, W5YI, Editor.

VE team accountability

"We continue to encounter terms like 'Team Leader' or 'Team Manager' in connection with the VEC system. These terms are not used in the rules. They seem to have great meaning, however, within the amateur service community. As the VEC system has evolved over the past 13 years, the VE's have very conspicuously organized themselves into teams and team leaders. It probably is more productive for one member to perform the ministerial functions for the team. There seems to be widesperad misunderstanding -- as to the scope and areas of accountability of the members of VE teams who function in various capacities.

"The three VE's who certify that they have complied with the administering VE requirements are jointly and individually accountable for the proper administration of each and every examination element reported on the FCC Form 610. They, and they alone, are accountable persons of record.

"Accountability cannot be delegated to another VE, including a VE that serves as its team leader Accountability cannot be delegated to the VEC that coordinates the examinations session. It is the three VE's who sign the certification form who are ultimately accountable for the proper administration of an examination. Their decisions cannot be overridden by a team leader or by the VEC.

"Based upon what we have been told, it is clear that it is a widespread practice for certifying VE's to delegate administration of certain elements of the examination to other persons. Such delegation is not provided for in the rules. The certifying VE's may need to be reminded, however, that even though they delegate their authority to other persons, they cannot delegate their accountability.

John B. Johnston, W3BE
Federal Communications Commission

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