Which of the following persons are ineligible to be issued a commercial radio operator license?

• A. Individuals under 18
• B. Individuals who fail a color vision test
• C. Individuals unable to send and receive correctly by telephone spoken messages in English
• D. Non-citizens

Answer: (C)

The key point is English-language radiotelephone communication. A commercial radio operator must be able to send and receive spoken messages over the telephone clearly in English, so that transmissions are understood by Coast Guard, stations, and other operators. If someone cannot communicate correctly in English by telephone, they can’t be issued the license because that fundamental ability is essential for safe and effective maritime communications.

Color vision isn’t a criterion that would disqualify someone for this license, and age or citizenship status isn’t the sole barrier here—the decisive factor is whether the applicant can reliably communicate in English by telephone. Non-citizens may still qualify if they meet the language and other regulatory requirements, so they’re not automatically ineligible.