A telecommunication element having a durable color identifying polymeric coating thereon is disclosed. The telecommunication element comprises an elongated communication transmission medium, such as an optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon, and a radiation cured polymeric coating having an identifying color applied on at least a portion of the transmission medium. The identifying color in the polymeric coating is provided by chromophore molecules that are covalently bonded thereto. Coating compositions and a method are also disclosed.