Press release: The Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic (TÚ SR) is of the opinion that computers with an Internet connection could help to search for state and public administration information, which ministries and offices could place in their premises and give citizens the opportunity to use free of charge. Visitors to TÚ SR have the opportunity to search for information free of charge on the office's website and on two other sites with similar content. The computer in the entrance hall of the office allows them to do this. Given the location of the office, it is possible to assume that even citizens without an Internet connection will use this option.
Milan Ištván, executive director of the civil association Partnerships for Prosperity (PPP) welcomes this step of the Slovak Technical University. According to him, such a computer can help the clients of the office in handling the agenda. At the same time, M. Ištván added that such computers or info kiosks should prospectively be part of most public administration offices.
TÚ SR improves services to citizens by placing a computer with access to the website of TÚ SR, the Ministry of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications and the Council for Broadcasting and Retransmission. The office will gradually reassess the use of the computer and, if necessary, will expand the search option to include other websites. When additional requests are made by visitors to the office, or directly when processing a permit, it is often necessary to have available data that are published on the website of the Office of the Slovak Republic. TÚ SR also publishes various surveys and information for end users of telecommunications services on its website. Until now, only citizens who have access to the Internet have had access to this information. The computer in the entrance hall of the office will to some extent help even citizens without an Internet connection who move around the center of the capital on weekdays.
The computer is available to office visitors on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The use of the computer is free. The computer is a single-purpose device intended exclusively for searching information published on the website of the Slovak Technical University, or other selected institutions. It is therefore not possible from a computer, e.g. send e-mail, play games on it, or download programs.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROSPERITY (PPP) is a non-governmental non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the building and development of the information society in the Slovak Republic, specifically electronic public administration services and the liberalization of the telecommunications market.
In Bratislava on August 23, 2005.
For more information, contact the TÚ SR
Roman Vavro, spokesman of the Slovak Technical University
Tel.: 02/57 88 15 52
e-mail: roman.vavro@teleoff.gov.sk
More information about PPP:
Milan Ištván, executive director of PPP
Phone: 0905 351 962
e-mail: milan@p3.sk