On August 15, 2007, the Measure of the Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic (TÚ SR) of July 18, 2007 No. O – 16/2007, which amends and supplements the Measure of the TÚ SR of April 14, 2004 no. O-1/2004, which establishes details on certificates of special professional competence for operating selected radio equipment, on the establishment of an examination committee and on the content, scope and course of the examination (hereinafter referred to as the measure) and subsequently also the general licensing conditions for radio amateurs. The main innovations are the reduction of the number of amateur radio classes from four to two, both of which will be of international validity, and the telegraphy exam will not be mandatory.
With effect from August 15, TÚ SR will issue only two classes of certificates for radio amateurs to successful applicants who demonstrate special professional competence in the exam. For beginners there will be class N (CEPT Novice). During the exam, knowledge of national and international legislation on the operation of amateur stations and general license conditions will be verified, the basics of electrical engineering and radio engineering, safety regulations, basic national and international rules of amateur operation will also be tested. A Class N license holder will be authorized to operate broadcast radio equipment operating in all VHF amateur radio bands and in sections of KV amateur radio bands with a power of up to 100 W.
For more experienced applicants who demonstrate at least one year of experience as a class N operator, the establishment of at least 500 radio amateur connections in addition to connections through transmitters and successfully pass the test, class E (CEPT Extra) will be determined. In order to verify the establishment of at least 500 amateur radio connections, in addition to connections via converters, e.g. station diary, the keeping of which is not mandatory. It will also be possible to prove the establishment of connections QSL tickets. In verifying eligibility for this class, it will be necessary to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the circuits listed for class N. At the applicant's request, the telegraphic alphabet will be tested for both classes (rate of 25, 60 or 80 characters per minute for three-minute transmission and three-minute reception).
According to the transitional provisions of the measure, which is a generally binding legal regulation, operators of classes A, B and C are considered as operators of class E as of August 15, 2007. Operators of class D are considered as operators of class N as of August 15, 2007. Radio amateurs who wish to apply for the exchange of their current license for a new license and their license has not yet expired can submit an application on the prescribed form - http://www.teleoff.gov.sk/sk/Ziadosti/ham.rtf. Class E permit holders may request a two-letter call sign. In both cases, a stamp worth Sk 100 must be attached to the application.
TÚ SR prepared a draft amendment due to the implementation of international regulations for navigational mobile service and for amateur service into the regulations of the Slovak Republic. Comments on the proposal could be sent to the TÚ SR between April 27 and May 21, 2007. Only two radio amateurs received comments on the proposal to change the measure, which was prepared and published by the TÚ SR. The Slovak Union of Radio Amateurs supported the proposed change in writing. The three ministries and the Government Office of the Slovak Republic also sent legislative and technical comments on the proposed change, which does not only affect the amateur service. The President of the Slovak Audit Office sent the proposal of the measure modified according to the results of the commenting procedure to the permanent working committee of the Legislative Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic (LRV) for discussion and taking a position, which discussed and approved the proposal. The authority's measure is followed by the general permit conditions for radio amateurs, which the authority discussed with representatives of radio amateurs. The approved wording of the amendment will be on August 15. 2007 published in the Journal of the Slovak Technical University and on the website of the Slovak Technical University, the general permit conditions will be published on the website of the Slovak Technical University on the same day.
In Bratislava on August 14, 2007.
Roman Vavro, spokesman of the Slovak Technical University