On 31.1. 2007 The Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic (TÚ SR) preliminarily negotiated with the amateur radio organization Slovak Union of Radio Amateurs (SZR), which represents Slovak radio amateurs in international organizations, about upcoming changes in the field of amateur radio broadcasting. The preliminary proposals of both parties coincided in the issues of operator classes, in the conditions of transition from class N (CEPT Novice) to class A and in the composition of the call sign of a foreigner broadcasting on the territory of the Slovak Republic in the CEPT Novice class.
TÚ SR and SZR mutually presented their preliminary proposals for changes that affect the generally binding legal regulation - Measures of the Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic dated 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 and, in connection therewith, on the general licensing conditions for amateur broadcasting radio stations.
The proposals of TÚ SR and SZR preliminarily agree that the current classes A, B and C should be class A (CEPT) according to future adjustments. Current class D license holders should be in class N (CEPT Novice). An applicant for a radio amateur license will first have to pass exams for class N. No knowledge of telegraphy will be required in exams of special professional competence for radio amateurs. The transition from class N should be min. after a year of experience and the applicant should have at least 500 established amateur radio connections. The call sign of a foreigner who holds a CEPT Novice broadcasting on the territory of the Slovak Republic will be made up of the OM9 system/domestic call sign of the foreigner. According to this composition of the call sign, it will be possible to identify the holder of the CEPT Novice permit in a simple way. Other countries have introduced a similar system.
Both parties continue to work on detailed proposals for changes. The TÚ SR will publish a draft amendment to the generally binding legal regulation on the TÚ SR website along with the deadline and address for sending comments. The resulting wording of the draft amendment to the generally binding legal regulation is discussed by a permanent working group at the Legislative Council of the Government. The approved wording of the change will be published in the Journal of the TÚ SR and on the website of the TÚ SR. The office will subsequently inform radio amateurs about the approved changes.
In Bratislava on January 31, 2007.
Roman Vavro, spokesman of the Slovak Technical University
