Commission to Study the Funding and Distribution of Teletypewriters and
Other Telecommunications Equipment for People with Disabilities
News Release
For Immediate Release
For further information contact:
Phil McCarthy, Maine State Legislature
Office of Policy & Legal Analysis, 207-287-1670
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Legislative Commission on Telecommunications Equipment for People
with Disabilities to Hold Public Hearing on January 6th in Augusta
A legislative commission examining the use and distribution of teletypewriters (TTY) and other telecommunications
equipment for persons with disabilities will hold a public hearing in Augusta on Tuesday, January 6, 1998. The
hearing will be held from 10:30 am to noon in State House Room 134.
The Commission to Study the Funding and Distribution of Teletypewriter and Other Telecommunications Equipment
for People with Disabilities encourages the public, advocacy groups, the business community, and community leaders
to share their perspectives on the current status of telecommunications programs for the deaf, hearing-impaired,
or speech-impaired persons and the steps necessary to extend telecommunications programs and services to other
disabled populations. The Commission is charged with studying the following issues:
· The current use and distribution of telecommunications equipment for persons with disabilities in the
State, including access to telecommunications equipment through the TTY loaner program and the time required to
have inoperable equipment repaired or replaced;
· The financing of TTY and other telecommunications equipment and how to purchase specialized customer premise
equipment (or SCPE) and other devices that provide access to telephone networks for people with hearing, speech,
vision or mobility impairments;
· The compliance requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 regarding the use of
teletypewriters and other telecommunications equipment; and
· Establishing a funding mechanism for expansion of the program that will include use of additional equipment
The Commission consists of 12 members, including legislators, members of deaf and disabled advocacy organizations,
state agency officials, telephone company representatives, and members of the public. Its legislative members
include: Sen. Sharon Treat, Chair; Rep. Sharon Libby-Jones, and Rep. Joseph Taylor. Further materials related
to the Commission are available on the Internet at “http://www.maine.gov/legis/opla/tty.htm”.
Interpreters will be available at the public hearing and State House Room 134 is accessible for people with mobility
impairments. Interested parties who cannot attend the meeting may submit written information to the Commission
in care of the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis, 13 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333; via FAX: (207)
287-1275; or by E-mail: opla@state.me.us.