(A) The commission may establish and the Office of Regulatory Staff may administer and promote a statewide program to provide telephone access to persons who are speech or hearing impaired.

(B) The program may include, but is not limited to:

(1) a statewide dual party relay service;

(2) selection by the Office of Regulatory Staff of a service provider to provide a statewide relay system to handle all intrastate TDD calls;

(3) a distribution system as provided by the Office of Regulatory Staff of TTY's and other related telecommunications devices; and

(4) prescribing or promulgating procedures, regulations, guidelines, and criteria to establish, implement, administer, regulate, and promote all aspects of the dual party relay service and the distribution of TTY and other related telecommunications devices, and the establishment of a funding mechanism to cover all associated costs of these services and this article where not prohibited by law.

The administration, implementation, and promotion of the dual party relay service and the distribution of TTY and other related telecommunications devices is the responsibility of the Office of Regulatory Staff. The administration of the funding mechanism is the responsibility of the Office of Regulatory Staff.

(C) The commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff may use assistance from state and federal agencies or from private organizations and industry to accomplish the purposes of this article.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 488, Section 2, eff May 30, 1990; 1996 Act No. 426, Section 15, eff June 18, 1996; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 71, eff May 24, 2006.