USC Chapter 181

in effect

40 U.S.C. § 18101 Definitions

In this chapter— (1) Federal agency.—The term “federal agency” has the same meaning given that term in section 102 of this title. (2) TTY.—The term “TTY” means a text-telephone used in the transmission of coded signals through the nationwide telecommunications system.

40 U.S.C. § 18102 Federal telecommunications system

(a) Regulations To Ensure Accessibility.—The Administrator of General Services, after consultation with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, the Interagency Committee on Computer Support of Handicapped Employees, the Federal Communications Commission, and affected federal agencies, shall prescribe regulations to ensure that the federal telecommunications system is fully accessible to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals, including federal employees, for communications with and within federal agencies. (b) Federal Relay System.—The Administrator shall provide for the continuation of the existing federal relay system for users of TTY’s. (c) Directory.—The Administrator shall assemble, publish, and maintain a directory of TTY’s and other devices used by federal agencies to comply with regulations prescribed under subsection (a). (d) Publication of Access Numbers.—The Administrator shall publish access numbers of TTY’s and such other devices in federal agency directories. (e) Logo.—After consultation with the Board, the Administrator shall adopt the design of a standard logo to signify the presence of a TTY or other device used by a federal agency to comply with regulations prescribed under subsection (a).

40 U.S.C. § 18103 Research and development

(a) Support for Research.—The Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, shall seek to promote research by federal agencies, state agencies, and private entities to reduce the cost and improve the capabilities of telecommunications devices and systems that provide accessibility to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals. (b) Planning To Assimilate Technological Developments.—In planning future alterations to and modifications of the federal telecommunications system, the Administrator shall take into account—(1) modifications that the Administrator determines are necessary to achieve the objectives of section 18102(a) of this title; and (2) technological improvements in telecommunications devices and systems that provide accessibility to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals.

40 U.S.C. § 18104 TTY installation by Congress

Each House of Congress shall establish a policy under which Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate may obtain TTY’s for use in communicating with hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals, and for the use of hearing-impaired and speech-impaired employees.