§762a. Federal telecommunications system requirements

(a) Accessibility of telecommunications systems

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, by regulation, take such actions in accordance with this section as may be necessary to assure 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) Specific requirement

In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Administrator shall-

(1) provide for the continuation of the existing Federal relay system for users of TDD's;

(2) within 90 days after October 28, 1988, expand such relay system by employing at least one additional operator;

(3) within 180 days after October 28, 1988-

(A) conduct, as part of the rulemaking proceeding required by subsection (a) of this section, an analysis of modifications to the Federal telecommunications system that the Administrator, in his discretion, determines to be necessary to achieve the objectives of subsection (a) of this section; and

(B) submit a report on the results of such analysis to each House of the Congress;

(4) within 180 days after completion of such analysis, prescribe the regulations required by subsection (a) of this section;

(5) assemble, publish, and maintain a directory of TDD and other devices used by Federal agencies to comply with such regulations, and publish, in Federal agency directories, access numbers of TDD's and such other devices; and

(6) after consultation with the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, adopt the design of a standard logo to signify the presence of a TDD or other device used by a Federal agency to comply with such regulations.

(c) Congressional oversight

The Administrator shall not prescribe the regulation required by subsection (a) of this section before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date the Administrator submits the report required by subsection (b)(3)(B) of this section.

( Pub. L. 100–542, §3, Oct. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 2721 .)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 762, 762b of this title.