-3

Because today's telephone system uses sophisticated

computers to switch calls and maintain network activities,

software like the TND system could be put into local telephone computers where it would be accessible to large numbers of people. The telephone company's computers would recognize when a call was coming into a deaf person's home or office and switch on the special TND system.

While still in the early developmental stages, TND is already a promising concept. It has been trialed in a number of locations and was recently demonstrated at Gallaudet College where it received an enthusiastic response from many of the deaf students who saw it. Instead of having their telephone conversations translated by live operators, the TND system offers real privacy for both parties to a conversation and provides the hearing impaired with telephone communications that are quite similar to those routinely used by the hearing population.

Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the restrictions in the AT&T Consent Decree administered by the U. S. District Court under Judge Harold Greene prevent Bell Atlantic from using the technological capabilities of the network to do even more for the hearing impaired and disabled. Bell Atlantic

urges the Committee to examine this matter carefully. We believe the restrictions in the AT&T Consent Decree call into question Bell Atlantic's ability to work with manufacturers and others to make many new and useful services available to the public. Further, such restrictions blunt our ability and incentives to invest in new research to make the capabilities of the local network available to all. These are issues of importance not just to our industry but all Americans.

-3

Because today's telephone system uses sophisticated

computers to switch calls and maintain network activities,

software like the TND system could be put into local telephone computers where it would be accessible to large numbers of people. The telephone company's computers would recognize when a call was coming into a deaf person's home or office and switch on the special TND system.

While still in the early developmental stages, TND is already a promising concept. It has been trialed in a number of locations and was recently demonstrated at Gallaudet College where it received an enthusiastic response from many of the deaf students who saw it. Instead of having their telephone conversations translated by live operators, the TND system offers real privacy for both parties to a conversation and provides the hearing impaired with telephone communications that are quite similar to those routinely used by the hearing population.

Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the restrictions in the AT&T Consent Decree administered by the U. S. District Court under Judge Harold Greene prevent Bell Atlantic from using the technological capabilities of the network to do even more for the hearing impaired and disabled. Bell Atlantic

We

urges the Committee to examine this matter carefully. believe the restrictions in the AT&T Consent Decree call into question Bell Atlantic's ability to work with manufacturers and others to make many new and useful services available to the public. Further, such restrictions blunt our ability and incentives to invest in new research to make the capabilities of the local network available to all. These are issues of importance not just to our industry but all Americans.

-3

Because today's telephone system uses sophisticated

computers to switch calls and maintain network activities,

software like the TND system could be put into local telephone computers where it would be accessible to large numbers of people. The telephone company's computers would recognize when a call was coming into a deaf person's home or office and switch on the special TND system.

While still in the early developmental stages, TND is already a promising concept. It has been trialed in a number of locations and was recently demonstrated at Gallaudet College where it received an enthusiastic response from many of the deaf students who saw it. Instead of having their telephone conversations translated by live operators, the TND system offers real privacy for both parties to a conversation and provides the hearing impaired with telephone communications that are quite similar to those routinely used by the hearing population.

Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the restrictions in the AT&T Consent Decree administered by the U. S. District Court under Judge Harold Greene prevent Bell Atlantic from using the technological capabilities of the network to do even more for the hearing impaired and disabled. Bell Atlantic