COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE JOHN D. DINGELL, Michigan, Chairman JAMES H. SCHEUER, New York EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts DOUG WALGREN, Pennsylvania CARDISS COLLINS, Illinois W.J. "BILLY" TAUZIN, Louisiana RON WYDEN, Oregon BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico THOMAS J. MANTON, New York NORMAN F. LENT, New York EDWARD R. MADIGAN, Illinois CARLOS J. MOORHEAD, California MATTHEW J. RINALDO, New Jersey WILLIAM E. DANNEMEYER, California BOB WHITTAKER, Kansas THOMAS J. TAUKE, Iowa DON RITTER, Pennsylvania THOMAS J. BLILEY, JR., Virginia MICHAEL G. OXLEY, Ohio SONNY CALLAHAN, Alabama JOHN S. ORLANDO, Chief of Staff MARGARET A. DURBIN, Minority Chief Counsel/Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND FINANCE EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts, Chairman AL SWIFT, Washington W.J. "BILLY" TAUZIN, Louisiana BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico JOHN D. DINGELL, Michigan MATTHEW J. RINALDO, New Jersey EDWARD R. MADIGAN, Illinois CARLOS J. MOORHEAD, California THOMAS J. TAUKE. Iowa DON RITTER, Pennsylvania THOMAS J. BLILEY, JR., Virginia GERARD SALEMME, Policy Analyst CONTENTS Hershman, Linda D., general manager, Government Relations, Southern New England Telephone Co., on behalf of United States Telephone AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1989 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:37 a.m., in room 2322, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Edward J. Markey (chairman) presiding. Mr. MARKEY. Good morning. The subcommittee will come to order. Today we will hold a hearing on Title V of H.R. 2273, the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989." This landmark legislation will extend civil rights protection to those Americans with disabilities, and help tear down the barriers that have prevented the disabled from becoming full and equal members of society. Today the subcommittee will examine legislation designed to bridge the gaps in our Nation's telecommunications system that have been unwillingly created by an insensitive and unsympathetic society. This bill will guarantee communications for impaired Americans and for those people with speech or hearing disabilities, equal access to the Nation's telecommunications networks. At present, there are many times, often when it matters the most, that a hearing-impaired person simply cannot use the telephone. Imagine not being able to call home from a friend's house, or use the phone in someone else's office, or even call 911 outside your home in an emergency. Well, for many of the Nation's 26 million hearing-impaired persons, this is not some far fetched nightmare. It is a daily reality. The enactment of the Communications Act of 1934, with the goal of universal service for all Americans, we in the Congress have been trying to ensure that all Americans have access to the phone. Today this goal is more important than ever because information and communications drive our society. The telephone is no more a luxury item, but an essential part of our everyday lives. Our link to the rest of the world. The legislation that we are considering today will bring the communications impaired much closer to the realization of the universal service goal, and open up an entire new market of consumers. In essence, this bill will enable the communications impaired to use the telephone for the same purposes the rest of the population has come to take for granted. 1 Title V of H.R. 2273 establishes a seamless, interstate, and intrastate relay system for the use of telecommunications devices for the deaf, TDD's. That will be the vital link through which communications-impaired individuals will have access to the outside world. This device, connected to an operator relay system, will allow a communications-impaired caller to communicate with anyone who has a telephone anywhere in the country. The relay operator, acting as an intermediary between the two parties, will translate typed TDD messages by voice and vice versa. A few States already have relay systems in place, and have seen how the access they provide benefits segments of the communications-impaired population. In California, for example, the call volume has reached approximately 245,000 calls a month. An entire segment of the population now has an opportunity to escape from a world of virtual silence, and into one of modern communication, and information services, but more needs to be done to open an escape route for the many States that have not progressed as rapidly as others. Last year, the enactment of the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988, a bill which originated in this subcommittee, was a great step forward in improving the access of the communications-impaired to telephone services. We are now poised to take the next step, providing the communications tools and services needed for them to become more productive in society, and thereby benefiting all of us. As chairman of the subcommittee, one of my highest priorities has been to ensure that the wonders of modern telecommunications are available to all Americans at affordable rates. I am certain that all of us in Congress agree that achieving the goal of universal service in an ever expanding telephone network is not possible without providing equal access to the communications-impaired. With that, time for a statement by the Chair has expired, and I now turn and recognize the ranking minority member, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Rinaldo. Mr. RINALDO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to commend you for calling a hearing on this important legislation. The basic purpose of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989" is to remove barriers that prevent disabled citizens from leading productive lives, and contributing fully to their communities. Nowhere is this bill more important to achieve than in the world of telecommunications. More and more, telecommunications provide the essential link with our fellow man. It has become the glue, you might say, that holds society together. Unfortunately, very little progress has been made in providing our hearing- and speech-impaired citizens with full and equal access to the telephone network. Just last July the FCC concluded that interstate TDD relays are virtually nonexistent. I am proud that this subcommittee has been the most active body in Congress in trying to correct that situation. Last year we passed two important bills to close the gap. The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act requires all telephones to be able to use with hearing aid. The Telecommunications Accessibility and Enhancement Act requires the Government to provide ATDD relay systems so that hearing and speech-impaired citizens can talk to and be answered by their Government officials, including Members of Congress. When we approved those bills, we stated that they represented the beginning of the subcommittee's work and not an end. Today we consider a bill which in part represents the logical extension of our efforts, the "Americans with Disabilities Act.' The purpose of the telecommunications title or section of the bill is to extend a public TDD relay network throughout the United States. This is a worthy and laudable goal, that will ensure that the full benefits of the telephone network are shared equally by all of our citizens. I don't believe those who suggest that a national relay system won't be cost effective because most of the TDD goals made now are local. It sounds somewhat like the old saying, "You can't miss what you never had." This situation is certainly an exception. There isn't an interstate TDD relay system now, so it is nearly impossible to make those kinds of calls. I am sure that when the interstate relay system is in effect it will be used more heavily than anyone ever imagined. Telephone usage continues to increase dramatically every year. It is illogical to assume that one significant part of our population won't choose to take advantage of our telephone network if given the opportunity. The goals of the "Americans with Disabilities Act" are certainly ones that all members of this subcommittee share. Of course, we must not only agree on the goals, but we must also agree on how telephone companies must reach those goals, and we must expedite the passage of this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. [Testimony resumes on p. 16.] [The text of Title V of H.R. 2273 follows:] |