Requires telephone companies to provide essential equipment, including voice dialing equipment, to persons with disabilities

2 Co-sponsors

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• John L. Sampson

BILL NUMBER:S298

Title of bill

REVISED 12/30/11 An act to amend the general business law, in relation to providing telephone equipment with voice dialing functions to certain persons with disabilities

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would update provisions of the Public Service Law to reflect technological advances in adaptive telecommunications equipment.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Amends the General Business Law by adding a new section 399-zz-1. Defines voice dialing telephone equipment, consumer, purchaser, and seller. Any manufacturer or residential voice dialing telephone equipment shall offer for sale such equipment to consumers, as defined in this section, at an amount not to exceed the actual cost of manufacturing the equipment.

Section 2. Every telephone corporation, as defined by section 2 of the Public Service Law, and every cable television company, as defined in section 212 of Public Service Law and any other provider of telephone service that provides telephone service to customers in New York state shall provide notice to its customers that voice dialing telephone equipment is available from manufactures at cost.

Section 3. Effective Date

Existing law

The current law is based on decades-old and outdated technology, only certain services for the hearing impaired (TTY, statewide relay service) are considered to be needed to enable people with disabilities to access telecommunications.

Justification

The provisions of the PSL addressing adaptive telecommunications equipment have not remained current with technological advances. This became apparent in 2005, when local telephone service providers discontinued voice dialing equipment that is relied upon by people with visual impairments without any formal review process.

Since the 1970's, there have been numerous advances in adaptive equipment technology. People with disabilities can benefit from amplified phones, screen readers - even phones that can be dialed by puffing through a straw. This bill will make it easier for people with disabilities to stay connected at home and work and will bring the PSL's treatment of adaptive technology into the 21st century. Except for voice dialing, the legislation does not specify particular technologies, but allows the PSC to periodically update the list of necessary adaptive technologies by adopting regulations.

Prior legislative history

2011: S.298 - Reported and Committed to Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business/A.2226 - Referred to

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2009-10: S.3096B - Amend and Recommit to Energy and Telecommunications/A.8110A - Amend and Recommit to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2007-08: S.759 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.2105 Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2005-06: S.6418 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications/A.8029 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 180 Days after it shall have become law.