Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988
PL 100-542 (H.R.4992), enacted 10/28/1988

PUBLIC LAW 100-542—OCT. 28, 1988 
102 STAT. 2721 
Public Law 100-542 
100th Congress 
An Act 
To expand our national telecommunications system for the benefit of the hearing-
impaired and speech-impaired populations, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Telecommunications Accessibility 
Enhancement Act of 1988". 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act— 
(1) The term "TDD" means a Telecommunications Device for 
the Deaf, a machine which employs graphic communications in 
the transmission of coded signals through the nationwide tele-
communications system. 
(2) The term "Federal agency" has the meaning given such 
term by section 3(b) of the Federal Property and Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 472(b)). 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) 
ACCESSIBIUTY 
OF 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
SYSTEMS.—The 
Administrator of General Services, after consultation with the 
Architectural and Transportation Barriers C!ompliance 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 accord-
ance 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) SPECIPIC REQUIREMENT.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall— 
(1) provide for the continuation of the existing Federal relay 
system for users of TDD's; 
(2) within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
expand such relay system by employing at least one additional 
operator; 
(3) within 180 days after such date of enactment— 
(A) conduct, as part of the rulemaking proceeding 
required by subsection (a), an analysis of modifications to 
the Federal telecommunications system that the Adminis-
trator, in his discretion, determines to be necessary to 
achieve the objectives of subsection (a); 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, pre-
scribe the regulations required by subsection (a); 
Oct. 28, 1988 
[H.R. 4992] 
Telecommunications 
Accessibility 
Enhancement 
Act of 1988. 
40 u s e 762 note. 
40 u s e 762. 
40 u s e 762a. 
Regulations. 
Reports. 
Regulations. 
102 STAT. 2722 
PUBLIC LAW 100-542—OCT. 28, 1988 
(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 Transpor-
tation Barriers Compliance Board, adopt the design of a stand-
ard 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 pre-
scribe the regulation required by subsection (a) before the end of the 
90-day period beginning on the date the Administrator submits the 
report required by subsection (b)(3)(B). 
40 u s e 762b. 
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH.—The Administrator shall, in consulta-
tion with the Federal Communications Commission, 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.— 
The Administrator, in planning future alterations to and modifica-
tions of the Federal telecommunications system, shall take into 
account results of the analysis required by section 3(b)(3) and any 
technological improvements in telecommunications devices and sys-
tems that provide accessibility to hearing-impaired and speech-
impaired individuals. 
40 u s e 762c. 
SEC. 5. INQUIRY REGARDING INTERSTATE TDD RELAY SYSTEM. 
The Federal Communications Commission shall, within 9 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, complete its existing inquiry 
regarding an interstate relay system for users of TDD's. 
40 u s e 762d. 
SEC. 6. TDD INSTALLATION BY CONGRESS. 
As soon as practicable, each House of the Congress shall establish 
a policy under which Members of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, as the case may be, may obtain TDD's for use in 
communicating with hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individ-
uals, and for the use of hearing-impaired and speech-impaired 
employees. 
Approved October 28, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4992 (S. 2221): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-1058, Pt. 1 (eomm. on Energy and eommerce). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-464 accompanying S. 2221 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Aug. 10, S. 2221 considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 12, H.R. 4992 considered and passed House. 
Oct. 14, considered and passed Senate.