Sec. 302. Relay services
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Section 225 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 225 ) is amended— in subsection (a)— by redesignating paragraphs
(2)and
(3)as paragraphs
(5)and (6), respectively; by inserting after paragraph
(1)the following: The term communication facilitator means a skilled user of sign language who is able to facilitate the ability of a DeafBlind person to engage in transmission and other services described in this section by conveying the information provided during the use of those services to the DeafBlind person through close vision or tactile sign language. The term Deaf interpreter means an individual who— is deaf or hard of hearing; possesses native or near-native fluency in sign language; and has specialized training or experience to assist in providing functionally equivalent sign language interpretation for an individual using sign language in a situation that— requires linguistic or cultural mediation; may be highly complex in nature; or may involve individuals who face linguistic challenges, such as through atypical language use, language deprivation, or idiosyncratic signing styles. The term direct video calling service means telephone customer support using one-to-one video communication that— is facilitated by a contact center representative; and enables a real-time conversation to occur directly between not fewer than 2 parties using sign language— not less than 1 of the parties to which is a governmental agency, business, non-profit organization, emergency authority, or other enterprise; and not less than 1 of the parties to which— is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind; or has a speech disability or auditory processing disorder; and relies on sign language for communication. ; and by striking paragraph (6), as so redesignated, and inserting the following: The term telecommunications relay services means— transmission services that provide the ability for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who has a speech disability or an auditory processing disorder, to engage in communication by wire or radio with 1 or more individuals, in a manner that is functionally equivalent to, or, if technically feasible, provides access that is equal to, the ability of a hearing individual who does not have a speech disability to communicate using voice communication services or advanced communications services by wire or radio; and other services facilitating functionally equivalent communication by wire or radio for an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who has a speech disability or an auditory processing disorder, including the provision of communication facilitators for an individual who is DeafBlind and the provision of direct video calling services for communication in real-time by sign language users with customer service centers and other call centers operated by local, State, or Federal Government agencies, crisis centers, and emergency authorities. ; and in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: In this paragraph, the term video relay service has the meaning given the term in section 64.601(a)(57) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to— define as eligible for relay service support from the fund described in section 64.604(c)(5)(iii) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on that date of enactment— direct video calling services between sign language users and call center representatives in local, State, or Federal government agencies, crisis centers, and emergency authorities; services provided by communication facilitators on telecommunications relay services calls with individuals who are DeafBlind; and the provision of a Deaf interpreter to accompany a hearing communications assistant, as defined in section 64.601(a)(13) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation, when necessary to assist in providing functionally equivalent sign language interpretation on calls using video relay service; achieve full, equal, and direct access to public safety answering points, as that term is defined in section 222(h), and other local emergency authorities, including emergency authorities responding to wireless calls placed by dialing 9–1–1, by individuals who— are deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, or who have a speech disability or a cognitive disability; and use sign language; and unless not achievable (as defined in section 716(g)), ensure that a person can have a single telephone number for the purpose of receiving calls and messages from other entities calling by means of video relay services or voice or electronic text messaging services. The regulations described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall, unless not achievable (as defined in section 716(g)), at a minimum, require that users communicating by means of a video relay service or a direct video calling service shall be capable of using native dialing or 1-step access on a mobile phone so that such communication— includes the location information of the user, to be transmitted and delivered immediately and directly to the applicable emergency authority; and is received by the applicable emergency authority with the same speed and efficiency as a voice call made by dialing 9–1–1. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and once every 4 years thereafter, the Commission shall, as necessary to respond to evolving communication technologies, reassess and update the regulations prescribed under this subsection to ensure that those regulations effectively satisfy the communication needs of individuals with disabilities who are covered by this Act, including by— assessing the need for new modes of telecommunications relay services; and increasing and improving the mandatory minimum standards to ensure the quality and privacy of telecommunications relay services. .
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