Thread Subject: Re: Requirements for telephone amplification

Note

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From: Brett, Thomas F
Date: Mon, Nov 06 2006 4:19 PM

>Prior to our discussing whether the 20 dB value in 1194.23(f) should be
>raised, I'd like clarification about whether ALL phones will be required
>to comply.

I concur that Section 508 does not require that everybody be provided with assistive technology. If a particular product requires the use of screen reader technology because there is a blind individual, that technology need only be supplied to the individual who needs it. The interpretation that I used not only with telecommunications but other EIT is that the product must be capable of supporting the use of assistive technology.


Tom Brett



-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = on behalf of Michaelis, Paul R (Paul)
Sent: Mon 11/6/2006 3:56 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [teitac-telecom] Requirements for telephone amplification

During the recently concluded telecom conference call, we discussed the
requirement in 1194.23(f) that phones be able to provide 20+ dB of
amplification. For most wired phones, this degree of amplification is
achievable without distortion only when the standard handset is replaced
with a handset that contains a special-purpose amplifier and
special-purpose transducer. A question that we were unable to resolve
is whether ALL phones procured by the government must satisfy the
amplification requirement, or whether it's acceptable to provide
special-purpose handsets only to the individuals who require that degree
of amplification.

I'm not a lawyer, but my impression is that the latter point of view is
supported by the General Exceptions: "(C) Except as required to comply
with the provisions in these standards, section 508 does not require the
installation of specific accessibility-related software or the
attachment of an assistive technology device at a workstation of a
Federal employee who is not an individual with a disability." It is
also the case that I have NEVER had a contract officer request that all
phones be supplied with amplified handsets.

On the other hand, I'm very uncomfortable with the idea that someone
with hearing loss would be restricted to specially equipped phones. I
think that this would be contrary to what we were hoping to achieve with
508.

Prior to our discussing whether the 20 dB value in 1194.23(f) should be
raised, I'd like clarification about whether ALL phones will be required
to comply.

Thank you.

-- Paul Michaelis





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