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JAN 4 1994 BOOK APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE DEVICE FOR THE DEAF (TDD) ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT FOR B911 PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINTS AND THE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER The Board reviewed the following memo dated December 17, 1993: TO: Board of County Commissioners THROUGH: Jim Chandler, unty Administrator FROM: Doug Wright l hector Department of Emergency Services DATE: December 17, 1993 SUBJECT: Approval of Additional Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) - Associated Equipment for E911 Public Safety Answering Points and the County . Emergency Operations Center It is respectfully requested that the information contained herein be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at the next regular scheduled meeting. DESCRIPTION.AND_CONDITIONS: The Sheriff's Department has formally requested that an additional Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) be purchased for use in the E911 Communications Center. The Communications Center currently has one TDD which was purchased approximately two (2) years ago. Due to the increase in use and the large number of "silent" calls received at the Center, the additional TDD would assist in handling the call flow and act as a back-up if a TDD failed to function. It would also assure compliance with the ADA legislation relating to the hearing impaired public. The Communications Center staff has also requested that a TDD Detector be purchased and installed. This would assist the Center operators in identifying TDD calls faster and with greater accuracy. As the Board is aware, legislation requires that emergency calls be answered within ten (10) seconds and TDD calls must be answered within twenty (20) seconds by the Communications Center. The Public Service Commission is now randomly testing for compliance with the law and fines have been levied for violations. The TDD Ultratec Superprint ES TDD, FCC Registration Number D8R7IB- 15278-OT-R, is priced at $448.00 and is available through Florida State Contract #730-300-93-1 with Harris Communications of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The TDD Detector is not on state contract and not available from Harris Communications. The detector can be purchased through Ultratec at a price of 399.00 plus $10.00 shipping. A total of three (3) TDD Detectors is needed in order to provide one for each of the two 911 PSAP's and one for the County Emergency Operations Center. ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS: The Americans with Disabilities Act, Chapter 427 and Chapter 165, Florida Statutes, as well as the Florida State Communications Plan requires that persons with hearing or speech impairments have access to telecommunications systems and services the same as other individuals. 24