TTY Forum reported to FCC successful deployment of TTY services o...
TTY Forum reported to FCC successful deployment of TTY services over wireless networks. Forum report, sponsored by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), said wireless industry was prepared to meet FCC June 30 deadline for TTY compatibility, enabling people…
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with speech or hearing disabilities to use TTY devices over wireless networks. TTY devices, which have been in use since 1964, were designed specifically for use over analog networks. To enable TTY calls over digital voice channels, wireless handsets and networks had to be redesigned to accommodate speed and tone of TTY signals, report said. While wireless TTY compatibility services work well for nonemergency communication, other issues exist in some emergency situations, it said. Test results indicated some 911 callers using digital wireless phone and TTY device might experience difficulties reaching some public service answering points (PSAPs) operators due to nonstandardized TTY equipment or software, it said. TTY Forum worked with standards organizations including TIA TR 45 and ATIS-sponsored Committee T1 to ensure standards were created for each wireless technology -- CDMA, GSM, TDMA, iDen. TTY Forum included representatives of wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, wireless infrastructure and TTY vendors, emergency and relay service providers, and consumer organizations representing people with hearing disabilities.