The Telecommunications (Services for Disabled Persons) Regulations 2000

Condition 10

SERVICES FOR DISABLED PERSONS

10.1  In this Condition:

• “Relay Service” means a service which—

  (i)

  provides facilities for the receipt and translation of voice messages into text and the conveyance of that text to the Textphone of customers of any operator, and vice versa, and

  (ii)

  has been recognised as a text relay service by means of a determination made by the Director; and

• “Textphone” means an integrated terminal incorporating an alphanumeric keyboard and a means of displaying text, intended for connection to the public switched telephone network for the sole or primary purpose of supporting live telephone conversations between two or more users.

10.2  Unless otherwise specified below, the Licensee shall comply with paragraphs 10.4 to 10.10 by 2nd October 2001.

10.3  The obligations contained in this Condition shall apply to the provision by the Licensee of Call Box Services at any Public Call Box comprised in the Applicable Systems.

10.4  The Licensee shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the services which it provides in order to comply with the obligations contained in paragraphs 10.5 to 10.10 are widely publicised, taking into consideration, where appropriate, the need to disseminate information in appropriate formats through appropriate channels for disabled persons.

10.5  With immediate effect, the Licensee shall from time to time consult the Director who may then, if he thinks fit, seek the advice of:

(a) any body established under section 54(4) of the Act for matters affecting persons who are disabled or of pensionable age; and

(b) any other bodies recognised by the Director as representing the interests of disabled persons,

to ensure that the needs and interests of disabled persons are fully taken into account in the development and provision of its telecommunication services.

10.6  With immediate effect:

(a) the directory information service provided by the Licensee under Condition 2 shall include a service or information as the case may be which the Director determines to be satisfactory where the directory information is made available in a form which is appropriate to meet their needs to persons who are so blind or otherwise disabled as to be unable to use a telephone directory in a form in which it is generally made available by the Licensee to users of its Public Call Boxes who are not so disabled; and the services so provided to such persons shall be provided free of charge; and

(b) following a request to be advised of a Number by a person who is so blind or otherwise disabled as to be unable to use a telephone directory, the Licensee shall, upon that person’s request, then connect the person to the Number so requested.

10.7  The Licensee shall ensure that all Textphones located in its Public Call Boxes provide access to a Relay Service.

10.8  The Licensee shall ensure that all Textphones located in its Public Call Boxes:

(a) have access to a Public Emergency Call Service, operator assistance and a directory information service using short code numbers; and

(b) receive call progress announcements in a form suitable for Textphone users.

10.9  Where the Licensee provides Call Box services at any Public Call Box, it shall:

(a) with immediate effect, from time to time consult the Director who may then, if he thinks fit, seek the advice of:

(i) any body established under section 54(4) of the Act for matters affecting persons who are disabled or of pensionable age; and

(ii) any other bodies recognised by the Director as representing the interests of disabled persons,

on all future changes to the design of its Public Call Boxes to ensure that the needs and interests of disabled persons are fully taken into account in the development and provision of its Public Call Boxes;

(b) ensure that at any time at least 75% of its Public Call Boxes are accessible by reasonable means to users in wheelchairs;

(c) ensure that, not later than 2nd October 2002, at least 70% of its Public Call Boxes contain telephones incorporating additional receiving amplification;

(d) with immediate effect, from time to time and in any event as the Director may require, consult the Director who may then, if he thinks fit, seek the advice of:

(i) any body established under section 54(4) of the Act for matters affecting persons who are disabled or of pensionable age; and

(ii) any other bodies recognised by the Director as representing the interests of disabled persons,

to ensure adequate provision, in terms of numbers and locations, of its Public Call Boxes incorporating textphone facilities. Where the Director is satisfied that such provision is inadequate, he may direct the Licensee to provide whatever level of Public Call Box textphone facilities he deems appropriate.

10.10  At the written request of the Director, the Licensee shall, within three months of the making of such request, report to the Director on the measures being taken to ensure compliance with this Condition in such form as shall be reasonably required by the Director when making the request for the report.

10.11  The Director may publish the information provided in the report.