Ch. 349                                    1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(c)     "Dual party telephone relay program" means a service whereby a person using
a telecommunications device for the deaf communicates with an intermediary party who
then verbally relays the first party's message to the third party, and vice versa.

(d)     "Program" means the dual party telephone relay program.

(e)     "Program participant" means a resident of the State, whether hearing or deaf,
who uses the relay system to facilitate communication in the manner described in
subsection (c) of this section.

(f)      "Telephone company" includes any public service company that owns
telephone lines for the reception, transmission, or communication of messages by
telephone or teletype, or that leases or sells telephonic or teletype communication
equipment.

(g)     "Telecommunications device for the deaf or "TDD" means all types of
mechanical devices that enable disabled individuals to type phone messages through the
telephone network.

3-802.

There is a Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay under the
Department [ of General Services].

3-803.

The Department [of General Services] in consultation with the Board shall
establish and administer a program to provide cost-efficient, 24-hour, dual party
telephone relay service to program participants at a comparable level of access and
quality that a standard telecommunication service provides to a person without a hearing
or speech disability.

3-804.

(a)     The Board shall be composed of 12 individuals appointed by the Governor,
who shall designate the chairman, including:

(1)     5 representatives of the hearing impaired;

(2)     1 representative of the mobility impaired community who requires the
use of specialized customer premises equipment;

(3)     1 representative of the speech-impaired community who requires the
use of specialized customer premises equipment;

(4)     1 representative of the senior citizen community who requires the use of
specialized customer premises equipment;

(5)     1 representative of the deaf-blind community; and

(6)     3 representatives of government, 1 of whom is a representative of the
Public Service Commission.

(b)     (1) The term of a member is 3 years.

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