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Senate keeps relay program running, extends funding for telecommunication devices for deaf residents
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to remove the sunset on a relay and TDD assistance program and placed SB 5 on the third-reading calendar after a committee-of-the-whole presentation by Public Service Commissioner Ted Stewart, who said the state program carries roughly 80,000 calls annually and costs about $400,000 a year.
The Utah Senate moved to preserve and continue a state-run relay service and equipment distribution program for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, with lawmakers hearing detailed testimony from Public Service Commissioner Ted Stewart on the program's costs and operations.
Commissioner Ted Stewart told the Senate that the relay service—operated from an exchange in Bountiful—handled about 80,000 messages in 1990 and currently has seven operators. "It costs approximately $400,000 a year to operate this system with the current 7 operators," Stewart said, and noted the program had distributed "approximately 200" TDD units to low-income users at about "$370 per unit." He added the abandonment rate has fallen from 14 percent in the program's early year to roughly "3.8 percent" now, and that further reduction would be expensive.
Senator Steele, who introduced SB 5, said the bill removes an original 1987 sunset so the program can continue and align with federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and pending Federal Communications Commission rulemaking. Steele said the change corrects a timing problem that would otherwise force the state to rebuild or relinquish the established system.
Senators asked about funding, saturation and oversight. Stewart said the devices and operators are funded through a small surcharge on telephone bills that was raised in the past to the current level (7¢ per month); the Public Service Commission retains authority to seek adjustments. "That is one of the reasons why it was raised from 3 to 7 cents," Stewart said, explaining the surcharge supports distribution of TDD units and operator staffing to reduce busy signals.
Lawmakers also discussed program oversight and potential review. Stewart said the Public Service Commission is responsible for administration and that the commission has requested an independent audit in recent months. He told senators the federal ADA will require states to maintain equivalent programs and that ongoing FCC rulemaking will define minimum standards, meaning Utah's existing system will likely only need minor modifications.
The Senate accepted the committee-of-the-whole report and placed SB 5 on the third-reading calendar; later the clerk reported the bill passed that day by voice vote with 27 ayes and 2 absent.
The next step is third reading and final enrollment; the Public Service Commission will continue to oversee implementation, including any future rate review or reporting the body requests.
