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TTY / Digital Compatibility
 

TTY is a method of coupling teletypewriters to the PSTN. It enables persons with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate with voice telephone users though a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). At issue with the FCC’s mandate related to TTY, is the ability of persons with hearing and speech disabilities using text telephone (TTY) devices will be able to make 911 emergency calls of digital wireless systems. Carriers operating digital wireless systems have been unable to comply because they cannot pass the Baudot-encoded audio tones produced by TTY devices through the digital vocoders used to process speech.

    Important Dates:

December 31, 2001 – deadline for Carriers operating digital wireless systems to have obtained all software upgrades and equipment necessary to make their systems capable of transmitting 911 call from TTY devices.

June 30, 2002 – Six- (6) month time period from December 31, 2001 to integrate, test, and deploy the technology in their systems in conjunction with the public safety community.

Carriers also must submit quarterly reports to the Commission within fifteen (15) days after the end of each quarter, starting at the end of the first quarter in 2001. The first report will be due by April 15, 2001, fifteen days after the end of the quarter ending March 31, 2001, and continuing through the implementation deadline of June 30, 2002. These quarterly reports may be submitted individually or through the Wireless TTY Forum. The quarterly reports should contain updates on the status of the various solutions and should distinguish between different air interfaces. The reports should provide information concerning the following deployment "milestones" and issues:

        Development Activities

  1. network infrastructure software development;
  2. handset development and testing plans;
  3. beta testing and lab testing;
  4. release and general availability to carriers of network infrastructure software;
  5. availability to carriers of full acceptance test units;
  6. efforts toward achieving digital wireless solution compatibility with enhanced TTY devices;

    7. Testing and Deployment Activities
  7. carrier coordination of testing with PSAP(s);
  8. carrier testing activities, including field testing, consumer end-to-end testing, and other necessary tests;
  9. retail availability of necessary consumer equipment; and
  10. geographic scope of network infrastructure deployment.

Wireless Service Providers are directly dependent on their infrastructure and handset vendors for the development and implementation of TTY.  The carrier's efforts are concentrated within the Testing and Deployment Activities which are slated for January through June 2002. 

RADDCOMM can assist the wireless service provider with project management efforts to ensure that the TTY mandate is fully implemented and tested to satisfy the requirements of the mandate.