For Immediate Release
1200 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
202/628-6380
202/393-5453 (fax)
Contact: John Bernhards
Director of Public Relations
Phone: 202/434-8850
E-mail: jbernhards@atis.org
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For Immediate Release
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ATIS-Sponsored TTY Forum Reports to FCC Successful Deployment of TTY Services Over Wireless Networks
June 26, 2002, Washington, D.C. - The ATIS-sponsored Text Telephony (TTY) Forum today filed a Consensus Statement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) acknowledging the successful deployment of TTY services over digital wireless networks. At the most recent Forum meeting on June 4, 2002, leading U.S. wireless service providers in the TTY Forum reported that they are prepared to meet the FCC's June 30, 2002, deadline for TTY compatibility, enabling people with speech or hearing disabilities to use TTY devices over wireless networks.
"Through the TTY Forum, the wireless industry has performed due diligence
to ensure that digital networks are capable of transmitting TTY calls by the
FCC's deadline," said Ed Hall, Vice President for Technology Development
at ATIS. "Through a collaborative effort which began in 1997, the Forum
has been successful in helping to create and test standards that enable people
with speech or hearing disabilities to communicate over wireless networks."
TTY devices, which have been in use since 1964, were designed specifically for
use over analog networks. To enable the TTY calls over digital voice channels,
digital wireless handsets and networks had to be redesigned to accommodate the
speed and tone of TTY signals. The TTY Forum worked in concert with standards
developing organizations including TIA TR 45 and the ATIS-sponsored Committee
T1 to ensure standards were created for each wireless technology - CDMA, GSM,
TDMA, and iDen.
The Forum also supported the TTY Technical Standards Implementation (TTSI) Incubator
to establish TTY testing parameters and coordinate testing events in order to
find, isolate, and resolve TTY issues.
While wireless TTY compatibility services work well for non-emergency communication, there are remaining issues that exist in some emergency situations. Test results indicate that some 9-1-1 callers using a digital wireless phone and TTY device may experience difficulties reaching some Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) operators due to non-standardized TTY equipment or software. The wireless industry, and the ATIS-sponsored TTY Forum, remain committed to improving wireless TTY systems and is working to ensure emergency 9-1-1 calls get through.
The ATIS-sponsored TTY Forum is comprised of various stakeholders including wireless carriers, wireless handset manufacturers, wireless infrastructure manufacturers, manufacturers of Text Telephones (TTYs), emergency and relay service providers (9-1-1 and TRS), and consumer organizations representing people with hearing disabilities.
About ATIS
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that is the leader for standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. More than 400 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS' 20 committees, forums, and Incubator Solutions programs, where work focus includes wireline and wireless network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, Internet telephony, toll-free access, telecom fraud, and order and billing issues, among others. ATIS is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit the ATIS web site at www.atis.org.
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