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H.R. 4992 100th Congress House

Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988

Official title: A bill to expand our national telecommunications system for the benefit of the hearing-impaired and speech-impaired populations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 28, 1988 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Communications and BroadcastingCongressional employeesCongressional office buildingsCongressional office operations
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Congressional oversightDeafDirectoriesDisabledEquipment and suppliesFederal employeesFederal installationsFederal office buildingsHearing aidsMembers of CongressSigns and symbolsSpeech disordersSpeech processing systemsTelephone
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 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 28, 1988
Became Public Law No: 100-542.
Oct 28, 1988
Signed by President.
Oct 21, 1988
Presented to President.
Oct 20, 1988
Measure Signed in Senate.
Oct 18, 1988
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 14, 1988
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 14, 1988
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 12, 1988
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Oct 12, 1988
Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 12, 1988
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 12, 1988
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Oct 5, 1988
Reported to House by House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Report No: 100-1058 (Part I).
Sep 27, 1988
Ordered to be Reported.
Sep 27, 1988
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 23, 1988
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee.
Sep 23, 1988
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 23, 1988
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 26, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Jul 12, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Office Systems.
Jul 11, 1988
Referred to Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice, and Agriculture.
Jul 7, 1988
Introduced in House
Jul 7, 1988
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 7, 1988
Referred to House Committee on House Administration.
Jul 7, 1988
Referred to House Committee on Government Operations.
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 Latest action October 28, 1988

Became Public Law No: 100-542.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to establish and implement a telecommunications relay system to increase access to Federal departments and agencies for users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs). Requires the system and its associated plans to include: (1) expansion of the existing relay system to a prescribed minimum service level; (2) accessibility of TDDs in Federal agencies; (3) publication of a TDD directory of Government access numbers; (4) adoption and display of logos identifying TDD stations; and (5) support for the development of cost-reducing technologies.

Directs the FCC to complete its existing inquiry concerning an interstate relay system for TDD users.

Requires that the Congress install TDDs and assure their accessibility in congressional offices as soon as practicable.

Authorizes appropriations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2221 A bill to expand our national telecommunications system for the benefit of the hearing-impaired, and for other purposes.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3
D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Sep 28, 1988
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Sep 22, 1988
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Sep 22, 1988
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Sep 16, 1988
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4992: Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4992/
MLA
"H.R. 4992: Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4992/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4992, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4992/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4992: Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-4992/)
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