(1)(a) In order to be eligible to receive assistive telecommunication devices, adaptive equipment or communication facilitator services, individuals must be certified as deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired by a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, audiologist, hearing aid specialist, speech-language pathologist, rehabilitation instructor for persons who are blind or vocational rehabilitation counselor of the Department of Human Services. Certification implies that the individual cannot use the telephone for expressive or receptive communication.

(b) No more than one assistive telecommunication device or adaptive equipment device may be provided to a household. However, two assistive telecommunication devices or adaptive equipment devices may be provided to a household if more than one eligible person permanently resides in the household. Households without any assistive telecommunication devices or adaptive equipment shall be given priority over households with one assistive telecommunication device or adaptive equipment device when such devices are distributed.

(c) ORS § 759.693 to 759.698 do not require a telecommunications utility to provide an assistive telecommunication device to any person in violation of ORS § 646.730.

(2)(a) In order to be eligible to receive adaptive equipment, individuals must be certified to have the required disability by a person or agency designated by the Public Utility Commission to make such certifications. Certification implies that the individual is unable to use the telephone.

(b) ORS § 759.693 to 759.698 do not require a telecommunications utility to provide adaptive equipment to any person in violation of ORS § 646.730. [1987 c.290 § 14; 1989 c.115 § 1; 1991 c.872 § 7; 1995 c.280 § 33; 1999 c.384 § 5; 2007 c.28 § 2; 2007 c.70 § 357; 2011 c.264 § 4; 2014 c.45 § 84; 2019 c.113 § 5]

INFORMATION SERVICE PROVIDERS