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Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-110

§18103 Research and Development

Title 40 › SUBTITLE VI — MISCELLANEOUS › CHAPTER 181 — TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBILITY FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED AND SPEECH-IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS › § 18103

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator of General Services must work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to encourage research by federal, state, and private groups to make telecommunications devices and systems for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities cheaper and better. When planning changes to the federal telecommunications system, the Administrator must consider changes needed to meet the goals of section 18102(a) and new technology that improves access for those same people.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §18103

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Support for Research.—
The Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, shall seek to promote research by federal agencies, state agencies, and private entities to reduce the cost and improve the capabilities of telecommunications devices and systems that provide accessibility to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals.
(b)Planning To Assimilate Technological Developments.—
In planning future alterations to and modifications of the federal telecommunications system, the Administrator shall take into account—
(1)modifications that the Administrator determines are necessary to achieve the objectives of section 18102(a) of this title; and
(2)technological improvements in telecommunications devices and systems that provide accessibility to hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 1810340:762b.Pub. L. 100–542, § 4, Oct. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 2722. Subsection (b)(1) is substituted for “results of the analysis required by section 762a(b)(3) of this title” because 40:762a(b)(3), which is omitted as executed and obsolete (see the revision note for section 18102(b) of the revised title), provided for an analysis and report regarding modifications that the Administrator determined were necessary to achieve the objectives of 40:762a(a), which is restated in section 18102(a) of the revised title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 18103

Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110