(1) The commission shall appoint an advisory committee to assist the commission with the implementation of the provisions of this part. The committee shall be composed of no more than 10 persons and shall include, to the extent practicable, the following:

(a) Two deaf persons recommended by the Florida Association of the Deaf.

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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 427.706

  • Administrator: means a corporation not for profit incorporated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 617 and designated by the Florida Public Service Commission to administer the telecommunications relay service system and the distribution of specialized telecommunications devices pursuant to the provisions of this act and rules and regulations established by the commission. See Florida Statutes 427.703
  • Commission: means the Florida Public Service Commission. See Florida Statutes 427.703
  • Deaf: means having a permanent hearing impairment and being unable to discriminate speech sounds in verbal communication, with or without the assistance of amplification devices. See Florida Statutes 427.703
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Telecommunications relay service: means any telecommunications transmission service that allows a person who is hearing impaired or speech impaired to communicate by wire or radio in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of a person who is not hearing impaired or speech impaired. See Florida Statutes 427.703
(b) One hearing impaired person recommended by Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing.
(c) One deaf and blind person recommended by the Coalition for Persons with Dual Sensory Disabilities.
(d) One speech impaired person recommended by the Florida Language Speech and Hearing Association.
(e) Two representatives of telecommunications companies.
(f) One person with experience in providing relay services recommended by the Deaf Service Center Association.
(g) One person recommended by the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.
(h) One person recommended by the Florida League of Seniors.
(2) The advisory committee shall provide the expertise, experience, and perspective of persons who are hearing impaired or speech impaired to the commission and to the administrator during all phases of the development and operation of the telecommunications access system. The advisory committee shall advise the commission and the administrator on the quality and cost-effectiveness of the telecommunications relay service and the specialized telecommunications devices distribution system. The advisory committee may submit material for inclusion in the annual report prepared pursuant to s. 427.704.
(3) Members of the committee shall not be compensated for their services but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. The commission shall use funds from the Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund to cover the costs incurred by members of the advisory committee.