1. (A) The commission may appoint an advisory committee to monitor the statewide telecommunications relay access service and advise and make recommendations to the commission in pursuing services which meet the needs of the hearing or speech impaired and others similarly impaired in communicating with other users of telecommunications services.

2. (B) The advisory committee consists of seven members as follows:

   1. (1) one representative from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind;
   2. (2) one representative from the South Carolina Association of the Deaf, Inc.;
   3. (3) one representative from the South Carolina Telephone Association;
   4. (4) one representative from the provider of the dual party relay service;
   5. (5) one representative from the Office of Regulatory Staff;
   6. (6) one representative from the office of the Chief Information Officer, State Budget and Control Board; and

   7. (7) one hearing-impaired person who is an active member of Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH).

      The advisory committee must be appointed by the commission upon the recommendations of the applicable agency or organization. The commission shall prescribe regulations which set forth guidelines for the responsibilities, duties, and authority of the committee. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 488, Section 2, eff May 30, 1990; 1992 Act No. 396, Section 1, eff June 1, 1992; 2006 Act No. 318, Section 71, eff May 24, 2006.