(a) The commission shall adopt regulations to require telephone utilities to provide service to deaf, hard of hearing, and speech impaired subscribers that permits the subscriber to communicate by telephone with persons of normal hearing and that makes available reasonable access of all phases of public telephone service to deaf, hard of hearing, and speech impaired telephone subscribers. The regulations must provide for cost recovery through surcharges added to the basic local exchange rate. The commission shall hold hearings to determine the most cost-effective method of providing this service.
(b) A telephone subscriber is eligible for the service required by (a) of this section if the subscriber is certified as deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired by a licensed physician, a speech-language pathologist licensed under AS 08.11, an audiologist, or the Department of Health and Social Services or if the subscriber is an organization representing the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired as determined by the commission.
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