{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.5-115.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.5-115.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.5-115.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.5-115.html"}],"law_id":83268,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83268,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-115","catch_line":"Telecommunications relay service; standards; funding","history":"2006, c. 780.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the term:\n\t\t\t“Operation” means those functions reasonably and directly necessary for the provision of telecommunications relay service, including contract procurement and administration and public education and information regarding telecommunications relay service.\n\t\t\t“Telecommunications relay service” means a facility whereby a person who has a hearing or speech disability using a text telephone and a person using a conventional telephone device can communicate with each other via telephone.\n\t\t\t“VITA” means the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.\n\t\t\t“Voice carry over” means technology that will enable a deaf or hard-of-hearing person with good speech to use his voice, instead of the text telephone, to communicate back to the hearing person.B\n\nThe Department, with the assistance of VITA, shall be responsible for the provision and operation of telecommunications relay service for all text telephones within the Commonwealth. Telecommunications relay service shall include at a minimum:1\n\nTwenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week statewide access with no limitations or restrictions that are not applicable to voice users of the telephone network;2\n\nAn answer rate that ensures that at least 85% of the incoming calls are operator-answered within 20 seconds and at least 99% of incoming calls are answered within 60 seconds;3\n\nTechnological advances, including the capability of voice carryover; and4\n\nAdequate facilities and personnel to ensure that calls are interpreted accurately; notwithstanding this provision, unless miscommunication on a call is caused by the willful misconduct of the telecommunications relay service provider, liability of the telecommunications relay service provider shall be limited to the charges imposed on users for the call.C\n\nAll costs associated with the establishment and operation of the telecommunications relay service, including but not limited to personnel costs incurred by the Department for administering the service, shall be funded through a distribution made to the Department in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-662 and any money transferred from the Department as provided for in subsection D. Such distributions, when appropriate, may be zero. The distributions shall be based on projected costs and special interim distributions may be made if actual costs exceed projections. No distribution shall be made and no funds shall be expended to support any activities that are not reasonably and directly necessary for the operation of the telecommunications relay service as defined in this section.D\n\nThe Department shall transfer any funds received from the National Exchange Carrier Association, or other funding sources for purposes of operating telecommunications relay services, to VITA for costs associated with telecommunications relay service.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":298334,"text":"As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the term:\n\t\t\t“Operation” means those functions reasonably and directly necessary for the provision of telecommunications relay service, including contract procurement and administration and public education and information regarding telecommunications relay service.\n\t\t\t“Telecommunications relay service” means a facility whereby a person who has a hearing or speech disability using a text telephone and a person using a conventional telephone device can communicate with each other via telephone.\n\t\t\t“VITA” means the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.\n\t\t\t“Voice carry over” means technology that will enable a deaf or hard-of-hearing person with good speech to use his voice, instead of the text telephone, to communicate back to the hearing person.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":298335,"text":"The Department, with the assistance of VITA, shall be responsible for the provision and operation of telecommunications relay service for all text telephones within the Commonwealth. Telecommunications relay service shall include at a minimum:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":298336,"text":"Twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week statewide access with no limitations or restrictions that are not applicable to voice users of the telephone network;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":298337,"text":"An answer rate that ensures that at least 85% of the incoming calls are operator-answered within 20 seconds and at least 99% of incoming calls are answered within 60 seconds;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":298338,"text":"Technological advances, including the capability of voice carryover; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":298339,"text":"Adequate facilities and personnel to ensure that calls are interpreted accurately; notwithstanding this provision, unless miscommunication on a call is caused by the willful misconduct of the telecommunications relay service provider, liability of the telecommunications relay service provider shall be limited to the charges imposed on users for the call.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":298340,"text":"All costs associated with the establishment and operation of the telecommunications relay service, including but not limited to personnel costs incurred by the Department for administering the service, shall be funded through a distribution made to the Department in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-662 and any money transferred from the Department as provided for in subsection D. Such distributions, when appropriate, may be zero. The distributions shall be based on projected costs and special interim distributions may be made if actual costs exceed projections. No distribution shall be made and no funds shall be expended to support any activities that are not reasonably and directly necessary for the operation of the telecommunications relay service as defined in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":298341,"text":"The Department shall transfer any funds received from the National Exchange Carrier Association, or other funding sources for purposes of operating telecommunications relay services, to VITA for costs associated with telecommunications relay service.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16154,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department for the Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12761,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:07:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:07:33","permalink":{"id":236637,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16154,"identifier":"13","token":"51.5\/13","url":"\/51.5\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12761,"edition_id":1,"name":"Persons With Disabilities","identifier":"51.5","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":236393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12761,"identifier":"51.5","token":"51.5","url":"\/51.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":64476,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-106","catch_line":"Board established; appointment, terms and qualifications of members; meetings; chairman","url":"\/51.5-106\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-106","metadata":false},{"id":70424,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-107","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Board","url":"\/51.5-107\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-107","metadata":false},{"id":69098,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-108","catch_line":"Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing continued","url":"\/51.5-108\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-108","metadata":false},{"id":84502,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-109","catch_line":"Director; appointment; compensation; qualifications","url":"\/51.5-109\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-109","metadata":false},{"id":85028,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-110","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Director","url":"\/51.5-110\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-110","metadata":false},{"id":75420,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-111","catch_line":"Persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing defined and categorized","url":"\/51.5-111\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-111","metadata":false},{"id":64180,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-112","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Department","url":"\/51.5-112\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-112","metadata":false},{"id":78530,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-113","catch_line":"Statewide interpreter service","url":"\/51.5-113\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-113","metadata":false},{"id":70098,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-114","catch_line":"Gifts and donations; disposition of moneys received","url":"\/51.5-114\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-114","metadata":false},{"id":83268,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-115","catch_line":"Telecommunications relay service; standards; funding","url":"\/51.5-115\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-115","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":70098,"structure_id":16154,"section_number":"51.5-114","catch_line":"Gifts and donations; disposition of moneys received","url":"\/51.5-114\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-114","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.5-115\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2006. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 780<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":72514,"section_number":"58.1-662","catch_line":"Disposition of communications sales and use tax revenue; Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund; localities' share","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-662\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":72514,"section_number":"58.1-662","catch_line":"Disposition of communications sales and use tax revenue; Communications Sales and Use Tax Trust Fund; localities' share","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-662\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236675,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83268,"identifier":"51.5-115","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-115","url":"\/51.5-115\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.5-115\/","token":"51.5\/13\/51.5-115","dublin_core":{"Title":"Telecommunications relay service; standards; funding","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.5-115","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the term:\n\t\t\t“Operation<\/span>” means those functions reasonably and directly necessary for the provision of telecommunications relay service<\/span>, including contract<\/span> procurement and administration and public education and information regarding telecommunications relay service<\/span>.\n\t\t\t“Telecommunications relay service<\/span>” means a facility whereby a person who has a hearing<\/span> or speech disability using a text telephone and a person using a conventional telephone device can communicate with each other via telephone.\n\t\t\t“VITA<\/span>” means the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.\n\t\t\t“Voice carry over<\/span>” means technology that will enable a deaf or hard-of-hearing<\/span> person with good speech to use his voice, instead of the text telephone, to communicate back to the hearing<\/span> person. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department, with the assistance of VITA<\/span>, shall be responsible for the provision and operation<\/span> of telecommunications relay service<\/span> for all text telephones within the Commonwealth. Telecommunications relay service<\/span> shall include at a minimum: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week statewide access with no limitations or restrictions that are not applicable to voice users of the telephone network; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> An answer rate that ensures that at least 85% of the incoming calls are operator-answered within 20 seconds and at least 99% of incoming calls are answered within 60 seconds; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Technological advances, including the capability of voice carryover; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Adequate facilities and personnel to ensure that calls are interpreted accurately; notwithstanding this provision, unless miscommunication on a call is caused by the willful misconduct of the telecommunications relay service<\/span> provider, liability of the telecommunications relay service<\/span> provider shall be limited to the charges imposed on users for the call. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> All costs associated with the establishment and operation<\/span> of the telecommunications relay service<\/span>, including but not limited to personnel costs incurred by the Department for administering the service, shall be funded through a distribution made to the Department in accordance with the provisions of § 58.1-662<\/a> and any money transferred from the Department as provided for in subsection D. Such distributions, when appropriate, may be zero. The distributions shall be based on projected costs and special interim distributions may be made if actual costs exceed projections. No distribution shall be made and no funds shall be expended to support any activities that are not reasonably and directly necessary for the operation<\/span> of the telecommunications relay service<\/span> as defined in this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Department shall transfer any funds received from the National Exchange Carrier Association, or other funding sources for purposes of operating telecommunications relay services<\/span>, to VITA<\/span> for costs associated with telecommunications relay service<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY SERVICE; STANDARDS; FUNDING (\u00a7 51.5-115)\n\nA. As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise, the term:\n\t\t\t“Operation” means those functions reasonably and directly\nnecessary for the provision of telecommunications relay service, including\ncontract procurement and administration and public education and information\nregarding telecommunications relay service.\n\t\t\t“Telecommunications relay service” means a facility whereby a\nperson who has a hearing or speech disability using a text telephone and a\nperson using a conventional telephone device can communicate with each other via\ntelephone.\n\t\t\t“VITA” means the Virginia Information Technologies Agency.\n\t\t\t“Voice carry over” means technology that will enable a deaf or\nhard-of-hearing person with good speech to use his voice, instead of the text\ntelephone, to communicate back to the hearing person.\n\nB. The Department, with the assistance of VITA, shall be responsible for the\nprovision and operation of telecommunications relay service for all text\ntelephones within the Commonwealth. Telecommunications relay service shall\ninclude at a minimum:\n\n 1. Twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week statewide access with no\n limitations or restrictions that are not applicable to voice users of the\n telephone network;\n\n 2. An answer rate that ensures that at least 85% of the incoming calls are\n operator-answered within 20 seconds and at least 99% of incoming calls are\n answered within 60 seconds;\n\n 3. Technological advances, including the capability of voice carryover; and\n\n 4. Adequate facilities and personnel to ensure that calls are interpreted\n accurately; notwithstanding this provision, unless miscommunication on a call\n is caused by the willful misconduct of the telecommunications relay service\n provider, liability of the telecommunications relay service provider shall be\n limited to the charges imposed on users for the call.\n\nC. All costs associated with the establishment and operation of the\ntelecommunications relay service, including but not limited to personnel costs\nincurred by the Department for administering the service, shall be funded\nthrough a distribution made to the Department in accordance with the provisions\nof § 58.1-662 and any money transferred from the Department as provided for\nin subsection D. Such distributions, when appropriate, may be zero. The\ndistributions shall be based on projected costs and special interim\ndistributions may be made if actual costs exceed projections. No distribution\nshall be made and no funds shall be expended to support any activities that are\nnot reasonably and directly necessary for the operation of the\ntelecommunications relay service as defined in this section.\n\nD. The Department shall transfer any funds received from the National Exchange\nCarrier Association, or other funding sources for purposes of operating\ntelecommunications relay services, to VITA for costs associated with\ntelecommunications relay service.\n\nHISTORY: 2006, c. 780.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}