Hearing impaired uses phone via sign language interpreter, etc. Provided by public service 13:30, June 5
A new law to provide a "telephone relay service" as a public service, which allows deaf people to use the telephone via a sign language interpreter, was approved and passed at the House of Councilors plenary session on the 5th. The government plans to start providing services within the next fiscal year.
The telephone relay service is a service that connects the deaf person and the deaf person by telephone by exchanging videophone calls via simultaneous interpretation of sign language and using text chat.
The law enacted on the 5th includes the provision of a new grant system and the provision of a telephone relay service as a public service in order to cover the personnel costs of a sign language interpreter called an "interpreter operator."
Those who use the service can use it 24 hours a day by paying a sign language interpreter and the charge for the call with the deaf person.
We also plan to respond to emergency calls to the police and fire department.
The grant will be shared by all fixed-line and mobile phone subscribers, and the monthly charge is expected to be less than ¥1 per phone number.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to start providing services within the next fiscal year by making preparations such as selecting an institution to provide services.