MeAC – Measuring Progress of eAccessibility in Europe

Legislation/regulations

The Act on Electronic Communications 2003 implemented the EU Universal Service Directive and contains some specific targets for public payphones for disabled people, as well as subsidised access to directory enquiry services.

The Act also stipulates that:

• It aims to take into consideration the needs of the disabled and the low-income users
• based on other regulations – some types of radio devices and electronic communication terminal equipments might be required to be accessible to disabled persons
• some subscribers stipulated in other law (disabled and low income persons) may receive state subsidies to access fixed line telephone network and internet

In 2004, Decree 19/2004 was passed on the Rules of Granting Subsidies for Indigent Subscribers of Universal Electronic Communication Service. The decree stipulates that those subscribers who get a) disabled persons’ allowance, b) extra family allowance, c) regular social support d), elderly people’s allowance (note: not identical with pension), or e) medical care allowance (note: not identical with health care insurance) are entitled to a subsidy of 1000 HUF / month (ca. 4 €) from the state budget if they apply for this subsidy at the electronic communication service provider company.

Other initiatives

A major mobile operator offers mobile phone services at a reduced cost for blind, visually impaired, deaf and hearing impaired people.

There is a text relay service. To use the service, the calling party must be a T-Com subscriber, but the called party can be the subscriber of any Hungarian fixed or mobile operator.

There is SMS text messaging access to emergency services through a police service initiative. By this initiative, the Police service complies with the Act 1998. XXVI on The Rights of Disabled and on Ensuring Their Equality which stipulates that disabled persons have a right to adequate environment, communication, transport, employment, special assistance and special tools.

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