# 91



III-4.3420                                   July 14, 1993

DJ 202-72-3





Ms. Linda Maranise
General Manager
Howard Johnson East
1541 Sycamore View
Memphis, TN  38134

     Re:  DJ 202-72-3
          Howard Johnson East, Memphis, Tennessee

Dear Ms. Maranise:

     Thank you for your letter of May 24, 1993, in response to our
inquiry regarding whether or not your hotel has telecommunication
devices for deaf persons (TDDs) and close caption decoders.  We
have reviewed the information that you provided and would like to
make the following suggestions as a means for resolving the
complaint pending in this matter.

     First, we suggest that you purchase at least one additional
TDD telephone.  Secondly, you should implement a system for
monitoring the number of customer requests for this device in order
to insure that the number of TDDs is adequate for effective
communication.  After you have purchased the additional TDD
telephone, please send me a copy of a receipt or purchase order
along with a written statement outlining your system for the
monitoring of patron requests.
     
     If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
me.  Please note that even with this additional purchase, your
hotel will have fewer of these devices than the number required for
newly constructed hotels with the same number of rooms as your
hotel.  While this number is not necessarily required in existing
buildings, it does provide a guide for the number necessary for
effective communication.  Once you have acquired what you predict
will be an adequate number of TDDs, you may in the future be
required to purchase additional devices if it becomes necessary to
meet the needs of patrons with hearing impairments, even if you
have the number that would be required in new construction.

     Thank you for your cooperation.

                                   Sincerely,




                                 Pshon Barrett
                                   Attorney
                             Public Access Section