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(Added 09/15)
Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP) vendors must comply with all applicable rules, policies, procedures, and laws governing the program in order to remain eligible to participate in and receive reimbursement under the program (see: Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Chapter 109, Subchapter C).
STAP vendors’ general duties and responsibilities include the following:
- Allow specialized telecommunications equipment to be returned or stop a service if requested by a voucher recipient, without penalty and in accordance with procedures and rules which state that the vendor must:
- provide a voucher recipient with a receipt;
- contact the HHSC Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) when specialized telecommunications equipment is returned, or when a service is not used or terminated by the voucher recipient; and
- reimburse the Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF) within 30 calendar days of specialized telecommunications equipment being returned or service terminated by the voucher recipient.
- Provide specialized telecommunications equipment or services no later than 10 calendar days from the date of the voucher exchange, or communicate equipment or service delivery date to the voucher recipient.
- Provide voucher recipients information or instructions, or a demonstration, on how to use and set up the specialized telecommunications equipment or services before completing the sale and submitting the voucher for reimbursement, as appropriate.
- Ensure that when working with or acting as authorized certifiers, the appropriate specialized telecommunications equipment or service is selected for the applicant.
- Charge a voucher recipient no additional fees, costs, or penalties, in excess of the STAP vendor price, except a reasonable shipping cost for mail orders.
- Provide the voucher recipient all specialized telecommunications equipment or services authorized on the voucher.
- Ensure individuals authorized to sign a voucher on behalf of the STAP vendor receive program training provided by HHSC DHHS before signing or exchanging a voucher.
- Ensure no STAP-related promotional materials or applications include the STAP vendor’s company information.