4. Specialized customer communications equipment needs in the public school system. The Department of Education, in consultation with the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and advocacy groups for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons and for the information technology interests of consumers, shall conduct an annual survey of all public schools in the State for the purpose of assessing the need for specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment in the school system and report its findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor matters. The report must include: the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing students and their needs for specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment; the availability of specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment; the number of requests for specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment; and the status of training for teachers and other school personnel in the use of specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment.

5. Assessment on telecommunications carriers. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, beginning in fiscal year 1999-2000, shall assess annually telecommunications carriers in accordance with this subsection and deposit the funds collected in the Telecommunications Communications Equipment Fund. The bureau shall assess telecommunications carriers in accordance with a schedule established by the Public Utilities Commission in accordance with this subsection.

A. The Public Utilities Commission shall determine which carriers are to be assessed under this subsection based on an evaluation of the extent of business activity undertaken by carriers in the State and the practicalities of making the assessment. The Public Utilities Commission shall include as many carriers as reasonably practicable in order to ensure a fair and broad allocation of the assessment.

B. The Public Utilities Commission shall establish an assessment schedule that is proportional to the gross annual revenues of the carriers identified for assessment and that