An Atlanta non-profit is launching a new state program that gives free phones to qualifying Georgians who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The cordless phones can amplify sound by more than 50 decibels. Normally, each costs about $160.

Sondra Rhoades Johnson, executive director of the Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired, says the landline phones will be especially useful to Georgians with hearing loss. People of all ages have the condition, but one in three over the age of 60 experiences it.

"I think there's not only a growing demand, there's going to be a growing need," Rhoades Johnson says. "We need to get out there and educate and let people know what we have available to see if we can make it available to them."

People who qualify to get the phones for free need proof they own a landline and documents showing they have hearing loss. There's also an income requirement.

The Georgia Public Service Commission gathered surcharges from residential and business landlines to fund the program.

Call 1-888-297-9461 or visit GACHI's webpage for more information.