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Community

Telecommunications Relay Services

To make a TRS call, dial 711 or the specific toll free number(s) designated within your state.

 

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a free service that uses a specially trained communications assistant (CA) to facilitate a telephone conversation between a person who has a hearing loss or a speech disability and the person with which they wish to speak.

 

  • Calls can be made to anywhere in the world (long distance charges do apply)
  • You can make a TRS call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
  • All TRS calls are completely confidential
     

Once you are connected to the relay service, tell the CA the type of relay call you wish to make. Long distance calls placed for you can be billed to your existing long-distance service calling plan, collect, or with use of a pre-paid calling card, carrier-calling card, or third-party billing.

Types of Relay Services

Computer users can access relay services. Set your communications software to the following protocols:

  • Speeds ranging from 300 to 2400
  • 8 Bits
  • No Parity
  • 1 Stop Bit
  • Full Duplex for a rate of 301 or above; Half Duplex for 300 or below

A person who can hear but who has very limited or no speech capability can make and receive phone calls. The HCO user types a conversation for the CA to read to the other person, and listens directly to the other person's response. HCO requires a special telephone.

Spanish speakers can use relay services. The CA can relay a call between two Spanish-speakers - one with a hearing or speech disability and a hearing person.

A person who has difficulty speaking or being understood on the phone can communicate using his or her own voice or voice synthesizer. The CA revoices the words of the person with a speech disability so the other person on the call can understand them. No special telephone is required.

A hearing person may use a standard telephone to place a relay call and easily converse with a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.

A person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled can use a TTY to communicate with the other person on the call.

TTY and Emergency Assistance (911)

TTY callers should dial 911 directly. All 911 centers are equipped to handle TTY calls. Using Relay for 911 may result in a delay getting your urgent message through.

This service allows natural telephone communication between Sign Language and standard telephone users. The service requires high-speed internet service.

A person who has difficulty hearing on the phone can voice their conversations directly to the other person on the call. The CA then types the other person's response to the VCO user. VCO requires a special telephone.

Two-Line VCO

Allows a VCO user to use one telephone line for speaking directly to the other person, while the second line is used to receive the CA's typed response from the other person. This enhanced feature provides a more natural flow of conversation without the pauses of single-line VCO calls. Additional service and equipment requirements.

CapTel is an amplified telephone and relay captioning service that allows people who are hard of hearing to see word-for-word captions of their telephone conversation on a bright, easy-to-read display window built into the CapTel phone, while also listening to what is being said using their residual hearing (much like TV captioning). Requires a CapTel phone.

A relay user can connect to any pay-per-call service.

Important information about Relay Services

Emergency Assistance

TTY callers should dial 911 directly. All 911 centers are equipped to handle TTY calls. Using Relay for 911 may result in a delay getting your urgent message through.

Filing a complaint

To file a relay complaint with the Federal Communications Commission:

  • Call toll-free at 1-888-225-5322 (voice) or 1-888-835-5322 (TTY)
  • Submit on the FCC website.

TRS resources

Consumer facts on TRS
TRS by state and territory
TRS directory by state

Contact Us

Programs for Customers with Disabilities

P.O.Box 2670
Omaha, NE 68103


Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00a.m. to 5:30p.m
Mountain time


Voice and Text Telephone (TTY) Calls
800-244-1111

Fax
866-826-4839