Press Release

PA Relay Campaign Increases Awareness of 711, Communicating by Phone with People with Hearing and Speech Loss

Published on 3/24/2005

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that a recent statewide telephone survey found that awareness of the number 711 among the hearing public rose from 9 percent to 12 percent since before the March 2004 launch of the PA Relay “Spread the Word” campaign. The survey also indicated that 22 percent, up from 4 percent the previous year, of Pennsylvania residents saw coverage of PA Relay and 711 in the media over the past year. 

The “Spread the Word” campaign is raising awareness among the hearing public about dialing 711 to connect to the telecommunications relay service. This service enables telephone communications with people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled.

Awareness of 711 significantly increased in Allegheny, Dauphin and Philadelphia counties, areas heavily targeted by the campaign in its first year.

“The goal of this campaign is to teach hearing Pennsylvanians how to communicate using the relay service,” said PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland.  “The PUC has a longstanding and proven record of supporting people with disabilities through special awareness campaigns and other initiatives.”

As the PA Relay campaign begins Year 2, “Spread the Word” will continue to educate all Pennsylvanians by:
•           Advertising -- through billboards, print, radio, transit and additional outlets;
•           Earned Media -- from op-ed pieces and press releases;
•           Website -- through enhancement of www.PArelay.net;
•           Education Program -- promoting the program among educators;
•           Media opportunities with Christy Smith, campaign spokesperson from CBS TV’s “Survivor:  
            The Amazon” -- through interviews and events;
•           Road Show -- focusing on businesses and medical communities; and
•           Legislative Outreach -- encouraging legislators to disseminate information in their districts.

“This campaign is another example of the PUC’s commitment to ensure that all consumers have equal and quality access to public utilities,” said PUC Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli. “The survey numbers indicate that we are reaching consumers and, as the education campaign continues, these numbers will continue to increase.”

According to AT&T relay operators, the campaign has positively impacted the number of completed relay calls from a TTY machine, a communications device equipped with a keyboard for typing messages and a screen for reading messages.  Since the launch, operators have noticed that the hearing public is more familiar with the relay services, resulting in a decrease in hang-ups.

The campaign has collected:
•           Over 6,200 radio spots on 54 stations totaling 11.8 million listener impressions;
•           123 newspaper ads in 13 newspapers with over 16.5 million reader impressions;
•           Over 135 billboards across the Commonwealth with nearly 1 million impressions a day 
            equaling 60 million total impressions; and
•           More than 860 transit ads in the Philadelphia area generating more than 22 million
             impressions.

This past summer, the campaign traveled across the state with a road show display which included information about the campaign and the relay services. The PA Relay road show made 21 stops at county fairs, festivals, shopping malls and community events across Pennsylvania.  

The campaign Website, www.PArelay.net, continues to be an excellent tool for consumers.  It has received more than 90,000 hits since its launch.  The site educates visitors on the purpose and different types of telephone relay services, equipment, and how to place and receive relay calls.

The two-year PA Relay campaign features celebrity spokesperson Christy Smith who is an advocate for deaf awareness and the only deaf person ever to compete on the CBS TV reality series “Survivor.”  Smith has appeared on PA Relay billboards; print and radio ads; mass transit ads; and the Website, www.PArelay.net. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition.

“Spread the Word! Communicate by phone with people who have hearing or speech loss.” Visit www.PArelay.net or call 1-800-682-8706.

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Contact:

• Press Secretary
  Office of Communications
  717-787-5722