Press Release

PUC Announces PA Relay Campaign Increases Awareness About 7-1-1, Service for People Who Are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Speech Disabled to Communicate by Phone

Published on 9/20/2005

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that statewide awareness is increasing for PA Relay, the service that allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing and speech disabled to communicate by phone with each other and the hearing public, by dialing 7-1-1.

A recent telephone survey found that awareness of 711 among the hearing public increased to 14 percent, from 12 percent in 2004 and from 9 percent in 2003, as a result of the statewide “Spread the Word” public education campaign.

“This Commission has worked hard to help make sure that as many Pennsylvanians as possible know about 711 and the necessity for people with hearing and speech loss to be able to connect with each other and the hearing public,” said PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland, who recently joined Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and PUC Commissioners Bill Shane and Kim Pizzingrilli to mark “711/PA Relay Day” and encourage all Pennsylvanians to learn more about the service that enables all Pennsylvanians to communicate by phone with people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled.

The survey also indicated that 23 percent, up from 4 percent in 2003, of Pennsylvania residents saw coverage of PA Relay and 711 in the media over the past year.  Awareness of 711 significantly increased in rural areas throughout Pennsylvania, as they were targeted with advertising and earned media during the second year of the campaign.  Twelve percent of those surveyed in rural areas were aware of 711 in 2005, compared to only 7 percent in 2004.

According to AT&T relay operators, or Communications Assistants (CAs), the PA Relay campaign has had an impact on the number of hang-ups received at the New Castle AT&T Relay Center.  This year, 85 percent of CAs noticed a reduction in the number of hang-ups, up from 82 percent of CAs in 2004. 

There also have been more than 200,000 total hits on the campaign website, www.parelay.net since March 2004.   

The campaign has traveled across the state and back with a road show display of information about the campaign and the relay services. The PA Relay road show made 35 stops at county fairs, festivals, shopping malls and community events across Pennsylvania.  

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.

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Contact:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov