Press Release

PUC Appoints Dauphin County Woman to PA Relay Service Advisory Board

Published on 2/8/2007

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the appointment of Sharon Behun of Dauphin County to its PA Relay Service Advisory Board.

      The Commission voted 4-0 to appoint Behun, director of the Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to serve for a two-year term that will expire on Feb. 8, 2009. As director of the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Behun is responsible for providing advocacy, information, referrals and coordinating services for adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

         The Board advises the Commission on matters related to Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), which enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing and speech disabled to communicate by phone with the hearing public.

         TRS is an AT&T phone service regulated by the PUC offering persons who are hearing, deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled three ways to connect using the telephone:  Traditional Relay, Video Relay, and Internet Relay.  Users dial 7-1-1 to connect to a skillfully-trained Communications Assistant (CA) who follows a strict code of ethics and confidentiality.  The CA then relays your message to the person on the other line. 

        The TRS Board is comprised of representatives from the following:  AT&T, the Pennsylvania Telephone Association, the PUC, the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and from the community of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and persons with language and speech disorders.  The Board meets quarterly in Harrisburg and functions as a user group providing guidance in such areas as problem solving and future enhancements. 

        The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. M-00900239

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