Press Release

PUC Appoints Kristen M. Rice to PA Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Board

Published on 8/7/2008

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the appointment of Kristen M. Rice to its PA Relay Service Advisory board. 

The Commission appointed Rice to serve for a two-year term that will expire on Aug. 7, 2010.  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. 

Rice is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.  As a member of the deaf community, Rice uses TRS on a daily basis and wishes to promote improvements to the relay service and foster better working relationships between businesses and the TRS. 

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 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 stewards of competition.

For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Doc. # M-00900239

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