Press Release

PUC Announces Appointments to the PA Relay Service Advisory Board

Published on 8/18/2010

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced two appointments to its PA Relay Service Advisory Board.

The Commission voted 5-0 to appoint Melissa Sanders of Gettysburg, Adams County, a Living Well Specialist serving hard of hearing customers with the Living Well with a Disability Program with the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania; and Sheila Brown of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, an employee with the Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services, to serve two-year terms that will expire Aug. 18, 2012.

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

Pennsylvania TRS is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The service is provided by AT&T.  The program is regulated by the PUC and offers persons who are hearing, deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired 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 the message to the person on the other line. 

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

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 website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. M-00900239

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