Press Release

HARRISBURG – The campaign to “Spread the Word” about the service that helps the hearing public to communicate by phone with people who have hearing or speech loss is on the road to a county fair, festival, shopping mall or amusement park near you.

“PA Relay,” a public awareness campaign designed to educate the hearing public about technology that enables them to communicate with persons who have hearing loss or speech disabilities today launched a traveling exhibit, “PA Relay on the Road.” 

“This campaign is vital to improving communications and the lives of all Pennsylvanians,” said Public Utility Commission Commissioner Wendell F. Holland.  “Taking our message on the road across the Commonwealth this summer will enable us to reach tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians face-to-face with hands-on demonstrations, literature and information.”

“PA Relay on the Road” is planned to crisscross Pennsylvania this summer, visiting county fairs, festivals, shopping malls and other venues with large audiences.  The display will include demonstrations of relay technology and will be staffed by a trained representative who will distribute informational literature.

The campaign is a result of the PA Relay Service Advisory Board’s request for such outreach and the Public Utility Commission’s commitment to ensuring that all consumers have equal and quality access to public utilities.  The Public Utility Commission directed AT&T to incorporate the campaign into its relay program in Pennsylvania.  A recent study showed that less than 9 percent of the hearing public in Pennsylvania are aware of relay services.  One out of every 12 Pennsylvanians is deaf, hard of hearing or has speech disabilities and many of them rely on the relay service to communicate over the phone. 

The campaign was launched March 25 in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  The campaign’s celebrity spokesperson, Christy Smith, was introduced at the news conference and her image appears on advertising and is prominently displayed on the traveling exhibit.  Smith is the only deaf person ever to compete on the CBS reality series “Survivor” and is an advocate for deaf awareness and deaf culture.

The statewide advertising and education campaign includes radio, newspaper, billboards, mass transit and a Web site, www.parelay.net.  It also features a toll-free information number, 1-800-682-8706, and an in-classroom educational element aimed at school-aged children.

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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