Press Release

PUC Approves Real Time Text Pilot under TRS Program to Better Connect Pennsylvanians with Communications Challenges

Published on 6/18/2020

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today authorized funding for Hamilton Relay Inc. (Hamilton) to conduct a 90-day limited pilot of Real Time Texting (RTT) technology for income-eligible Pennsylvanians who cannot communicate independently without assistance.

The Commission voted 4-0 to approve a filing by Hamilton, the Commission’s approved state relay provider, seeking authorization to conduct the pilot to distribute RTT-capable devices using funding from the Pennsylvania Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund.

The 90-day RTT pilot, limited to 50 participants, will provide the Commission helpful information to determine whether devices using current RTT technology should be incorporated into the TRS’ Telecommunications Device Distribution Program as part of the Commission’s efforts to modernize Pennsylvania’s relay service.

The Commission established certificated traditional relay service and the associated surcharge funding mechanism in 1990. The TRS allows persons at or below 200% of the federal poverty level who also have hearing, speech or other difficulties that impede their ability to communicate independently, to place and receive telephone calls through a third-party assistant or adaptive devices. Consistent with its mission to provide equivalent telephone service to all Pennsylvanians, the Commission has spearheaded many additional initiatives to enhance communications options for eligible persons who cannot communicate using standard telecommunication equipment.

The RTT Pilot is designed to test the use of wireline RTT devices among eligible Pennsylvanians so that they may eventually transition from older text telephone (TTY) technology to RTT as a reliable and interoperable communications technology over IP-enabled networks. RTT is a next-generation digital, IP-based communications capability that transmits text immediately as the sender types. RTT provides text communications for TRS users that may be more functionally equivalent to live interaction as it allows for bi-directional conversations that may also include voice and special characters.

It is anticipated that Hamilton’s RTT Pilot Program will be carried out in collaboration with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor and Industry, and the Temple University Institute of Disabilities, Administrator of the TDDP Program.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings.  You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.  Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

 # # #

Docket Number P-2019-3008352

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov