Telecommunications Relay Service
Telecommunications relay services (TRS) allow people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have speech and language disorders to place calls to standard telephone users through assistive technology.
TRS Resources
PA Traditional Telecommunications Relay Website (www.parelay.net)
TDD Program Legislative Reports
- 2022 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
- 2021 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
- 2020 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
- 2019 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
- 2018 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
- 2017 Legislative Report on the TDD Program
How TRS Works - Hamilton Relay explains how various PA Relay Services work.
TRS Surcharge Order - Monthly Remittance and Annual Reporting by Telcos
Captioned Telephone Voice-Carry-Over Relay Service (CTRS)
Secretarial Letter - Interim Service Letter. Dated August 19, 2005.
Secretarial Letter - Implementing interim captioned telephone services. Dated May 25, 2005.
Upgrade Information - Effective June 1, 2005.
To Obtain a CapTel Phone - Link to the CapTel website.
Hamilton Telecommunications Website - Pennsylvania's captioned telephone administrator.
Learn More About TRS
General Background
Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act states carriers must provide telephone services to deaf or hard of hearing persons and/or persons with speech and language disorders.
Telecommunications Device Distribution Program
TDDP provides special telecomm devices, such as text telephones and amplifiers, at no charge to qualifying people.
711 Abbreviated Dialing
Try 711 abbreviated dialing for easier access to relay services for both text and voice TRS users.
PA Relay Services for Consumers
Learn about the various ways to communicate by phone with hearing-impaired people.
TRS Advisory Board
A Board meets regularly to review the success of the TRS in Pennsylvania and identifying additional improvement areas.
FCC Certification
The Pennsylvania TRS System must be certified by the FCC and certification must be renewed every five years.
Contact Information
Understand your options if you have a complaint about telecommunications relay services.
Print Media Access System Program
A free service gives anyone who is blind, visually impaired or print disabled access to newspapers, magazines and TV listings.
Additional TRS Resources
Many organizations involved with the hard of hearing and/or persons with speech and language disorders communities maintain sites on the Internet, offering a range of information about their involvement and services. A list of some of them and their web sites follows:
- Hamilton Relay Services
- Consumers' Guide to TRS (FCC Disabilities Rights Office)
- Deaf-Hearing Communication Center, Inc.
- PA Department of Labor and Industry
- National Association of the Deaf
- Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD)
- Pennsylvanian Society for the Advancement of the Deaf (PSAD)
- PIAT - PA's Initiative on Assistive Technology, Institute on Disabilities, Temple University
- The Scranton State School for the Deaf
- Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc.
- Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD)
- Pennsylvania Captioned Telephone Relay Service by Hamilton Relay
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Telecommunications
- Damage Prevention Committee
- Broadband Internet Service
- Telephone Tips
- PA Universal Service Fund
- Monthly Remittance and Annual Reporting by Telcos
- Local Service Abandonment Notification
- Local Service Migration
- Application to Provide Telecomm Services
- FCC Order Implementation
- Area Codes
- Telecommunications Relay Service
- 911 Service
- Pole Attachments
- Telephone Companies & Contacts
- Telecommunications Glossary
- Interconnection Agreements
- Carrier Working Group
- Biennial NMP Progress Report Forms
Complaints
Learn how to submit a complaint with a public utility. You can also search existing formal complaints.
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