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Washington Relay ServicesTelecommunications Relay Services (TRS) was established to provide telephone relay services to deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and speech disabled residents of Washington State in accordance with title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The recommendations of the 1991 Washington State TTY Task Force resulted in substitute Senate Bill 6377 to establish the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) under ODHH. ODHH is the state TRS administrator, certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Presently, through a competitive procurement process, Sprint Relay is the TRS provider for Washington State. Sprint Relay offers both Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) and Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) to Washington State residents. More information about Washington TRS services, better known as “Washington Relay,” can be accessed through the following web link: www.washingtonrelay.com. Internet Protocol Relay Fraud Washington Relay offers information how businesses can protect themselves from fraudulent activities by scammers who take advantage of internet protocol (IP) relay services. For more information about IP Relay Fraud, click on the following link: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/hrsa/odhh/ann/IP Relay Fraud.pdf Washington Relay Annual Report The Washington Telecommunication Relay Services (WATRS) FY11 annual report is now available. The report includes information on TRS and CapTel services and outreach activities. The FY11 annual report is available in PDF and Text. To request a copy in Large Print or Braille, please contact Steven Peck at pecksc@dshs.wa.gov, 360-339-7762 (VP). Federal Communication Commission (FCC) –Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires the telecommunication relay services. The FCC oversees Title IV. States and telecommunication providers are responsible to provide telecommunication relay services. The intent is to ensure that people with hearing loss and speech disabilities achieve functionally equivalent access to telecommunication services. The FCC establishes rules and makes decisions that impact the people with hearing loss and speech disabilities, states, telecommunication providers and relay providers. The FCC is required to gather public comments before making these rules and decisions. The FCC regulates Telecommunication Relay Services (including CapTel Relay), Internet-based relay services and video relay services. At this time, states are responsible for the provision of telecommunication relay services only. For more information: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/ Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates, LLC (RLSA) - All telecommunication providers are required to contribute using a “carrier contribution factor” every year. It is less than one percentage (>1%) of its’ revenue deposited into a Telecommunication Relay Service (TRS) Interstate fund managed by RLSA on behalf of the FCC. This contribution fulfills the telecommunication providers’ obligation to provide relay services as a way to simplify the implementation complexity of the Americans with Disabilities Act; Title IV. The RLSA TRS Interstate fund reimburses all relay providers (TRS, IP and VRS). RLSA reimburses TRS relay providers and pays for 51% of interstate calls (Washington-to-another state) on a price-per-minute (PPM) basis. The state of Washington ODHH pays for 49% of interstate calls and 100% of intrastate calls (calls within Washington). Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission http://www.wutc.wa.gov/ Relay Service Providers List This is the most current listing of approved Video Relay Services providers certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):
Spanish Relay Services
Disclaimer: Internet-based relay services are paid for by the Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates (RLSA). The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) is distributing this relay service provider list to the public for information purposes only. ODHH does not endorse nor does it provide any opinion regarding the quality of the services of any specific internet-based relay provider contained on this list. √- Services offered by the TRS provider |
