Telecommunications Relay Service
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Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS, Relay Service, IP-Relay) is an operator service that allows Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Speech-Disabled persons to place calls to standard telephone users via TDD (TTY), personal computer or other assitive telephone device. In the US, each state and federal territory (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) has access to TRS 24 hours a day everyday. Below is a known list of countries that provide TRS:
- Australia
- Canada
- Finland
- Liechtenstein
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
In United States, all calls are strictly confidential, as mandated by the FCC. It is available in English, Spanish, and/or French, depending on the state or federal territory. In Switzerland the languages German, French, Italian, English and Spanish are supported.
In the most common use of TRS, typed messages are relayed as voice messages by a TRS operator, and vice-versa. This allows callers unable to use a regular telephone, to be able to place telephone calls to people who use a regular telephone, and vice-versa. When the Hearing party is ready for a response, it is customary to say "Go Ahead" or "GA" to indicate that it is the Deaf person's turn to talk and "Stop Keying" or "SK" when hanging up, and vice-versa.
In less common uses of TRS, there is Voice-Carry-Over (VCO), and Hearing-Carry-Over (HCO). VCO allows the TRS to use voice for outgoing communications and text for incoming communications. HCO is the opposite of VCO. The HCO method is most commonly used by people who have difficulty speaking, but have no difficulty hearing voice. Just as TTY users can call each other directly, VCO users may call HCO users directly. VCO and HCO users may also call TTY users with the assistance of a TRS operator. STS (Speech-to-Speech) also exists for people with mild speech disabilities. A special STS TRS operator revoices what the speech-disabled person says. STS is often used in combination with VCO for the Deaf who have somewhat understandable speech. Other variations include 2-Line VCO/HCO. The Hearing/Speech-Impaired person uses a TTY to call relay who calls the user's voice line. The user puts the TRS operator on a brief hold to initiate a 3-way call with the Hearing party. This method is frequently used by the Hard-of-Hearing who like to use some of their residual hearing as well not having to say "Go Ahead". Telebraille also exists for DeafBlind with the use of a TTY with a braille keyboard and a refreshable braille display.
Most TRS operators use regular keyboards to transcribe spoken voice as text for relaying. However, some TRS services may use stenotype or stenomask equipment, similar to those used by court reporters and closed captioning systems.
Calls to a TRS operator are usually made by TDD (Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf) unit, via computer modem (ASCII), or via Internet. Recently, there have been instant message-based relay services provided by deaf-oriented wireless services and ISPs. A new method for the Hard-of-Hearing to make phone calls is called a Captioned Telephone, which uses voice recognition, and is similar to 2-Line VCO, except that it only requires one line.
People who use American Sign Language are able to place phone calls by signing instead of typing, via a Video Relay Service (VRS). The VI (video interpreter) uses a webcam or videophone to voice the Deaf or Speech-Disabled person's signs to the Hearing person and sign the Hearing person's words to the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing person.
Major telephone-line-based relay services
- Phone number 711 in all of North America. This service is similar to dialing 411, 611 or 911, and is dialed via a TDD, a computer modem or a regular telephone.
- Phone prefix 18001, followed by the destination number, for TDD to regular telephone or 18002 for regular telephone to TDD in the UK. For more details of this service see Typetalk.
- To call the National Relay Service in Australia, dial 133 677 for local, STD and mobile calls, and 1800 555 677 for free calls.