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SALT LAKE CITY -- If you were to line up the 227,000 Utahns who have trouble hearing, they would stand shoulder to shoulder from Provo to Ogden. That is more than 76 miles of Utahns who are hard of hearing or deaf.
To help hard of hearing and deaf individuals communicate more independently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created hearing-assistive equipment distribution and telecommunication relay services (TRS) programs. Utah's Relay program was introduced in 1988 and was one of the first to be established in the United States. The Utah Public Service Commission manages Utah's Relay program.
TRS Program
Funded through a telephone surcharge fee on all landline phones, the TRS program provides the "relay" translation service between an individual using a text telephone TTY or other hearing-assistive phone and a standard phone. The service is free and can be accessed by dialing 7-1-1 on any phone. A Relay Communications Assistant (CA) will "relay" or translate the communication between the hearing and hard of hearing or deaf individual. The relay service is also offered in Spanish by calling 888-346-3162.
Equipment Distribution Program
The equipment distribution program provides amplified telephones, amplified cordless phones, captioning phones (CapTel) and the Jitterbug® cell phones to qualifying hard of hearing seniors at no charge. Currently, more than 4,500 Utahns have a phone from Relay Utah in their homes.
More information and equipment applications can be obtained on the Relay Utah website at www.relayutah.gov or by calling the Utah Public Service Commission at 801-530-6638 (V/TTY). The telecommunication "relay" service is available statewide by dialing 7-1-1.
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Mary Beth Green is a Telecommunications Relay Specialist for Relay Utah
