As of October 1, 2001, persons with hearing or speech disabilities, or persons needing to contact them can connect to Telephone Relay Services (TRS) by simply dialing the digits 711 from any phone in the United States.

The simple, fast and free 711 service just announced by the FCC will automatically connect the caller to one of the more than 100 separate phone numbers of the nation's telephone relay services without having to remember and dial a seven or ten-digit access number. Being able to dial the same three digits nationwide to access TRS, instead of having to be familiar with each state's unique access number, makes TRS much more accessible in our mobile society, according the FCC.

Telephone relay services enable people who do and those who do not have hearing or speech disabilities to communicate with each other using special text display telephones (TTY). When a user places a call through a TRS provider (or relay center), a human communications assistant (relay agent) relays the conversation by either typing or speaking aloud the content depending on the needs of the callers.

Consumers who are unable to get 711 TRS access in their area after October 1, should call the FCC's Consumer Center at 1-888-CALL-FCC (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY), or by e-mail at access@fcc.gov.

Under the new rules adopted last year by the FCC, 711 TRS dialing must be provided by all telecommunications carriers in the United States, including wireline, wireless, and payphone providers. The FCC rule also encourages all PBX suppliers to configure their systems for 711 access to TRS.

In addition, to ensure the efficient, effective, and successful use of 711 access to TRS, the FCC required carriers and relay providers, in cooperation with the states, to engage in on-going and comprehensive education and outreach programs to publicize the availability of 711 access.