About CRS

California Relay Service (CRS) provides specially-trained operators to relay telephone conversations back and forth between people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled and all those they wish to communicate with by telephone. This CRS page offers useful information about how to use the relay service, relay service providers, 711 Choice and Customer Profiles.

• CRS Phone Numbers
• CRS Availability
• Languages
• Relay Call Confidentiality
• California Relay Service Providers
• State to State and International Calls
• Carrier of Choice
• California Relay Service Features

CRS Phone Numbers

Simply dial 7-1-1 to reach CRS.
If you prefer to have your calls answered immediately in your mode of communication, dial one of the following numbers:

• If you are calling from TTY- including Voice Carryover (VCO) and Hearing Carryover (HCO):
• English: (800) 735-2929,
• Spanish: (800) 855-3000;
• If you are a voice caller, calling a TTY user
• English: (800) 735-2922,
• Spanish: (800) 855-3000;
• Speech to Speech: (800) 854-7784

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Availability

CRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist with calls. You can make as many calls as you wish and talk as long as you like. There is no extra charge to use the relay service. All operator services, including directory assistance, are also available via CRS.
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Languages

Both TTY and voice callers may make and/or receive calls through CRS. CRS callers can communicate in the following languages:

• English to English
• Spanish to Spanish
• English to Spanish and vice versa
• Typed American Sign Language (ASL) to conversational English

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Confidentiality and Ethics

Federal regulations specify very strict confidentiality requirements for the operators of all relay services. No part of the conversation that takes place between the callers is revealed or recorded in written, verbal or any other form. CRS operators do not participate in the conversation and acquire no benefit from information relayed.

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California Relay Service Providers - GoAmerica, Nordia and Sprint

In California Relay Service is provided through GoAmerica, Nordia and Sprint. All three CRS providers are available to all CRS users, including people who use Speech to Speech (STS). CRS users can access all three CRS providers in both English and Spanish. For more information about how to call CRS through the different providers, please click here.

GoAmerica has provided relay services since 1992, and has been a key provider of CRS in California since 1996. For more information go to www.goamericacrs.com/grs/CA/

Nordia Relay has provided relay services since 1999 and in 2004 was certified by the Customer Operations Performance Center , the world's most rigorous certification body. You'll find more information at www.myrelay.com

Sprint Relay has provided relay services since 1990, and currently services 31 states and the federal government, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and New Zealand . To find out more go to www.sprint-crs.com

State-to-State and International Calls

Using the California Relay Service you can call to and receive calls from anywhere in the United States or worldwide. Contact your relay provider's Customer Service for more information.

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Carrier of Choice

While the use of CRS itself is free, long distance charges apply for long distance and international calls. Inform the relay provider about your preferred long distance carrier. If you do not establish a preferred long distance carrier, the CRS provider will apply its default long distance charges, which might be more expensive than other long distance providers. For more information please contact your relay provider's Customer Service.

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California Relay Services Features:

True Caller ID gives CRS users the opportunity to enjoy the same privacy and security others experience with Caller ID. When using a telephone with Caller ID equipment and service, users will see the name and phone number of the incoming caller.

Message Retrieval allows consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing to retrieve voice-activated answering machine messages. Consumers simply call CRS and the relay operator captures the message electronically, and then relays the full message back to the consumer.

Call Release makes it possible for TTY users to call through hotel and hospital switchboards to TTY-users in guest and hospital rooms. The relay operator relays the call to the switchboard operator and remains on line until connected to a TTY. The operator 'releases' the call so the conversation continues, TTY to TTY.

Hot Key allows relay operators to electronically capture automated voice messages and interactive menus, and then relay all information without interruption. This improvement reduces the need to make additional calls to get the full message.

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