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 the availability of relay services, the new 711 Choice option, and relay providers.

• 711 Choice Form Information
• Relay Providers – Sprint, Nordia and GoAmerica
• New California Relay Services
• Carrier of Choice
• Relay Call Confidentiality and Ethics
• Availability
• Languages
• State to State and International Calls
• Trial: Captioned Telephone (CapTel)

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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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
• American Sign Language (ASL) to English

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711 Choice Form

Dial 711 for CRS ! You only need to dial 3 numbers to reach any CRS provider (GoAmerica, Nordia, or Sprint). File a 711 Choice Form and you'll be able to dial 711 and reach the CRS provider you prefer. This short form is available from any of the three relay providers. You can change to another CRS provider at any time by filling out a new 711 Choice Form.

Dialing 711 is for everyone, not just those that have difficulty using the phone. Friends, family, and business contacts can dial 711 for relay calls, too.

The 711 Choice Form is simple. You just need to provide your telephone number, choice of provider and preferred mode of communication (TTY, voice, ACSII, Speech to Speech, etc.).

To learn how to register your 711 Choices, click here.

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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

Regardless of which CRS provider you choose, you can tell that provider which carrier to use for your long distance calls.

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Relay Providers - 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.

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.goamerica.com

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

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New California Relay Services:

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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Trial: Captioned Telephone (CapTel)

California is currently conducting a trial of CapTel phone and service to evaluate this product before it is permanently added to the DDTP's equipment distribution program. People interested in the trial may complete an application and be added to the trial's waiting list.

CapTel (Captioned Telephone) provides word-for-word captions of everything said by the other party in a telephone conversation. At the same time, the voice can be heard via an amplified handset. Users with intelligible speech who are deaf or hard of hearing speak directly to the other party. Conversations flow at a near-normal pace.

A person calling to a CapTel user first dials an 800 number to connect to the Captioning Center. Using speech-to-text software, a specially trained operator repeats everything the caller says. A computer converts this to text which is sent to the CapTel user's screen at the same time the other party's voiced conversation is heard via the handset.

When a CapTel user places an outgoing call, it is automatically connected to the Captioning Center . For more information on this phone please visit http://www.captionedtelephone.com/

If you have questions about the trial or are interested in joining the trial, please contact the CRS Department of the DDTP .