News

Check this page often for information about new program services, advocacy efforts of the California Relay Service Advisory Committee (CRSAC) members, FCC policy changes or CPUC decisions affecting the program. This will be a key source for the most current and up-to-date information about the California Relay Service. Stop by frequently and stay updated.

Do you have CRS-related news to share? Please use the Feedback Form to e-mail us with the information. Provide a link to a website confirming the information you are providing, and a brief description of the news.

CRS News Updates

GoAmerica purchased MCI's TRS Business in January 2008. That includes its share in the California Relay Service and Speech to Speech Relay. So don't be surprised when you call 711 or MCI's dedicated number and you are welcomed to the call by a GoAmerica relay operator.

The sale was closed on January 10, 2008. Before the purchase, GoAmerica had to go through an elaborate approval process with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Department of General Services (DGS) to ensure that GoAmerica would be able to comply with all aspects of MCI's CRS contract.

GoAmerica assures the relay users of its continuity in service, availability and customer support.

To find out more about GoAmerica and to view their press release about the TRS purchase, please visit their website:

http://www.goamerica.com

CRS is interested in your comments on the quality of service. Use the opportunity to let us know whether you are satisfied with CRS or what you would like to see improved.

Take the survey here!

Click Here for more information.

12/28/05: CapTel Users to Pay Local and Long Distance Fees and Tolls

On July 28, 2005, the FCC released an Order regarding improper financial incentives used to encourage a TRS provider’s service. This Order also applies to all other relay service areas. Under the FCC’s Financial Incentives Declaratory Ruling, the FCC concluded that the offering of free or severely discounted long distance service to Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) users as an incentive to use a particular TRS provider’s relay service, or as an incentive for a consumer to make more or longer TRS calls, constitutes an impermissible financial incentive in violation of Section 225 of the Communications Act. This Order will be in effect on January 12, 2006, which is 120 days after publication in the Federal Register on September 12, 2005.

This Order has implications for Interstate and Intrastate Captioned Telephone (CapTel) calls. If you make a call from California to anywhere out of state or inside the state of California, you will be billed for any long distance charges/toll fees generated during your call.

Please contact DDTP Consumer Affairs if you have any questions regarding this rule. The email address is consumeraffairs@ddtp.org.

On July 28, 2005, the FCC released an Order regarding improper financial incentives used to encourage a TRS provider’s service. This Order also applies to all other relay service areas (e.g., VRS, Internet Relay, TRS, CapTel). Under the FCC’s Financial Incentives Declaratory Ruling, the FCC concluded that the offering of free or severely discounted long distance service to Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) users as an incentive to use a particular TRS provider’s relay service, or as an incentive for a consumer to make more or longer TRS calls, constitutes an impermissible financial incentive in violation of Section 225 of the Communications Act. This Order will be in effect on January 12, 2006, which is 120 days after publication in the Federal Register on September 12, 2005.

This Order has implications for Interstate Relay calls. If you make a call from California to anywhere out of state, you will be billed for any long distance charges/toll fees generated during your call.

Please contact DDTP Consumer Affairs if you have any questions regarding this rule. The email address is consumeraffairs@ddtp.org.