Communicate Your Way CTAP Programs of the California Public Utilities Commission Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program
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>Speech to Speech Relay Service (STS)

The California Speech to Speech (STS) Relay Service enables people who have a speech disability to communicate with other people by telephone. You can call specially-trained STS Relay Operators/Communication Assistants (ROs/CAs) who will re-voice your conversation to the person you are calling. You may use your own voice or a speech-generating device. People can also call you through the STS Relay Service.

The California Speech to Speech Relay Service is part of the California Relay Service (CRS), a program of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). There is no charge to use this service; you pay only for the cost of the call, if any.

How to reach a Speech to Speech (STS) Relay Operator/ Communication Assistant (RO/CA):

  • Dial 711 and ask for Speech to Speech, or
  • Dial (800) 854-7784 to reach STS, or
  • Dial one of the STS providers’ dedicated numbers:
    • GoAmerica 1-866-854-7784
    • Nordia 1-866-734-2305
    • Sprint 1-888-877-5302

These numbers are the same for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking callers.

How to personalize your STS calls

Let the CRS relay providers know in advance how you want your STS call handled – by 711 Choice or by a Customer Profile:

By registering your 711 Choice you can pre-select from the following options:

  • Choice of CRS provider – GoAmerica, Nordia or Sprint
  • Type of Communication – Speech to Speech
  • Preferred Language – English or Spanish

After registering your choices, all your calls will be routed automatically to your chosen provider, a trained STS Relay Operator/Communication Assistant and in your preferred language. All providers will have this information.

You can also let the CRS Providers know exactly how you want your calls handled by setting up a Customer Profile. That includes, but is not limited to

  • Conversation related information (e.g. a customized explanation of STS relay service, or a standard message for answering machines)
  • Call setup related information (e.g. your preferred long distance provider; a list of most frequently called names and numbers; when and where you can be reached if someone tries to contact you through relay)

The choices you make are for your specified provider. If you would like to use your preferences with more than one provider, you will need to set up profiles with each of them.
Even if you don’t have a Customer Profile, you can give the Relay Operator/Communications Assistant (RO/CA) instructions before (s)he places your call. e.g.:

  • You can ask the RO/CA to re-voice everything you say, or to only re-voice when the person you are talking to doesn’t understand, or to not re-voice anything unless you ask for assistance.
  • Before the actual call is placed, you can dictate a message to the RO/CA to be used during the conversation.
  • You can ask the RO/CA to retain parts or all of a message for use in future phone calls.

 

 

CRS

 
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