Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker
From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Illinois Relay Center
Message-ID: <12842@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 18 Jul 90 04:42:16 GMT
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Index Number: 9238

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

I'd liked to give my two cents worth (or whatever it's worth) about  
state run relay systems.
 

I understand that with the passage of the ADA that our national long 
distance phone carriers as well as the regional baby Bells are making 
plans to implement regional/national relay services for us.  Oklahoma 
has in the past been charging a surcharge of 5 cents per phone customer 
to pay for provision of TDDs and relay systems for all HI residents. 

 It appears that recently the state realized they had accumulated 
far more in the fund than expected and have thus dropped the surcharge.
While an independent answering service contractor has been handling 
the relay service, it appears that SW Bell has asked to help out 
since they more than have the facilities to do so.
 
I use the relay service quite often in Oklahoma and they do make 
long distance calls outside of the state but request that a customer
have a calling card number as it is treated like a third party call 
but a bit cheaper than a third party call.  I, myself, have felt 
this a bit discriminatory since we don't have a choice in using the 
service.  I noticed that Arkansas had the same type of relay service 
that Oklahoma does while I was at the SHHH Convention as I made a 
few calls out of state.  I believe Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma have 
statewide 800 numbers for all towns other than where the service 
resides where a local number is used but they do make calls out of 
state.  Perhaps some of you who live elsewhere can point out some 
of these options to your state officials.  However, I'm wondering 
if it would be worthwhile at this time since I believe AT&T, MCI 
and Sprint on working on setting up a national relay system.
 
Are any of you familiar with what they call the "Voice Bridge"?  
I received a call the other day to inform me that I could call using 
my voice and using the headset of the phone to install in the acoustic 
couplers to receive the transmitted message from the person I was 
chatting with by the relay operator.  I've yet to try this out but 
will definitely make a point to this weekend now that I have some 
free time.  I'd like to hear others' comments on this.
 
Boy, did I get longwinded once again - guess that's what happens 
when I've been toooo busy behind the scenes!  (grin)
 

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