Telecommunications Relay Service Information
What is Telecommunications Relay Service?
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is an operator service that allows persons with a hearing or speech disability to place calls to standard telephone users via a text telephone (TTY) device, personal computer or other assistive telephone device. There are several different forms of TRS services, in addition to traditional TRS, such as Internet Protocol (IP) and Video Relay service.
For additional information on the forms of TRS, please visit the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trs.html.
What forms of TRS does Clearwire Support?
Clearwire supports TRS and 711 dialing to accommodate hearing and speech disabled individuals.
As an Internet Phone service and a facilities-based wireless broadband Internet access provider, Clearwire supports free of charge Internet Protocol Relay solutions to its Internet Phone Service customers through IP-based relay service providers, some of which are listed below. IP-based relay service accommodates text and video relay service, as well as additional features, such as inbound numbers, personalized phone book, speed dial, downloadable toolbars, and access through mobile devices.
Available IP-based relay service providers include, but are not limited to:
AT&T: http://www.relaycall.com/national/index.html
Go America i711 Relay: http://www.i711.com/
Hamilton: http://www.hiprelay.com/
MCI: http://www.ip-relay.com/index.htm
Sorenson IP Relay: http://www.siprelay.com/
Sprint: http://www.sprintip.com/
For more information and links to participating providers, please visit:
http://www.tdi-online.org/tdi/fs_relayservices.asp
How does Clearwire's Relay Service Work?
Clearwire employs an IP-based relay solution that allows people who have difficulty hearing or speaking to communicate to and from the public telephone network with hearing persons. IP-based relay is accessed using a computer and the Internet, rather than a TTY device and a telephone. Individuals who use IP-based relay do not need to invest in a TTY; they simply use the computer to communicate by text.
When conversing over IP-based relay, people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have difficulty speaking can participate in a conference call or go online while holding a conversation. With an IP-based relay service, the first leg of a call goes from the caller’s computer, or other Web-enabled device, to the IP-based relay Center over the Internet. The second leg of the call, as with traditional TRS, goes from the communications assistant at the IP-based relay Center to the receiving party through a standard telephone over the public telephone network.
IP-based relay solutions currently provide a more effective method of communication for hearing or speech–impaired individuals using Internet phone services rather than using traditional TTY devices which are optimized for the traditional telephone network. Unlike using traditional TTY devices over the wireline telephone network, however, reaching 911 emergency services via Internet phone service may not be as reliable.
For additional information, please visit the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/iprelay.html.
Can Clearwire assist me with getting connected to IP-based Relay Service?
Absolutely! If you have additional questions or need assistance with these services, you can connect to a Clearwire representative via the “Chat with a specialist” link on the Clearwire website. Support is also available directly from IP-based relay service provider websites.
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