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Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) | Federal Communications Commission
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class="display-4"> <span>Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)</span> </h1> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <main role="main" class="container"> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-3 sidebar-first"> <div class="menu-sidebar block block--fcc-contextdependentsecondarymenu"> <h2 class="block-title">Telecommunications Relay Services</h2> <ul class="menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item--collapsed"> <a href="/trs-history-docket" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/261355">TRS History Docket</a> </li> <li id="" class="menu-item" style=""> <a href="/general/trs-state-and-territories" data-featured-item="0" show-only-megamenu-desktop="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25157">TRS by States</a> </li> <li id="" class="menu-item" style=""> <a href="/general/trs-points-contact-complaints" data-featured-item="0" show-only-megamenu-desktop="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25922">Contact List for TRS Complaints</a> </li> <li id="" class="menu-item" style=""> <a href="/general/speech-speech-services-access-numbers" data-featured-item="0" show-only-megamenu-desktop="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25012">Speech to Speech Relay Access Numbers by State</a> </li> <li id="" class="menu-item" style=""> <a href="/general/internet-based-trs-providers" data-featured-item="0" show-only-megamenu-desktop="0" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/25849">Internet-Based TRS Providers</a> </li> </ul> </div> </aside> <div class="col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-9 main-content" > <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <article class="node page page--full"> <div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="page-body"> <div class="page__body"><div class="main" style="background-color:#0000;float:left;overflow:auto;padding:.0em .5em .5em .7em;" id="about"><div class="video rtecenter"><iframe class="iframe" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="1" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0k3TN1nAY7w?rel=0"></iframe></div><p>Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone in a manner that is functionally equivalent to telephone services used by persons without such disabilities. Under <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/general/title-iv-ada">Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act</a>, as amended, the Federal Communications Commission must ensure the provision of TRS. TRS is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all other U.S. territories for local, long distance, and international calls.</p><p>In all forms of TRS, communications assistants (CAs) or other authorized intermediaries such as automated speech recognition (ASR) facilitate telephone calls between persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and other individuals. There is no cost to the users. TRS providers are compensated from either a <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/trs-state-and-territories" target="_blank">state</a> or a federal fund, which is administered<s> </s>by the TRS Fund Administrator. Some forms of TRS have voice and hearing carry over options so callers may use their own voices or residual hearing if they prefer to do so. The TRS consumer guide discusses foreign language relay services.</p><p>There are several types of TRS that are available. For more information about the rules applicable to each type, select one of the following:</p><ul><li><a href="/cts">Captioned Telephone Service</a></li><li><a href="/ipcts">Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service</a></li><li><a href="/ip-relay">Internet Protocol Relay Service</a></li><li><a href="/sts">Speech-to-Speech Relay Service</a></li><li><a href="/tty-relay">TTY Relay Service</a></li><li><a href="/vrs">Video Relay Service</a></li></ul><p><strong>General TRS Rules, Guides, and Reports</strong></p><ul><li>Rules<ul><li>Telecommunications Relay Services - CFR Rule: <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-64#subpart-F">47 CFR § 64 Subpart F</a></li><li>Telecommunications Relay Services Emergency Calling Requirements - CFR Rule: <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-9/subpart-E">47 CFR § 9 Subpart E</a></li><li>TRS Customer Proprietary Network Information – CFR Rule: <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-64#subpart-EE">47 CFR § 64 Subpart EE</a></li></ul></li><li>Consumer Guides<ul><li><a href="/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs">TRS Consumer Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/research-reports/guides/frequently-asked-questions-faq-communications-services-incarcerated-people">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Communications Services for Incarcerated People with Disabilities</a></li></ul></li><li>Reports<ul><li>Annual reports of TRS Informal Complaints<ul><li>2014-2015 <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-337706A1.docx">Word</a> || <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-337706A1.pdf" pdf>PDF</a></li><li>2013-2014 <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-331113A1.docx">Word</a> || <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-331113A1.pdf">PDF</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li>HIPAA Guidance<ul><li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/500/is-a-relay-service-a-business-associate-of-a-doctor/index.html">Department of Health & Human Services guidance</a></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>See </strong><a href="/trs-history-docket"><strong>TRS History Docket</strong></a><strong> for all TRS documents.</strong></p></div></div> </div> <div class="meta-container"> <div class="bureau-office mb-3 mt-3"> <strong>Bureau/Office:</strong> <div class="page__field-bureau-office-ref"> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/consumer-governmental-affairs" hreflang="und">Consumer and Governmental Affairs</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="date_updated mt-3"> <strong>Updated:</strong><br> Wednesday, March 20, 2024 </div> <div class="addToAny mt-3"> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.fcc.gov/trs" data-a2a-title="Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS)"><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a 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Providers Flexibility to Hire More ASL Interpreters</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-extends-temporary-waivers-relay-services-rules-during-pandemic-0">FCC Extends Temporary Waivers for Relay Services Rules During Pandemic</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/trs-call-early-termination-prohibition-partially-waived">TRS Call Early Termination Prohibition Partially Waived</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </main> <footer > <row> <div class="container text-md-left mt-5 footer-section"> <!-- Grid row --> <div class="mt-3 footergriditems row"> <!-- Grid column first footer --> <div class="col-md-4 col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-lg-4 col-xl-4 footer-first grid-item"> <div class="block--type-fcc-contact-footer block block--fcc-contact-footer block--footerone"> <div class="fcc-contact-footer__field-text"> <div class="field__label fw-bold visually-hidden"> Text </div> <div 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