July 7, 2015 – Through a competitive procurement process, Hamilton Relay, a leading provider of Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Service, has been selected as the new service provider of Washington Relay. Hamilton Relay began providing Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Service in the state of Washington on July 1, 2015.
Washington Relay, a program of the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, provides 24-hour service that enables individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking to communicate with friends, family members and businesses over the phone.
When a traditional Relay call is placed through Washington Relay, a relay operator confidentially relays the conversation by voicing or typing what’s said between the relay user and the standard phone user. When using Captioned Telephone (CapTel), a screen on the phone displays word-for-word captions generated by the operator through the use of voice recognition software, allowing users to listen while reading what’s being said during the conversation.
Anyone can initiate a call through Washington Relay by simply dialing 711 or the existing toll-free access number for specific relay services. There is no cost to use Washington Relay, although equipment and long distance charges may apply. Through Washington’s Telecommunication Equipment Distribution program, free telecommunications equipment is available for qualified Washington residents.
“We are excited for the residents of Washington to use the relay services provided by Hamilton Relay,” said Steven Peck, TRS Program Manager for the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. “Hamilton has a reputation for providing exceptional customer care and outreach, as well as great technical expertise in the features and services they provide. We are pleased to welcome Hamilton Relay to Washington.”
“We are thrilled to begin providing service to relay users in Washington,” said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay. “Hamilton is committed to providing the life-changing benefits that relay services provide as well as bringing outstanding outreach programs and customer care to individuals all over Washington.”
For more information, visit www.WashingtonRelay.com or contact Washington Relay Customer Care by calling 1-800-974-1548 (Voice/TTY) or emailing warelay@hamiltonrelay.com
CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc.