	September 1997

Speech-to-Speech Relay Service

New Feature now offered as a standard TRS feature in Maryland and California.
From: the Spring, 1997 issue of "The Maryland Relay News,", a publication of;
Telecommunications Access of Maryland (TAM)
Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland Relay is pleased to offer SPEECH-TO-SPEECH service in Maryland as a permanent feature. This service began March 1, 1997 and a separate toll free number must be dialed to use this service. The number is 1-800-785-5630 TTY/Voice.

Speech to Speech service allows Maryland Relay customers with speech disabilities, or those using an electronic voice synthesizer, to communicate with standard telephone consumers. This service can be initiated by either party to increase the effectiveness of telecommunications. Sprint was the first TRS provider in the country to provide this technology. To date, Sprint has completed two successful speech-to-speech trials for the states of Missouri and California.

How the system works---A person with a speech disability would call Maryland Relay to place a call to a standard phone user or another person with a speech disability. The Relay operator (OPR) would inform the called party that they are receiving a call from a person with a speech disability through the Maryland Relay and that the operator would remain on-line to assist when needed. As the call progresses, the operator would voice what the person with a speech disability is saying only if the called party has difficulty understanding the conversation.

This new service allows the person with a speech disability a second telecommunications option in addition to Hearing Carry-over (HCO). Hearing Carry-over is the system in which a person with a speech disability can hear what was being said by the standard phone user, but must type their part of the conversation to the Relay OPR. The OPR then voices the message to the standard phone user. Speech-to-speech service allows customers with speech disabilities who may have other physical disabilities prohibiting them from the typing necessary to use HCO.

From the Electronic Telecommunications Relay Services Forum. (7/31/97)

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