Bell Atlantic Introduces 7-1-1 Access for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Customers

As of June 1, customers in New York will have a simpler way to access the state's Relay Service, thanks to a new three-digit dialing capability introduced by Bell Atlantic. The 7-1-1 number will allow people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired to communicate with standard telephone users using text telephones (TTYs). This initiative is part of Bell Atlantic's efforts to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Key Takeaways:

The 7-1-1 number will replace the current 11-digit, toll-free number required for relay service in other states.
New York is the seventh state to introduce 7-1-1 dialing for relay service, with every state in Bell Atlantic's Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions expected to have three-digit access by the end of the year.
The Relay Service is operated jointly by Bell Atlantic and all telephone companies operating in the state.
The service allows TTY users to communicate with standard telephone users through trained relay operators who act as intermediaries.
Calls are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without any charge.
The current New York relay numbers, 1-800-662-1220 for TTY calls and 1-800-421-1220 for voice calls, will continue to be available for calls within the state.
Bell Atlantic has been a leader in developing innovative solutions for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and has reserved the 7-1-1 number for relay services nationwide.

Statistics:

44 million: The number of telephone access lines served by Bell Atlantic companies worldwide.
20 million: The number of wireless customers served by Bell Atlantic companies worldwide.
23 countries: The number of countries where Bell Atlantic companies have operations and investments.

Sources:

"Starting June 1, Three-Digit Number Reaches Service for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Speech-Impaired Customers" (PRNewswire, May 18)
"Bell Atlantic's News Center" (http://www.ba.com)