Press Release

PUC Approves No Change to Telecommunications Relay Service Charge

Published on 5/24/2012

Filed under: Telecommunications

HARRISBURG –The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to approve and maintain the surcharge for the Pennsylvania Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for residential and business access lines.

The charge will be retained at $0.08/month and will be in effect from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. 

The monthly surcharge is based on the anticipated costs of TRS programs:  Traditional, which includes speech-to-speech and Spanish relay; Captioned telephone; Telecommunications Device Distribution Program; and Print Media Access System Program.  The TRS surcharge remittance is allocated to each element based on the percentage of revenue required to fund it during the surcharge year. 

Pennsylvania TRS is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and certified by the Federal Communications Commission. The program is regulated by the PUC and offers persons who are hearing, deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired a way to connect using the telephone.  Users may dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-654-5984 for text telephone (TTY) or 1-800-654-5988 for Voice to connect to a skillfully-trained Communications Assistant (CA) who follows a strict code of ethics and confidentiality.  The CA then relays the message to the person on the other line.

A May 29, 1990, Commission Order approved a funding mechanism to recover charges associated with the TRS system and established the TRS Fund.  Specifically, wireline access lines are surcharged each month, and the monies are collected by local exchange carriers (LECs) and remitted to a Fund Administrator.  The Fund Administrator collects, disburses, and invests the monies of the Fund. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket Numbers M-2012-2281401

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722