It's getting easier for deaf to make calls

Scot Pott hopes dialing 7-1-1 will become as recognized as 9-1-1.

It won't be used in emergencies, as 911 is, but it is in a way coming to the rescue of the deaf community and those who deal with deaf people.

The relay system is designed to make communicating between the deaf and hearing worlds much easier -- a matter of dialing three digits to connect to the specialized operator who translates messages from the telephone on one end to the TTY or TTD on the other.

"It's not just for deaf people," said Pott, the state's director for deaf services.

It is designed as a nationally recognized standard to replace a series of toll-free numbers that connect to the specialized operator. Before 711, those who needed to communicate between the deaf and hearing worlds had to learn a different number for each city.

Nevada recently became the fourth state, and the first multiple phone company state, to adopt 711 dialing for the relay services. This week seven states will be on the system.

Sprint Vice President and General Manager Lou Emmeret said that with more than 30,000 relay calls made each month, 711 will simplify dialing. Sprint operates the statewide relay system and is the largest phone service provider in the state, but the 12 other telephone service operators in Nevada agreed to use the 711 system.

As more states join in, such as New York on June 1, the universal system will be very beneficial to Nevada because our many tourists will not need to learn a new number, Pott said.

The push for the system came from Gov. Kenny Guinn's Nevada Telecommunications Council for the Deaf, Sprint spokeswoman Detra Page said. The council is made up of deaf consumers, phone industry representatives and the State Department of Rehabilitation and Training.

Although Nevada forged ahead with the plan without federal mandate, deaf advocates hope to get the FCC behind making the system national.

"The Federal Communications Commission plans to put this relay service on their agenda and they are likely to mandate that all states use 711," Pott said.

Currently Nevada residential service is the only one to completely adopt the 711 standard.

Cell phones in the local valley cannot use the 711 service but can call the toll-free number, (800) 326-6888. Spokesmen from Vorizon Wireless and Sprint PCS say their companies are currently evaluating 711.

Page also warned that business phone system administrators may need to contact their vendors to get their phones programmed for 711 dialing.

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