[misc.handicap] TISD TDD Relay Service

Jack.O'keeffe@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (05/30/91)

Index Number: 15855

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Do any SilentTalkers have first hand info about a TDD relay service
called "TISD"??  It is located in Indianapolis, and appears to be a
commercial service offering to relay interstate TDD telephone calls
to and from voice phones.  I have a flyer from them proclaiming:

                "NEW SERVICE AVAILABLE"

      "TISD MAKES CALLING STATE TO STATE MUCH EASIER!"

I've been looking for an alternative since, despite the ADA mandate,
the AT&T Pennsylvania Relay still refuses to relay interstate calls.
This TISD service appears rather pricey, asking up front for a $20
"processing fee" (and $1 extra for MC or Visa).  And their charge of
.45 per minute of call time ($27/hour - wow!) is more than four times
what MCI now charges me with no discount.  They must think deaf folks
are all wealthy :-)

It sure seems to do violence to the ADA concept of "functional
equivalency" for service and price.

I'd really like to see an evaluation from anyone here who has used
this service or otherwise has first hand knowledge about TISD.

... Caveat Emptor!

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26.0!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@p0.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org

jhall@ihlpm.att.com (John R Hall) (06/02/91)

Index Number: 15934

I called up TISD a couple of months ago to enquire
about their service.  I wanted to know who runs
the business, if it was a for-profit or volunteer
operation, and details about billing.  The operator
I spoke to could not or would not provide any of
this information.  She said I would need to talk to
the president of the company, so she took my name
and number and said he would call me.  I have not
heard from him yet.  This might have something to
do with me saying I work for AT&T, although I was
not calling in an official company capacity.  Based
on that encounter, the lack of information in response
to my questions, and the very high price of this
service, I decided not to recommend it to my Deaf
friends.

As far as state relays being able to make out of
state calls, this is a restriction based on state-
by-state legislation.  It is not a technical restriction
of the equipment nor a requirement or desire of the
relay service provider (such as AT&T).  Obviously, this
issue will have to be resolved before the ADA deadline
of July 26, 1993.

Until the relay issue is resolved, though, one alternative
method you might try is to use call forwarding.  Since
there is a monthly charge for call forwarding from your
local telephone company, you would have to decide for
yourself whether it is worth it.  Basically, you would
forward your phone to the out-of-state destination that
you wish to call.  Then you call your state relay service
and have them call your number which then gets forwarded.
This method is not fool-proof.
--John