Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe) (05/03/91)
Index Number: 15337
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
GF> so tried to call the vendor in New Jersey. The relaay operator
GF> told me that ATT only has a contract with Pennsylvania and can't
GF> cross the state line.
Hi George: What you experienced is the NUMBER ONE complaint about
the Pennsylvania relay - no interstate calls allowed. There is NO
technical reason why this can't be done now. Just bureaucratic red
tape.
AT&T operates the Delaware relay out of the same facility in Wayne,
PA as our relay. And Delaware people CAN make interstate calls. So
can people in about 10 other states.
The problem is with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. We
need to make them aware of this deficiency in the relay service.
Please write to:
William Smith, Chairman
Public Utility Commission
P.O.Box 3265
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Ask why hearing impaired people in many other states can make relay
calls out-of-state now, but we can't do this in Pennsylvania. Send
a copy of your letter to:
Sandy Duncan, Director
Office for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
1308 Labor and Industry Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Section 4 of the ADA mandates interstate TDD relay service not later
than July 26, 1993, but we should not have to wait that long. The
facility is in place NOW, and the need for interstate calling is NOW!
All that is needed is Public Utility Commission authorization.
The P.U.C. points to the Federal Communication Commission (F.C.C.)
and the relay contractor (AT&T) to "pass the buck". Don't buy that.
The fact is that people in other states - with the same F.C.C. and
the same AT&T - can make interstate calls NOW. The only thing
different here is the P.U.C. So that's what has to be changed.
Letters will help motivate them.
... Jack.
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