Relay Connecticut - Text Only

Sprint and AOL Team to Offer Internet Relay Calls for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
February 13, 2006

2-Line CapTel Is Being Reopened with Connecticut Public Utility Control (CT PUC)
December 21, 2005

Sprint Brings New Relay Service Enhancements to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
November 22 , 2005

Sprint and AOL Team To Offer Internet Relay Calls for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
The AIM Relay Service Lets Users Access the Sprint IP Relay Directly from the AOL or AIM Buddy List Feature on PCs, Mobile Phones and PDAs

February 13 , 2006

Sprint (NYSE: S) and AOL today announced the launch of Sprint IP Relay, a new Sprint service that builds on the AIM Relay service that allows individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or who have a speech disability to communicate with any standard or mobile telephone user in the United States via instant messaging.

To use the service, people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing send an instant message to the AIM® Screen Name “SprintIP” to contact a Sprint IP Relay Communications Assistant. The Communications Assistant then places a telephone call to the hearing caller and relays the conversation between the two parties, reading the instant messages out loud to the hearing caller and typing the responses back via instant message to the deaf caller. The “SprintIP” Screen Name can be added to the Buddy List® feature as a permanent buddy, and consumers can initiate Sprint IP Relay calls directly through the AOL® and AIM® services.

“We are really excited to launch this new service with AOL to improve the quality of communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing users,” said Mike Ligas, director, Sprint Relay. “The Sprint IP Relay service provides a stronger, faster connection combined with the convenience of AOL IM so that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have an effective way to communicate with hearing individuals using mobile devices and personal computers.”

Under the agreement, the free Sprint IP Relay service integrates with the AIM Relay service to provide individuals with access to complete relay services directly from their personal computer or mobile device.

“We realize the important role that the AOL and AIM services play in the deaf and hard of hearing community as essential communication tools, and we are excited to make them even more valuable through this partnership with Sprint Nextel” said Tom Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility, America Online, Inc. “Users will appreciate the ease of being able to connect with the Sprint IP Relay service to place calls through the platform of their choice, whether it's sending a mobile instant message from their wireless device or a standard one from their desktop at work.”

The Sprint IP Relay service is available from Sprint at no cost to the user. The Sprint IP Relay and AIM Relay services are accessible on the Web through the AIM service (found at http://www.aim.com), and through the Apple® iChat® client. They are available on a wide range of wireless devices and cellular telephones from Sprint Nextel. See http://www.aolmobile.com/sprint for details on relevant PDAs and mobile phones.

Sprint Relay Portfolio of Services
Sprint has more than 15 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, or who have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint offers relay services through an intelligent platform in 32 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, New Zealand and to the federal government. Sprint's experience in the field provides the assurance that all Sprint Relay services will meet or exceed Federal Communications Commission requirements for telecommunications relay services (TRS). Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/mr.

About the AIM ® Service
The AIM® service (http://www.aim.com) is at the center of one of the largest and most dynamic online communities, and is available for use on computers, cell phones and other handheld devices. The AIM service is an integrated communications client that offers instant messaging, email and SMS mobile texting as well as voice and video chat services. Features include a Plaxo®-enabled AIM® Address Book and integrated access to the AOL® Explorer, AOL® Mail, AIM® Mail, AOL® Radio and AIM® Talk services.

About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Brands include the AOL® service, the AOL.com® website, and the AIM®, MapQuest®, Moviefone®, Netscape®, CompuServe® and ICQ® services. America Online offers a range of digital services including the TotalTalk® voice service. The company also has operations in Canada and Europe. America Online, Inc. is based in Dulles, Virginia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.

Go to Top

2-Line CapTel is Being Reopen with Connecticut Public Utility Control (CT PUC)

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY CONTROL
TEN FRANKLIN SQUARE
NEW BRITAIN , CT 06051

Docket No. 04-04-14
application of sprint communications company l. p. for approval of modifications in its provision of telecomunications relay service-reopening

December 12 , 2005

By the Following Commissioners:
Jack R. Goldberg
John W. Betkoski, III
Anne C. George

DRAFT DECISION

In the Decision dated May 11, 2005 , in the instant docket, the Department of Public Utility Control (Department) approved Sprint Communications Company L.P.'s (Sprint or Company) request to offer Two-Line CapTel modifications in its provision of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) in Connecticut . However, the Department found the Company's proposal for funding the inbound portion of its Two-Line CapTel Service not to be in the public interest and denied that request. The Department allowed Sprint to offer Two-Line CapTel to subscribers, deferring the expense associated with inbound telephone calls, pending the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) authorization of an intrastate/interstate cost recovery allocation methodology. May 11, 2005 Decision, p. 1.

By letter dated December 12, 2005, and pursuant to §16-1-45 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and §16-247e of the General Statutes of Connecticut, Sprint has requested that the instant proceeding be reopened as a result of the FCC's December 2, 2005 order that approved factors to allocate inbound Two-Line CapTel calls between the interstate and intrastate jurisdictions.

Pursuant to Sections 16-9 and 4-181a of the General Statutes of Connecticut , the Department hereby reopens the instant docket for the limited purpose of reviewing Sprint's request. The re-opened Docket is hereby designated Docket No. 04-04-14RE02, Application of Sprint Communications Company L. P. for Approval of Modifications in its Provision of Telecommunications Relay Service-Two-Line CapTel Funding .

Docket No. 04-04-14
application of sprint communications company l. p. for approval of modifications in its provision of telecomunications relay service-reopening

This Decision is adopted by the following Commissioners:
Jack R. Goldberg
John W. Betkoski, III
Anne C. George

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Decision issued by the Department of Public Utility Control, State of Connecticut , and was forwarded by Certified Mail to all parties of record in this proceeding on the date indicated.

Louise E. Rickard
Acting Executive Secretary
Department of Public Utility Control

Go to Top

Sprint Brings New Relay Service Enhancements to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community
November 22 , 2005

Extending its leadership as the nation's largest Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) provider, Sprint announced today that it is offering more choice and flexibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community through enhancements to Sprint IP Relay and Sprint Video Relay Service.

Today, Sprint IP Relay, an Internet relay service, launched a more user-friendly layout, a shorter Web address and faster user connectivity. On Nov. 1, Sprint launched two new Video Relay Service (VRS) enhancements to support sign language users, Sprint VRS Voice Carry Over (VCO) and Spanish VRS, and extended its VRS hours to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Sprint continually strives to augment its relay services to better meet customer needs and make them easier to use,” said Mike Ligas, director of Sprint Relay. “With the enhancements to Sprint IP Relay and Video Relay Services – two already popular assistive services, Sprint Relay is now more accessible to more people with more options for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.”

Sprint IP Relay
Sprint IP Relay is a free service that allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing to enjoy the ease of communicating with hearing individuals from any computer without having to use traditional TTY equipment.

The new Web site, www.SprintIP.com, offers convenient new features for customers as they use Sprint IP Relay, such as:

Sprint VRS VCO and Spanish VRS
Sprint VRS VCO allows a deaf or hard-of-hearing user, who prefers to voice for themselves, to speak directly to their party while a video interpreter signs what the hearing person is saying. Based on the VCO user's communication preference, the video interpreter will use American Sign Language, English-based Sign Language or an English-based Sign Language (close up) option for those that benefit from speech reading to process their VRS call.

Through Spanish VRS, video interpreters can now translate sign language to spoken Spanish and vice versa. Operating hours for Spanish VRS are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.

Sprint VRS, now available any time day or night, enables users who use sign language to communicate via videoconferencing with a video interpreter through the Internet. The interpreter relays the signed conversation over a standard phone in real time to the hearing caller. By using sign language over the full-motion video, the sign language user can communicate in their natural language and convey facial expression and cues to ensure nothing gets lost in the translation. The sign language user needs a videophone with a television or a Web cam with a computer.

For more information on Sprint Video Relay Service, visit www.sprintvrs.com . To access VRS VCO and Spanish VRS:

In addition, on Nov. 15 the company announced that Verizon Delaware has awarded a three-year TRS contract to Sprint to provide assistive communications services for deaf and hearing or speech-impaired customers. Effective Dec. 31, Sprint will replace AT&T as Delaware 's official provider of TRS. With the Delaware contract win, Sprint now offers relay services through an intelligent platform in 32 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, New Zealand and to the federal government.

Sprint Relay Portfolio of Services
Sprint has more than 15 years of experience in providing relay services to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind, or who have a speech disability to communicate with hearing persons on the phone. Sprint's experience in the field provides the assurance that all Sprint Relay services will meet or exceed Federal Communications Commission requirements for telecommunications relay services (TRS). Relay service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or call length. For more information, visit www.sprintrelay.com.