The Wyoming Relay/Deaf Services Program is proudly offered by the Wyoming Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, an agency of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The Wyoming Relay/Deaf Services Program provides numerous services to individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech impaired, and to individuals, businesses, or agencies that work with or assist these individuals.
What is Relay Service?
Wyoming Relay is a free service that allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind and/or have a speech disability to place and receive telephone calls. Wyoming Relay users can communicate freely with businesses, friends, and family who use a standard telephone.
Specially trained communications assistants facilitate the calls. Calls can be made to anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number, length, or type of calls.
All calls are strictly confidential and no records of any conversations are maintained. Anyone wishing to use Wyoming Relay simply dials 7-1-1 or the dedicated toll-free relay number to connect with a communications assistant. The communication assistant will dial the requested number and relay the conversation between the two callers.
History
In 1991, Governor Mike Sullivan and the Wyoming State Legislature created the Wyoming Telecommunications Relay Service known as Wyoming Relay. The service is paid for with money collected by a special fee charged on every telephone service account in the state.
Legislation
- Federal mandates
- Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules for Telecommunications Relay Service
- Wyoming State Statues §16-9-201 through 16-9-210
Benefits of Relay Service
Wyoming Relay Service uses state-of-the-art technology to bring relay services in English and/or Spanish to customers. With Wyoming Relay, you can:
- Store and refer back to information such as frequently-dialed numbers, preferred call type, and preferred long distance carrier;
- Utilize a wide array of technologies, such as teletypewriters (TTYs), Voice Carry-Over (VCO), Captioned Telephones, Hearing Carry-Over (HCO), and Video-Assisted Speech-to-Speech (VA STS);
- Retrieve voicemail and answering machine messages;
- Redial the last number called;
- Work with sensitive and well-trained communications assistants who handle each call with complete confidentiality; and
- Expect to utilize a relay service which routinely monitors performance to ensure continuously high-quality services.
What is 7-1-1?
7-1-1 is a nation-wide relay telephone number that allows easier access for connecting with Wyoming Relay users.
Charges
There is no fee for using 7-1-1 or any of the toll-free access numbers for Wyoming Relay.
PBX System Issue
People who dial in an office that has extension numbers may experience difficulty as a result of the number not being programmed in the building’s PBX system. To request the availability of the 7-1-1 service in your building, contact your IT technical specialist, your office administrator, or your local telephone service provider.
Compliments, Concerns or Complaints
We would love to hear from you. You may direct your comments regarding Wyoming Relay to one of the following:
Wyoming Relay State Administration Office
Phone: 1-800-452-1408 TTY/Voice
Email: DWS-WYRelay@wyo.gov
Wyoming Relay Customer Service
Phone: 1-888-694-4450 English TTY/Voice
1-800-676-4290 Spanish TTY/Voice
Email: access@t-mobile.com
The FCC
Phone: 1-888-225-5322
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
American Sign Language Support Line: 1-844-432-2275
Fax: 1-866-418-0232 Fax
FCC Consumer Complaints website
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
- To learn more about all the different types of relay services and features, visit wyomingrelay.com
- Wyoming Relay Statutes (PDF)
- Wyoming Relay Services Phone Numbers
Telecommunications Relay Service Advisory Committee
Remittance of the Special Fee by Carriers
- Carrier Information
- Monthly Special Fee Remittance Form (PDF)
- Monthly Special Fee Remittance Form (Word)
- Annual Special Fee Remittance Form (PDF)
- Annual Special Fee Remittance Form (Word)
Wyoming Relay Equipment Distribution (WYRED) Program
WYRED distributes special telephone equipment at no charge to eligible applicants. Landline and wireless devices and accessories are available for loan and permanent distribution. For more information and to apply, click here.
Information and referral
Wyoming Relay Training and Consultation
Wyoming Relay can provide customized presentations for organizations, agencies, schools, clubs, events, or companies at no charge. The presentations talk about Wyoming Relay services and programs, and can last anywhere from an hour to a full day.
To request a training or consultation, visit the Wyoming Relay website.