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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  News  Media  contact: 
 October  1,  2001  Jordan  Goldstein  at  (202)  418-  2000 


 COMMISSIONER  COPPS  APPLAUDS  NATIONWIDE  711  FOR  TELECOMMUNICATIONS  RELAY  SERVICES 


 Washington,  DC  --  Commissioner  Michael  Copps  issued  the  following  press 
 statement  on  October  1,  2001,  the  date  on  which  all  carriers  in  the  United  States  must 
 implement  711  as  the  access  number  to  reach  Telecommunications  Relay  Services  (TRS). 


 I  am  pleased  that  as  of  today  we  have  significantly  improved  access  to 
 telecommunications  services  for  the  millions  of  Americans  with  hearing  and  speech 
 disabilities,  and  for  the  millions  of  others  who  communicate  with  these  citizens. 
 Consumers  across  the  country  will  now  be  able  to  use  the  same  three-  digit  number  –  711 
 –  to  reach  all  Telecommunications  Relay  Services. 


 A  simple,  easy-  to-  remember  number  will  encourage  more  people  to  use  TRS  to 
 communicate  with  friends  and  associates  who  have  hearing  and  speech  disabilities. 
 Consumers  will  no  longer  need  to  remember  dozens  of  different  TRS  numbers  as  they 
 travel  from  state  to  state  in  our  mobile  society.  And  TRS  users  will  be  able  to  put  one 
 number  on  business  cards  and  other  forms,  making  it  easier  for  people  to  contact  them. 


 Facilitating  access  to  quality  relay  services  is  one  important  step  towards  closing 
 the  communications  divide  for  those  with  disabilities.  Access  to  communications  and 
 information  is  the  key  to  unlocking  the  doors  of  opportunity  in  this  Information  Age.  We 
 must  make  sure  that  those  doors  are  open  –  and  remain  open  –  for  all  Americans,  and  not 
 locked  shut  for  some. 


 While  today  marks  a  step  forward,  we  must  not  rest  on  our  accomplishments.  It  is 
 not  enough  merely  to  implement  nationwide  711.  We  must  also  establish  public  –  private 
 partnerships  to  publicize  the  availability  of  711  and  to  increase  awareness  of 
 Telecommunications  Relay  Services  generally.  And  we  must  continue  to  expand  access 
 to  communications  technology,  including  advanced  telecommunications,  for  those  with 
 disabilities.  We  must  all  do  what  we  can  to  attain  Congress’  vision  that  those  with 
 disabilities  have  access  to  functionally  equivalent  services  so  that  these  citizens  can 
 participate  fully  in  our  society. 


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