Mass Relay
MassRelay
MassRelay is a public service that guarantees all citizens access to prompt, professional and accurate communication through the telephone. Consumers of these specialized services, specifically individuals who are deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing or have difficulty speaking, can communicate on the telephone via TTY, Voice Carry Over (VCO), Hearing Carry Over (HCO), Speech-to-Speech (STS) and Spanish. To help ensure the ability to connect with family, friends or businesses with ease.
How MassRelay Works
Dial 711 to connect with MassRelay. A qualified Relay Operator (OPR) will ask for the area code and the number of the person you wish to call before starting to relay the conversation. Generally, the OPR will voice the typed message from the text telephone (TTY) user to the person on the other end. The OPR then relays the spoken words by typing them back to the TTY user.
Specialized Services
Captioned Telephone
Captioned Telephone is also available and ideal for individuals with hearing loss who are still able to speak for themselves. A captioned telephone works like any other telephone with one essential difference: it allows users to listen to their phone conversations while reading captions of what is being said to them.
For more information regarding Captioned Telephone contact MassRelay Customer Care.
Access to Services
- 711 provides toll-free access to relay services.
- If you are experiencing trouble dialing 711 while trying to reach MassRelay, please contact MassRelay Customer Care.
- All TRS and English Captioned Telephone services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Spanish Captioned Telephone is available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST.
- Consumers may place relay calls to English-speaking and Spanish-speaking people within Massachusetts, across the United States and even internationally.
- Conversations are handled with strict confidentiality as required by law.
Important Information Regarding MassRelay
Dial 711 to access MassRelay
Customer Care Information
- Voice: 800-720-3479
- TTY: 800-720-3480
Captioned Telephone
- Customer Service: 888-269-7477
- To call a Captioned Telephone user, dial: 711 or 877-243-2823
Equipment Distribution Program
The Massachusetts Equipment Distribution Program (MassEDP) is a service that offers residents who have a permanent disability access to the telephone network in their homes. MassEDP provides adaptive telephone equipment to people who have difficulty using the telephone due to any hearing or vision loss.
For more information on MassEDP go to www.mass.gov/massedp or call 800-300-5658 V/TTY.
Equipment Distribution Program
Please note that 711 can only be used to reach MassRelay. In an EMERGENCY you should continue to use 911. For emergencies, call 911 directly. Every Massachusetts 911 center has a TTY and is prepared to handle emergency calls placed in this manner.