Telecommunications Relay Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 took full effect on July 26, 1993. Title IV of the ADA requires all telephone companies across the United States to provide telecommunications relay services. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired to communicate through a communications assistant with people who use a standard telephone. There is no charge for using relay service within your local calling area. Long distance call rates are determined by the carrier of choice. Telecommunications Relay Service is funded by fees collected from telecommunications relay service providers operating in the state of Oklahoma. There are two separate funds for providing TRS service.

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1. Oklahoma State Statute 63-2417 directs the Oklahoma State Department of Rehabilitation Services to be responsible for the availability, distribution and maintenance of telecommunications relay service devices. In accordance with Oklahoma State Statute 63-2418, a $0.05 per local exchange access line per month is to be remitted quarterly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission no later than fifteen (15) days following the end of each quarter. The payments are to be made payable to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and mailed to the address on the report form. See the attached Oklahoma Tax Commisson Form (OTC-TRS Form).

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2. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission issued Order 377145 on October 13, 1993 in Cause No. PUD 930001568 authorizing the recovery of the charge of the TRS provider by assessing a fee in accordance with the tariff approved by the Commission. The current fee, which became effective September 1, 2015, is $0.03 per access line per month may be remitted quarterly to the Oklahoma Telephone Association no later than fifteen (15) days following the end of each quarter. The payments are to be made payable to the OTA-TRS and mailed to the address on the report form. See the attached OTA-TRS  Form and the current tariff.   

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The rate was reduced from $0.05 to $0.03 per exchange access line effective September 1, 2015.  The letter of notification, dated June 18, 2015 was mailed to all carriers of record certificated by the OCC.  A copy of the notification letter is attached below.  The revised OTA TRS form, which reflects the new rate effective September 1, 2015 is also attached below.