AT&T Offers Free Relay Calling

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Following approval of a new state contract to supply hearing-impaired relay services, AT&T is offering its customers free domestic relay calling via its New Jersey Relay Service through September 7. Relay calling allows anyone who may have a hearing or speech loss to communicate on the phone with almost anyone else. AT&T, which maintains a relay call center in Hamilton, has provided the state's relay service under contract with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities since 1991. "We're proud to have earned the continued confidence of the board following its careful, months-long review of several competing bids," said J. Michael Schweder, AT&T New Jersey president. "We are grateful for the opportunity we now have to keep serving the hearing-impaired and speech-impaired communities." Following the period of free calling on September 8, AT&T will reduce rates of relay calling for New Jersey consumers to 7-cents per minute, a decrease of up to 80 percent for relay users. AT&T's relay customers will pay a direct-dial rate of 7-cents per minute unless the customer has an optional calling plan, in which case the caller's chosen rate will prevail. AT&T handled approximately 1.3 million relay calls in New Jersey in 2001. Dialing 7-1-1 from most phones can access the New Jersey Relay Service directly and enable the caller to contact anyone throughout the country. Relay callers using a TTY can dial 1-800-852-7899 and voice callers can dial 1-800-852-7897 to reach the New Jersey Relay Service. AT&T Corp.