The Public Utilities Commission is authorized by state and federal law to administer telecommunication relay services (TRS) in Colorado. One such Relay Colorado service is Captioned Telephone (CapTel). The following questions and answers provide information about this service.
- What is Captioned Telephone (CapTel)?
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CapTel is an enhanced form of Voice Carry Over (VCO) and began in Colorado on March 12, 2004. It allows callers to listen to another party and read written captions of the conversation in real time. CapTel is manufactured by and a trademark of Ultratec, Inc. For more information about Ultratec's CapTel system, click here to access the company website.
- How is CapTel TRS funded?
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The monthly six-cent surcharge collected for Relay Colorado TRS is used to fund CapTel TRS.
- Is CapTel TRS operational all of the time?
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CapTel TRS is available 24 hours a day, all year, with no restrictions on the number, length or type of calls.
- Who is the service provider for CapTel TRS?
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Sprint Relay is the current and only provider of CapTel TRS in Colorado.
- Are CapTel conversations confidential?
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As with Relay Colorado TRS, all CapTel conversations are confidential.
- How much does it cost to use CapTel TRS?
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There is no extra charge to use CapTel TRS. Long distance calls are billed to the customer's long distance provider.
- How do I access CapTel TRS?
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Pick up the receiver to a CapTel unit, dial the number you are calling and speak directly to the person.
- How do I obtain a CapTel unit?
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There are several options for obtaining a CapTel device. Please visit here to learn more and decide which is the right option for you.
More Information:
Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind: Communication Technology Program