Are professional offices required to have TTYs (TeleTYpewriters)?
A. Yes. If the primary means of offering goods and services to the public is by telephone, TTYs are required. No. For making calls to or receiving calls from clients with hearing or speech impairments who use TTYs, offices will be able to rely on the relay systems that telephone companies must establish by July 26, 1993. Operators employed by relay systems will relay communications between TTY-users and people using conventional telephones. Only those businesses that allow clients to make outgoing calls on more than an incidental convenience basis must provide TTYs. Offices should ensure effective communication by training staff who answer the telephone to handle incoming calls through the relay services. Relay calls may take longer because an operator at the relay system will be receiving typed communications from the caller using a TTY and will also be using the relay system equipment to type spoken communications from the office person to the caller. For businesses who want or need
