What is Relay Texas?

Relay Texas provides telephone interpreting services between individuals who have hearing and/or speech loss and those who do not. There are several different types of relay services each designed to accommodate different types of devices and users’ needs and preferences. Relay Texas agents have equipment that enables them to hear speaking callers and also read the text sent by text telephone (TTY) or voice carryover (VCO) users.

This service is available for Texans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are no restrictions imposed on Relay Texas calls. Texas and United States laws ensure confidentiality for relay users and operators.

How does it work?

Anyone may initiate a call through Relay Texas by dialing 711.
After dialing, the person initiating the call gives the desired
phone number to the Relay Texas Agent, who then dials that
number using another phone line.

When the call includes a TTY or VCO user, the relay agent
types the standard phone user's spoken words to the person
using the TTY or VCO and voices the TTY user's text. When
the call includes a person using a hearing carryover telephone
(HCO), the HCO user listens to what the other individual says
and the relay agent voices the HCO user's typed response.