The annual budget for Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI) was approved today by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). FTRI administers the Florida Relay System (FRS) that provides basic telecommunications access to Florida citizens who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech impaired. Florida law requires the PSC to approve FTRI’s budget on an annual basis.
Approving a $3.6 million overall FTRI budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024, the PSC reduced the monthly surcharge applied to landline customer bills from 10 cents to 9 cents. FRS usage continues to decline as traditional telecommunications relay users transition to new advanced technology services. FTRI’s proposed iPad/Samsung Tablet Pilot project was not approved for funding, since it’s not supported by current law.
“As the Commission continues to reduce the service fee placed on customers, we must also find better ways to support new technology and services for users,” PSC Chairman Andrew Fay said. “Many of these new technologies can both improve access to services and reduce recurring costs.”
FRS facilitates telephone calls between people with hearing loss or speech disabilities and other individuals by using specialized equipment and a communications assistance operator to relay information and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It was noted that traditional relay users continue to transition to Internet, video, and wireless options. T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the current FRS provider.
FTRI is a non-profit organization which contracts with regional distribution centers to assist consumers with specialized phone needs. For information on how to obtain the special equipment, call FTRI at 1-888-554-1151 (Voice) or 1-888-447-5620 (Text Telephone/TTY) or visit www.ftri.org.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
