OPR 5355

"This is IP Relay Operator 5355 with a relay call, do you know how to use relay?"

This was my opening spiel in every call when I was working as an IP Relay operator almost six years ago now.

What is Relay Service? Telecommunications Relay Service, also known as TRS, Relay Service or IP-Relay is an operator service that allows people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech-disabled, or deaf-blind to place calls to standard telephone users via a keyboard or assistive device. Originally, relay services were designed to be connected through a TDD (TTY) or other assistive telephone devices. Services have gradually expanded to include almost any generic connected device such as a personal computer, laptop, mobile phone, PDA, and many other devices. Now, anyone can make a relay call through the Internet free of charge.

The most common type of TRS call involves a call from a person who is deaf and utilizes a TTY to a person who can hear and speak. In this call type, typed messages of the TTY user are relayed as voice messages by a TRS operator or Relay operator, and the recipient's response is then typed out by the operator for the TTY user to read. The TTY user types "Go Ahead" or "GA to indicate the end of a statement and the person who is hearing says the same thing to the operator when he or she is ready for the TTY user's response. The TTY user or the hearing party then says "Stop Keying" or "SK" when they are ready to hang up.

Being a relay operator was rewarding - the job paid well and there is a public service aspect to the work. However, I also had to deal with scam calls (mostly from Nigeria and Ghana) and prank calls (ranging from irritating to offensive) which made the job very difficult. It was an experience that thought me a lot about myself and about other people, especially Americans. I knew I wasn't going to be a relay operator for long but I can say I had fun while I was at it.

"This is IP Relay Operator 5355, thank you for using relay. Good bye!"

Mona Barro (16th entry)
source: wikipedia.org