Relay Programs

Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association participates in a number of Federal and State assistance programs.  Details on each program may be found by clicking on the links below.

Relay Iowa

The Relay Iowa service provides full telephone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or have difficulty speaking. Specially trained Communication Assistants (CAs) process relay calls and stay on the line to relay conversations electronically, over a Text Telephone (TTY) or verbally to hearing parties.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no restrictions on the number of calls placed or on their length. This valuable communications tool gives all individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or having difficulty speaking the opportunity to make personal and business calls just like any other standard telephone user. Both TTY and voice users may initiate calls through Relay Iowa.

Minnesota Relay

Minnesota Relay is a free, federally mandated Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) program that allows an individual who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech disabled to communicate over the telephone in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of an individual who does not have hearing loss or a speech disability.

A specially trained communications assistant (CA) facilitates the telephone conversation between a person with a hearing or speech disability and other individuals.  Calls can be made to anywhere in the world (standard charges apply for long-distance calls), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  All calls are completely confidential.

Minnesota Relay is administered by the Telecommunications Access Minnesota (TAM) program within the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and is funded through a monthly surcharge on each wired and wireless telephone access line in the state.  Minnesota Relay services are provided to the state under contract with Communication Service for the Deaf.  The Minnesota Relay call center is located in Moorhead, MN.