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Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) is used by persons with hearing loss who can speak and have some residual hearing. Like CTS, it allows the user to simultaneously listen to the other party and read the captions of what the other party in a telephone conversation is saying. IP CTS uses the Internet – rather than the telephone network – to provide the link and captions between the IP CTS user and the IP CTS service provider. Automated speech recognition technology, with or without the assistance of a CA, transcribes the non-IP CTS user’s words into captions for the IP CTS user to read. IP CTS can be used with a captioned telephone or an existing voice telephone and a computer or other Web-enabled device without requiring any specialized equipment.
Currently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) administers this program which provides free phones and CTS to consumers. It is paid for by a fee which is added to everyone's phone bill. Those fees go into a fund that pays approved IPCTS providers a set rate for every minute of services provided.
Are you a user of IP CTS services? How did you hear about the program? Do you like the captioning? Is it accurate? Does your provider have a Communication Assistant option? Does your provider offer set up services and customer support? Has your IPCTS provider been able to address any issues that you had with the service? How has IPCTS benefited you?
