Sec.  64.601   Definitions.

   Link to an amendment published at  72 FR 43559 , Aug. 6, 2007.

   As used in this subpart, the following definitions apply:

   (1) 711. The abbreviated dialing code for accessing relay services anywhere
   in the United States.

   (2) American Sign Language (ASL). A visual language based on hand shape,
   position, movement, and orientation of the hands in relation to each other
   and the body.

   (3)  ASCII.  An  acronym  for  American  Standard Code for Information
   Interexchange  which  employs an eight bit code and can operate at any
   standard transmission baud rate including 300, 1200, 2400, and higher.

   (4) Baudot. A seven bit code, only five of which are information bits.
   Baudot is used by some text telephones to communicate with each other at a
   45.5 baud rate.

   (5)  Call  release. A TRS feature that allows the CA to sign-off or be
   “released” from the telephone line after the CA has set up a telephone call
   between the originating TTY caller and a called TTY party, such as when a
   TTY user must go through a TRS facility to contact another TTY user because
   the called TTY party can only be reached through a voice-only interface,
   such as a switchboard.

   (6) Common carrier or carrier. Any common carrier engaged in interstate
   Communication  by  wire  or  radio  as  defined in section 3(h) of the
   Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), and any common carrier
   engaged  in intrastate communication by wire or radio, notwithstanding
   sections 2(b) and 221(b) of the Act.

   (7) Communications assistant (CA). A person who transliterates or interprets
   conversation between two or more end users of TRS. CA supersedes the term
   “TDD operator.”

   (8) Hearing carry over (HCO). A form of TRS where the person with the speech
   disability is able to listen to the other end user and, in reply, the CA
   speaks the text as typed by the person with the speech disability. The CA
   does not type any conversation. Two-line HCO is an HCO service that allows
   TRS users to use one telephone line for hearing and the other for sending
   TTY messages. HCO-to-TTY allows a relay conversation to take place between
   an HCO user and a TTY user. HCO-to-HCO allows a relay conversation to take
   place between two HCO users.

   (9) Non-English language relay service. A telecommunications relay service
   that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities who use languages
   other than English to communicate with voice telephone users in a shared
   language other than English, through a CA who is fluent in that language.

   (10)  Qualified  interpreter.  An interpreter who is able to interpret
   effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively,
   using any necessary specialized vocabulary.

   (11)  Public  Safety  Answering Point (PSAP). A facility that has been
   designated  to  receive 911 calls and route them to emergency services
   personnel as provided in 47 CFR 64.3000(c).

   (12)  Speech-to-speech relay service (STS). A telecommunications relay
   service that allows individuals with speech disabilities to communicate with
   voice  telephone  users  through  the use of specially trained CAs who
   understand the speech patterns of persons with speech disabilities and can
   repeat the words spoken by that person.

   (13) Speed dialing. A TRS feature that allows a TRS user to place a call
   using a stored number maintained by the TRS facility. In the context of TRS,
   speed dialing allows a TRS user to give the CA a short-hand” name or number
   for the user's most frequently called telephone numbers.

   (14)  Telecommunications  relay services (TRS). Telephone transmission
   services that provide the ability for an individual who has a hearing or
   speech disability to engage in communication by wire or radio with a hearing
   individual in a manner that is functionally equivalent to the ability of an
   individual who does not have a hearing or speech disability to communicate
   using voice communication services by wire or radio. Such term includes
   services that enable two-way communication between an individual who uses a
   text telephone or other nonvoice terminal device and an individual who does
   not use such a device, speech-to-speech services, video relay services and
   non-English relay services. TRS supersedes the terms “dual party relay
   system,” “message relay services,” and “TDD Relay.”

   (15) Text telephone (TTY). A machine that employs graphic communication in
   the transmission of coded signals through a wire or radio communication
   system. TTY supersedes the term “TDD” or “telecommunications device for the
   deaf,” and TT.

   (16) Three-way calling feature. A TRS feature that allows more than two
   parties to be on the telephone line at the same time with the CA.

   (17) Video relay service (VRS). A telecommunications relay service that
   allows people with hearing or speech disabilities who use sign language to
   communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment. The video
   link allows the CA to view and interpret the party's signed conversation and
   relay the conversation back and forth with a voice caller.

   (18) Voice carry over (VCO). A form of TRS where the person with the hearing
   disability is able to speak directly to the other end user. The CA types the
   response back to the person with the hearing disability. The CA does not
   voice the conversation. Two-line VCO is a VCO service that allows TRS users
   to  use one telephone line for voicing and the other for receiving TTY
   messages. A VCO-to-TTY TRS call allows a relay conversation to take place
   between a VCO user and a TTY user. VCO-to-VCO allows a relay conversation to
   take place between two VCO users.

   [ 68 FR 50976 , Aug. 25, 2003, as amended at  69 FR 53351 , Sept. 1, 2004]