From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Relay Agents
Date: 17 Apr 92 19:48:28 GMT
Reply-To: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120.0 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX

Index Number: 21234

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 > Believe me Ann, here in Montreal they are just like a little
 > family (even if there's more than 100 operators) and I got
 > to know quite a few of them since I got my TDD two years ago.

Hugues - I've been using a relay service for nearly 5 years now.
I lived in Oklahoma before moving to Texas last November and
was on the Advisory Board for several years once we got the
Relay Service going in Oklahoma.  They started out with only
7 operators per shift for the whole state and I'm sure it
grown since.  Texas Relay is run by SPRINT and is operated
by 150 operators for the whole state of Texas.

I felt right at home with Texas Relay and yes, they are very
friendly.  I love the way they respond and I've had hearing
friends who tell me that the relay agents seem to have southern
accents like I do.  (grin)  Of course, I have a few friends
that are as crazy and wocky as I am and we often keep the
Relay Agents rather busy trying to keep up with us and staying
in their chairs!  :-)

Most of my friends call me Annie or Anniewich.  I type like
I speak - in English but I often play with words which I
think keeps people wondering just how crazy I am.  (grin)

But, the real point I was trying to make, the agents really
should handle the calls on a professional level regardless
of what type of call it is.  This is something we've been
working on for some time, more so since the HI population
is growing every day.  There is no limit to how many calls
we can make nor is there a time limit since the service
operates 7 days a week, 24 hours per day.  There have been
folks who feel they can request more than one call per
Relay call but that shouldn't be the case except under
circumstances where one number could be busy and you
want to reach the same person at another number.

Most of the time when I call the Texas Relay, I identify
myself with my full name and the number I'm calling
from and ask them to please place a call to so and so at
so and so number.  After the call is placed and the
person answers, the agent tells me if a male or female
answers and then I take over.  After the conversation
has ended with the party I've called, the agent then
tells me person hung up and gives out her/his agent
number, then GA to SK - which means the option is
open for me to make a comment or place another call
if I should wish to do so.  I usually just thank the
agent and give my farewell greeting.

You may not be aware of this - but most operators
who work for the phone companies are monitored closely.
However, in some areas, that service is computerized,
which I hope fails BIG time because I feel we need
human operators and the personal touch instead of
electronic operators.

I used to work for SW Bell and AT&T, so I'm a little
familiar with how phone companies operate behind the

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