• Speech-to-Speech (STS) service enables a person with a speech disability to communicate on the telephone by using his/her own voice, voice synthesizer, voice enhancer, or other assistive device to communicate to the non-disabled called party.
  
  
• There is no additional cost to the customer for using this service. STS calls are billed as if dialed directly without the STS relay service.
  
  
• STS customers can call a dedicated toll free number, (800) 785-5830, and reach a specially trained Operator (OPR) who will provide assistance in completing a STS call. The two customers (one with a speech disability and the other party) communicate directly with each other through the assistance of the OPR.
  
  
• Maryland's STS OPRs are specially trained to be able to listen carefully to the STS user whose speech disability may range from a mild or severe speech loss. The STS OPR provides facilitation and "revoicing" assistance to the STS caller upon request.
  
  
• Maryland also offers an option which allows the operator to mute the voice of the speech disabled customer, if requested.
  
  
• Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
  
  
• No additional charge to the STS user.
  
  
• There is no limit to the number of Speech-to-Speech relay calls a caller can make.
  
  

As a telephone user with a speech disability, or as a standard telephone user, you can place a call to the Speech-to-Speech service by using the following steps:

1. For English-speaking customers, dial the Speech-to-Speech Relay number, (800) 785-5630.
   
   
2. You will reach a specially trained STS Operator (OPR) who will announce the call as: " Speech-to-Speech Maryland Relay, OPR xxxx, may I have the number you are calling please?" There is NO CHARGE to access the Speech-to-Speech Relay services. However, you will be billed for any long distance calls.
   
   
3. Tell the OPR the area code and telephone number you are calling, along with any calling instructions if needed.
   
   
4. The OPR will then ask you if you wish for the OPR to play an active or passive role in the process of relaying your call. If you want the OPR to take an ACTIVE role, the OPR will repeat everything that is voiced by the STS user. If you want the OPR to take a PASSIVE role, the OPR will only intervene or facilitate upon request from the STS user or the called party.
   
   

• STS callers can create a Customer Profile, which is a personalized database designed to help process relay calls more efficiently. One of the features of the Customer Profile is Personal Memory Dial. This list allows users to list their most frequently called names and numbers for use with relay or STS. Click here to to set up your personalized profile.
  
  
• STS users can use the STS 800 number to make a relay call to a TTY or Voice Carry-Over (VCO) user.
  
  

• If a STS user knows they will be repeating the same information for sequential calls, the STS user can ask the OPR to record pertinent information to be repeated for sequence calls.
  
  
• When calling a person with a speech disability, please remember to speak directly to them, not the Operator.
  
  
• A STS user may ask the Operator to voice everything that is said, OR to remain silent until asked for assistance. YOU are in control of your call and control the level of involvement from the relay operator.
  
  
• To help make your calls to an answering machine smoother, you can provide the STS OPR in advance of the message to be left on the other party's answering machine.
  
  

• There is no charge to access the Maryland Speech-to-Speech Relay number.
  
  
• As a STS or voice user, your Speech-to-Speech relay call will be billed (rated and rendered from the supporting LEC and Long Distance Carrier) for the Speech-to-Speech call(s) just as if the call was made directly from their home.
  
  

• Yes, a STS user can use any of the billing & calling options as listed in "Billing Options." Click here.
  
  

• Yes! 7-1-1 is accessible for STS users. This means STS customers who prefer "simple access" can dial 7-1-1. After dialing 711, the Speech-To-Speech caller needs to ask the operator for Speech-To-Speech. If STS customers prefer "quick access," they can still dial the specialized toll free 800 number for Speech-to-Speech Relay.