What's going on with my Relay service?

You know how easy it is to make an Internet Relay call. And it's great there are no long distance charges. Well, other people who don't need to use the Relay service have noticed this too. They're taking time and money that's supposed to serve the deaf community and using it for their own selfish ends.

Why are more businesses hanging up on Relay calls?

There's a reason for that. Most Internet Relay calls are not made by deaf people, but by criminals in Nigeria. They make free Internet Relay calls to U.S. businesses and use stolen credit cards to place thousands of dollars in orders. Thousands of businesses have lost millions of dollars this way through Internet Relay calls. That's why when you call, they hang up.

So they think I'm a criminal when I call through Relay?

Some do, yes. Or they might think it's a sex call. Because when criminals aren't abusing Internet Relay, hearing teenagers are.

They think it's fun to make relay operators say dirty words. Sometimes they call their friends; sometimes they call innocent victims. Either way, the calls are awful. The whole point is to humiliate the operator by typing things for her to say like, “I, the operator, am now touching my ...”

Many relay operators have deaf family members. Would you want your mother, wife or daughter to have to put up with that kind of sexual harassment at work? Of course not!

How can I help?

Tell others what's going on with Internet Relay.

Use the FCC's online comment form and tell the FCC to save Relay for those who need it by requiring proof of need in order to use Internet Relay. If you have a dial-up Internet connection, you may be unable to link to the FCC's website. Click here for more options.

If you like, cut and paste from these sample comments:

Sample comments to FCC

I am a (deaf/hard of hearing/speech impaired) relay user.

I think it is terrible that criminals are using Relay to steal from people. It is hard enough to get people to take Relay calls and not hang up. Now, instead of thinking I am a telemarketer, they will think I am a criminal! I understand some businesses are even blocking their phone numbers so no deaf person can call them.

I want the FCC to solve this problem. I like Internet Relay the way it is, but I am willing to type a username and password in order to save Relay for people like me who need it. The FCC should require proof of need in order to use Internet Relay.