Relay Texas provides telephone interpreting service between people who can hear and those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech impaired.

Colorado Valley provides the use of 7-1-1 as an easier means to access Relay Texas.  Use of 7-1-1 supplements access to the Texas Relay System and does NOT replace or change the existing 800 access numbers for voice or TTY (text telephone) users.

By dialing 7-1-1 both hearing and deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-impaired users can initiate a Relay Texas call. Specifically trained operators of Relay Texas System answer the calls to the Relay Center and relay the conversation between the two parties using equipment that enables them to hear the voice user and read the signals from the TTY user.  All calls are handled with strict confidentiality.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and there is no limit on the number of calls that a customer can place through the system.  7-1-1 is not a TTY emergency access number to 9-1-1.  For emergencies, please dial 9-1-1.

 Billing Procedures

• There is no charge for using Relay Texas within your local calling area.  Sprint, the contracted carrier for Relay Texas, provides a 50% discount for in-state long distance calls.  This discount does not apply to out-of-state long distance calls or international calls made through Relay Texas.

• When placing a call, you must inform the Relay Agent which long distance company you want to use.  If you do not choose a company, you will be billed by Sprint.

Direct dial, collect, third party calls and some calling cards are accepted through Relay Texas.  Be sure to tell the Relay Agent what type of call you would like to make.

Colorado Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc. has updated its database to provide 7-1-1 dialing throughout its service areas and has TTY devices available for purchase.  Call Colorado Valley at (979) 242-5911 or 800-242-5911 for more details.

7-1-1 is not to be confused with 9-1-1. Some have asked if 7-1-1 is an "emergency number for TTY users".  It is not.  It is simply a short cut to dialing the Relay service. In an emergency, relay users should always call 9-1-1. In an emergency, every second counts and by calling Relay Texas first, time is lost attempting to determine the caller's local emergency numbers.