Other
Suggested Best Practices for Audiologists' Determination of Need for Captioned Phone Services
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The professional association's guidance for audiologists on captioned telephone services, describing how the internet-based IP CTS service works, when it was approved and who may be eligible.
- How much weight it carries
- Professional association guidance, not the text of the federal rule, and the page says an FCC rulemaking on IP CTS eligibility was underway. Check the current FCC rules before relying on the eligibility wording. The page did not show a publication date.
Facts taken from this source
- The FCC approved Internet Protocol captioned telephone service as a form of relay service in 2007.
“The IP CTS was approved by the FCC as a form of relay service in 2007.” (Description of IP CTS)
- ASHA says anyone with hearing loss of sufficient degree that compromises successful use of a conventional telephone may be eligible for captioned phone service.
“Anyone with hearing loss of sufficient degree that compromises successful use of a conventional telephone may be eligible for captioned phone service.” (Description of IP CTS)
- ASHA's guidance says a rulemaking by the FCC was underway to determine the eligibility standards for IP CTS.
“For IP CTS, a rulemaking by the FCC is underway to determine eligibility standards.” (Eligibility section)
- ASHA says the FCC has ruled that IP CTS calls are an approved form of TRS that may be compensated from the Interstate TRS Fund.
“The FCC has ruled that IP CTS calls are an approved form of TRS that may be compensated from the Interstate TRS Fund.” (Description of IP CTS)
- In the most widely used form of IP CTS, a call is connected to a communications assistant, who repeats what the other party says, and voice recognition software turns the assistant's voice into text on the deaf or hard of hearing user's phone.
“The CA hears and repeats everything the other party says, and voice recognition software transcribes those words” (Description of IP CTS)
- ASHA's description says IP captioned telephone service can also be used as an app with a smartphone.
“It can also be used as an app with a smart phone.” (Description of IP CTS)