Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) is the ideal solution for you if you want to listen and type on your phone calls. You type on your text telephone/teletypewriter (TTY) or HCO phone and the communications assistant reads your words out loud to the other party.
This service is designed for people with Speech Disabilities.
This relay service is available in English-to-English, Spanish-to-Spanish and English-to-Spanish..
The Customer Profile allows you to store your relay call preferences that helps speed up call processing.
How Does Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) Relay Work?
It’s a cinch!
Just dial 711 (800-253-0191 for English, 877-253-5424 for Spanish-to-Spanish or 877-253-7244 for Spanish-to-English) on your text telephone/teletypewriter (TTY) or VCO phone and the communications assistant will answer with “Vermont Relay”.
Type the area code and telephone number you wish to call and type “GA” (“Go Ahead”). The communications assistant will dial the number and connect to the other party.
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Type your message on your TTY or VCO phone to the communications assistant. Type “GA” (“Go Ahead”) at end of each message. The “GA” indicates that it is the other party’s turn to respond.
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The communications assistant reads your typed message out loud to the other party.
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The other party listens and speaks directly to you. The other party says “Go Ahead” to indicate that it is your turn to respond.
To conclude the call, type “GA to SK” (“Stop Keying”) to indicate that you are ready to hang up.
Video: How does a Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) call work?
Here’s how an HCO user, Don, communicates with a standard phone user named Dennis at an auto shop.
Other HCO Features
Please specify to the communications assistant the HCO call type you would like to make.
HCO TO TTY
You, the HCO user, listen while the communications assistant reads aloud the TTY user’s typed words. You type directly to the TTY user.
HCO TO HCO
The communications assistant reads aloud both of the HCO users’ typed words.