70% Discount In-State Toll Calls for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing & Late-Deafened Individuals

Last Updated; January 10, 2023

70% Discount for D/deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Speech-Impaired People and Maine Relay Users.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) provides a 70% rate reduction for long distance calls within the state of Maine (intrastate) for D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired persons who rely on specialized equipment for residential phone communications. Specialized equipment includes: "Telecommunications device for the deaf" or "TDD" means a teletypewriter, or TTY, or other telecommunication equipment used by deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech impaired persons to conduct telephone communications, including but not limited to devices required for captioned telephone service, equipment necessary to perform video relay service and 2-way paging devices.

To qualify for the discount, the customer needs to fill out a form from the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened (DDHHLD) and send it to the DDHHLD. The form states that, due to hearing loss or speech impairment, the customer must rely on specialized equipment for residential phone communications.

The discount is also available for community service agencies that serve D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and/or speech-impaired people with specialized equipment. Agencies applying for the discount need to contact the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened for more information. DDHHLD certifies such agencies for the discount.

The 70% discount applies to all calls made through the Maine Relay Service by D/deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Speech-Impaired people.

The 70% discount applies for all hearing people who have specialized equipment to communicate with D/deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Speech-Impaired people.

All hearing people who have specialized equipment to communicate with D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired people qualify for the 70% discount when calling certified D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired people with specialized equipment. They must inform their telephone companies of the billed calls with their specialized equipment during each billing period.

Statutes for 70% Discount available at MRSA 35-A, Chapter 73, 7302. Definitions available at MRSA 35-A, Chapter 87, 8702

70% Discount Application