Maine to Discontinue Analog Captioned Telephone Services
Analog Captioned Telephone Service will be unavailable after December 31, 2026
July 31, 2026 | AUGUSTA, ME – The Telecommunications Relay Service Council of Maine will be discontinuing analog Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) in the state at the end of this year. Captioned Telephone Service for internet-connected captioned phones and other devices will continue and is free for any Maine resident who is deaf, hard of hearing, or late-deafened.
Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) is a type of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). It is used by people with hearing loss. Callers can both listen and read captions of what the other party is saying during phone calls. Traditional (analog) Captioned Telephone Service uses the public switched telephone network to deliver captions for the phone call. Alternatively, IP Captioned Telephone Service uses an internet connection to provide captions during telephone calls.
Usage of traditional (analog) Captioned Telephone Service has significantly declined in recent years, both in Maine and across the country, due to the transition to digital communication technologies and the availability of alternative services. “There are very few users left of analog Captioned Telephone Service in the state. Most Mainers have already shifted to other Relay Services. While the Council would ideally provide as many options for as long as possible, the number of analog CTS users no longer justifies the cost associated with providing the service,” said Council Executive Director, Ben Frech. “Remaining users will receive a notification on their phone, encouraging them to contact the Relay Outreach Program for other service options. Support and equipment are available to ensure that these folks who currently use this service can transition to another service that is available in their area and, more importantly, a service they are comfortable using as their primary method of communication.”
The Maine Telecommunication Relay Outreach Program at Disability Rights Maine (DRM) is ready to assist with information and support during this transition. If you or a loved one currently uses traditional (analog) Captioned Telephone Service and would like to discuss available options to continue making captioned calls, please contact DRM at 207-626-2774 x107 or via email at deafservices@drme.org for more information.