For millions of Americans living with hearing loss, making phone calls can feel like navigating a maze in the dark. Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) aims to change that, offering an innovative yet surprisingly accessible solution. Think of it as closed captions for your calls, allowing users with hearing loss to read, in real-time, what’s being said on the other end of the line.
Captioned Telephone Service is for people with some residual hearing who communicate by speaking but might struggle to catch every word. The service uses a specially designed phone with a built-in screen to display captions as the conversation unfolds. Unlike traditional hearing aids or the teletypewriters (TTYs) of decades past, CTS works with your natural speech, letting you talk, listen, and read all at once. For people who don’t rely on American Sign Language (ASL), this is game-changing. It’s a seamless approach to keeping phone conversations flowing, making it ideal for older adults, the late-deafened, and anyone who wants to stay connected without relying on internet or smartphone typing.
So, how does it work? When someone using CTS places a call, a trained communication assistant (CA) joins the line in the background. The CA listens to the caller on the other end, repeats what they say, and voice recognition software transcribes their voice into text. Almost instantly, those captions pop up on the screen of the user’s captioned phone.
No Internet? No Problem
While digital access is steadily growing, millions of Americans still lack reliable internet access. According to the FCC, over 14 million people in the U.S. live without high-speed internet, and for people over 65, 25% don’t use the internet at all. Rural areas and lower-income households are often the hardest hit by these connectivity gaps, creating a unique barrier for older adults who may already be dealing with hearing loss.
Here’s the good news: CTS doesn’t require home internet service. A CaptionCall phone like the CaptionCall 78T can even create its own internet connection to receive captions. It’s a lifeline for rural residents or those on a fixed income, ensuring they don’t miss important calls or, more crucially, emergency information. It’s not just a convenience; for many, it’s a literal lifesaver.
Bridging the Access Divide
For people dealing with hearing loss, CTS isn’t just a convenience; it’s an essential bridge to the outside world. In our fast-paced, hyper-connected society, the ability to stay in touch without obstacles is more critical than ever. And yet, CTS remains the only widely used telephone relay service that isn’t mandated nationwide by the FCC. Advocacy groups like the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) continue to push for mandatory nationwide CTS access, a goal the FCC has acknowledged but not yet enforced.
The NAD has argued, and rightly so, that CTS brings true functional equivalency to people with hearing loss, making it possible to interact with friends, family, and essential services without barriers. Until a nationwide mandate is in place, CTS will continue to be available state by state, with some states capping the number of new users they can enroll each month.
A Future of Accessible Communication
For anyone with hearing loss, Captioned Telephone Service is a transformative tool that enables communication without sacrificing privacy or dignity. It’s an empowering resource, giving users control over their phone conversations and the independence to call anyone, anytime, without relying on internet-based services or third-party typing.
As more people embrace digital solutions, ensuring universal access to phone technology remains essential. Captioned phones are an elegant example of accessibility in action, bridging the digital divide and keeping people connected, even when the internet is down or unavailable.
For anyone considering CTS, there’s no better time to start. With options for landlines and mobile phones, with or without internet, Captioned Telephone Service has opened the door to effortless, accessible communication for everyone.
