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The Americans With Disabilities Act and The Arkansas Relay Service

The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in July, 1991, requires that all telecommunica tions utilities provide access to their services by telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDD). To make Voice to TDD or a TDD Voice call, a Relay Service must be available. Relay Service must be accessible toll-free from anywhere in the state, and must provide 100% confidential, professionally handled calls. All toll calls are billable only from actual locations of the end users. There will be no direct cost to any end user for using the Relay Service for local calls. Each state is free to design its own system, providing the level and quality of service meets the ADA guidelines. Relay Service was established in 1992. Act 1080 of 1997 created the Arkansas Deaf and Hearing Impaired Telecommunications Services (ADHITS) Board to administer the Relay Service in Arkansas. Funding is provided by a surcharge per line, capped at 100 per locations. This rate may be changed as needed by the ADHITS Board and the Arkansas Legislature. To make a call using the ARS, TDD users will call 1-800-285-1131, and Voice users may access ARS at 1-800-285-1121. Customer service may be contacted by voice at 1-800-285-7192 or TDD at 1-800-715-5462. **ARS is not 9-1-1. Do not call ARS for emergency help unless you cannot reach 9-1-1 or 9-1-1 is not available in your area. MADISON COUNTY TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program infor mation (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

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