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As part of the FCC's outreach efforts to ensure that everyone
is aware of and ready for the February 17, 2009, transition to
digital television (the "DTV transition"), the FCC has
launched an ASL video clip that answers basic questions regarding
the reason for the transition, provides information on the DTV
coupon program, and discusses closed captioning and the digital
transition. Click
here to view the ASL video clip (voiced and open
captioned).
Aurora, NE, April 15, 2008
Nebraska Business Selects Pittsfield as Site
for New Communications Center
Pittsfield, Massachusetts– A business that provides a unique nationwide
communications service to people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech Disabled
is opening a Telecommunications Relay Service Center in Pittsfield.
As the result of a competitive bidding process, Verizon Corporate
Services Group Inc. (Verizon) awarded the contract to Hamilton
Telecommunications to provide Telecommunications Relay Service
to the State of Massachusetts. Hamilton will begin processing Massachusetts
Relay calls on July 1, 2008, and has selected Pittsfield as the
site for its center. Hamilton will provide service from its location
at 703 W. Housatonic Street.
“The Massachusetts Relay Service makes it possible for thousands
of people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, or living
with a speech disability to use the telephone and provides opportunities
for full engagement with the world around them,” said Heidi
Reed, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing. “All of us at the Commission look forward
to working with Hamilton Relay and to continued excellence in telephone
relay services for residents of Massachusetts.”
Massachusetts Relay is free service that allows people who are
Hearing, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind or Speech Disabled to
communicate via the telephone. Through the use of specialized equipment,
relay users communicate freely with friends, family and businesses
who use a standard telephone.
Incorporated in 1901, Hamilton Telecommunications, parent company
of Hamilton Relay, began providing relay service in 1990. Since
that time, Hamilton Relay has expanded to become one of the largest
telecommunications relay service providers in the United States.
With the opening of the Pittsfield center, Hamilton will up its
total number of states to which is provides relay service to 16
states, plus the Island of Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. “Hamilton
has a reputation in the industry for stability and longevity of
our business operations,” says Dixie Ziegler, Vice President
of Hamilton Relay.
Hamilton has been working closely with the Economic Development
Council of Western Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Office of
Business Development to locate the Relay Center in Pittsfield. “We
are excited to begin operations and are impressed with what Pittsfield
has to offer. The community has been extremely helpful to work
with and preparations are well underway to open our center,” said
Ziegler.
Hamilton’s new Pittsfield communications center will employ
50 full time people. “Hamilton Relay offers the opportunity
for full-time, stable employment in Pittsfield. In addition, Hamilton
Relay offers very rewarding work for individuals.”
Ziegler says the benefits generated by the new Relay Center through
increased jobs and payroll dollars will have a positive impact
on the growth of Pittsfield’s economy. “Hamilton is
a company with longevity and stability. We look forward to being
a part of the Pittsfield community for a very long time. To date,
Hamilton has never closed a relay facility.”
Hamilton is currently accepting applications for a variety of
positions in the Pittsfield facility. Applications for relay operators
for all shifts are being accepted Monday-Friday, from 8:30 am to
4:30 pm at the Berkshire Works Career Center, 160 North Street,
Suite 302, Pittsfield, MA 01201. The telephone number for information
about employment opportunities and interviews with Hamilton Relay
is 413-499-2220. Individuals may also contact Hamilton’s
corporate Human Resource Department at 1-800-821-1831 or send inquiries
and/or resumes to www.hamilton.net/employment.html to the attention
of Cindy Blase. All full-time employees have the opportunity for
a benefit package including paid health and life insurance, long
term disability, 401(K), cafeteria, paid time off, and holidays.
Voluntary benefits include dental and additional life insurance.
“Excellent company benefits is one of the draws for employment
with Hamilton. However, the meaningful and helpful nature of the
work is very rewarding. As a result, many of our relay operators
and management staff have been with the company for 10 to 15 years,
or more,” adds Ziegler.
Hamilton is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate
on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin
or disability.
About Hamilton Relay
Hamilton Relay offers a variety of services including Internet
Relay, Video Relay, Wireless Relay and CapTel. All services are
available at www.hamiltonrelay.com. With the addition of Massachusetts,
Hamilton Relay will provide traditional relay services to 16
states, the Island of Saipan and the Virgin Islands.
CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc.
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