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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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