PRESS RELEASE

Newark, N.J. -- The Division of Ratepayer Advocate today applauded Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Carmen Armenti, Bell Atlantic-NJ, and AT&T for the introduction of 711 access relay services for speech and hearing impaired callers in New Jersey.

As a member of the New Jersey Relay Advisory Committee, the Ratepayer Advocate has supported the introduction of a uniform number, such as the 711 service, to provide relay access.

Relay service allows anyone with hearing or speech loss to dial 7-1-1 and type a conversation over a text telephone. The message would then be relayed by an operator to the hearing person on the other end of the line.

As part of a press conference today at the Bruce Street School for the Deaf in Newark, Commissioner Armenti received an award from the New Jersey Association for the Deaf for his efforts to make 711 service a reality.

"I would like to congratulate Commissioner Armenti on the award he received today in honor of his work on this important program to benefit speech and hearing impaired callers," Ratepayer Advocate Director Blossom Peretz said. "The Ratepayer Advocate has supported this program and worked with Commissioner Armenti and we are glad to see this valuable service come to fruition for the residents of New Jersey who need it."

The Ratepayer Advocate also recognizes Bell Atlantic and AT&T for successfully introducing this new service in all of their service regions.

The New Jersey Division of the Ratepayer Advocate represents the interests of all utility consumers-residential, small business, commercial and industrial. The Division is a party in cases where New Jersey utilities seek changes in their rates or services. The Ratepayer Advocate also gives consumers a voice in settling long-range energy, water and telecommunications policy that will affect the rendering of utility services well into the future.

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