Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC) is a not-for-profit corporation organized to represent local telephone companies in Illinois, and some fixed or non-nomadic VoIP providers. ITAC provides assistive telecommunications equipment on a loan and voucher basis capable of servicing the needs of subscribers who are certified as permanently Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Speech disabled or Hard-of-Hearing as well as training on its use.
ITAC also provides Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) under contract with Sprint. TRS allows specially trained Communications Assistants (CA) to relay conversations over the telephone between a person using assistive telecommunications equipment and a person who uses a voice telephone.
Information about the services provided by ITAC and how to apply for equipment is available at:
ITAC is funded by a monthly line charge applied to each remitting provider’s subscriber line in Illinois. This line item is identified as “IL Telecom Relay Service and Equipment” or an equivalent phrase. This charge is evaluated annually around June 1; and based on projected expenses it may be adjusted.
In 1985, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Universal Telephone Service Protection Law. This law called for the Illinois Commerce Commission to establish programs designated to promote telecommunications opportunities for people with hearing or speech disabilities. The two key elements of the law provided for the distribution of teletypewriters (TTYs) at no charge to eligible recipients and a telephone relay service. Later, the equipment was updated to include TTYs with LVD (large visual display), amplified phones, captioned phones, and braille phones.
In the fall of 1988, ITAC, a not-for-profit organization representing local telephone companies in Illinois was formed to meet the requirements of the law. In 2010, Public Act 096-0927, was signed into law, which requires fixed or non-nomadic VoIP providers to also collect and remit assessments to support ITAC’s Relay and Free Equipment Programs.
ITAC partners with 40 Selection Centers, comprised of Centers for Independent Living, as well as Senior Centers, throughout the state to provide people who are eligible with training of selected telecommunications equipment, through a Loan or Voucher Program.
For more information about ITAC, visit its Website at: www.itactty.org