Telephone Service

RELAYalaska Telecommunications Relay Service

RELAYalaska allows Text Telephone (TT) users and voice phone users to communicate with each other through specially-trained Communications Assistants (CA). These assistants verbally relay typed messages from TT users to voice phone users and type oral messages from voice phone users to TT users.

RELAYalaska operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is completely confidential. You can use the service for both local and long distance calling (no 900 number calls) at no additional charge.

To reach RELAYalaska from a TT, dial:
1-800-770-TYPE or 1-800-770-8973

To reach RELAYalaska from a voice phone dial:
1-800-770-TALK or 1-800-770-8255

The CA will ask for all necessary calling information and then begin relaying your call. There is no time limit or limit on the number of calls you can make through RELAYalaska. For more information on RELAYalaska or for more information on how you can obtain a TT through this service, call:
1-800-770-6770 or 1-800-770-2234.

TDD Legislation

Under Alaska state law, speech and hearing impaired persons who are determined by the state to be eligible can obtain special tele-typewriter equipment allowing telephone calls to be sent or received by those with speech or hearing impairment. Because these special services are to be provided at a consumer cost no greater than paid by other customers, this program is funded through a monthly surcharge on all telephone customers in the state.

Interested persons should write to:

The Alaska Association of the Deaf
1344 Rudakof Circle, Suite 107
Anchorage, AK 99503
Or call 907-333-7545

Special Services for Enhanced Communications

Caller ID

Caller ID lets you know who is calling, before you answer the phone (but will not identify callers with unpublished numbers). OTZ offers Caller ID service, but to use the service you will need a separate display unit, or a telephone with a built-in display. You can buy display units from OTZ, an electronics store, or in the electronics department of larger variety stores. Instructions for using Caller ID will vary slightly with the display unit you choose; follow the directions provided with the display unit you buy.

Custom Calling Features

Many OTZ subscribers choose the extra benefits of Custom Calling features. These features are designed to enhance the quality and enjoyment of your telephone calls. Let us help make your life simpler with Custom Calling. Call us today, and as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) about adding Custom Calling to your phone service. Available Custom Calling features include:

Three-Way Calling
Call Waiting
Call Forwarding
Speed Calling

Using Custom Calling Features

Three-Way Calling

This feature allows you to bring a third party into a previously established call. For example, if you’re talking with a relative in Anchorage, you can include another friend or relative in your village – then all three of you can talk at the same time! When someone hangs up, you are still connected to the other person sharing the call.

To use Three-Way Calling

1. Call the first person you want to talk with. After establishing a connection, you can go ahead with the next step.
2. To add a third party, depress and release the hood switch (or “flash” button); this puts the first party on hold. Listen for three burst of dial tone followed by a steady (normal) dial tone.
3. Dial the number of the third party. When this person answers you can talk privately. When you are ready to establish the three-way connection, depress and release the hook switch. (Note: If the person you call does not answer, or the line is busy, just depress and release the hook switch and you will be reconnected to your original party.)
4. When you hang up, all the parties are disconnected and the call is complete.

Call Waiting

When you’re on the phone and someone else is trying to call you, Call Waiting sounds a tone to alert you to the incoming call. Call Waiting also lets you answer incoming calls and talk privately, without losing the original phone connection. You can even use Call Waiting to switch between phone conversations.

To use Call Waiting

1. You will hear an “alert” tone when you are already on the phone and an incoming call is waiting.
2. Depress and release the hook switch (or “flash” button) to put the original conversation on hold. This simultaneously connects you with the incoming call.
3. To switch between callers, depress and release the hook switch once for each transfer. (Note: The caller “on hold” cannot hear the other caller’s conversation with you.)
4. If you are ready to end the original conversation when you hear the Call Waiting alert tone, simply hang up. Your telephone will ring. Lift the receiver andyo will be connected to the incoming caller.

Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding is a convenient way to help phone calls catch up with you when you’re on the go. There are two ways to set up Call Forwarding (Fixed and Variable) and you will want to discuss the choices with an OTZ Customer Service Representative.

To use Call Forwarding

Each community in the OTZ service area has unique programming numbers for Call Forwarding and Variable Call Forwarding. Please ask an OTZ Customer Service Representative to help you write the correct numbers for your service area.

Fixed Call Forwarding

When Fixed Call Forwarding is turned on, the feature automatically forwards your calls to one other phone number that you have chosen. Forwarding to this preset number is automatic or “fixed”.

1. To turn on this feature, dial ________ and wait 4 seconds* for two bursts of dial tone. Call Forwarding is now turned on. Hang up, or, if you want to call the “forward-to” number (so you can tell someone you are forwarding your calls), just stay on the line and wait another 4 seconds and the call will be placed.
2. To turn off this feature and restore normal service, dial _________ and wait 4 seconds* for two bursts of dial tone; then hang up.

Variable Call Forwarding

With this option, you have to dial a new “forward-to” number every time you activate Call Forwarding.

1. To turn on this feature; dial _________ and wait 4 seconds* for a dial tone; then dial the forward-to number and wait another 4 seconds* for two bursts of dial tone. Hang up, or, if you want to call the “forward-to” number stay on the line for another 4 seconds* and the call will be placed.
2. To turn off this feature and restore normal service, dial _________ and wait 4 seconds* for two bursts of dial tone; then hang up.

*If you own a push-button telephone, you can skip the 4-second wait by depressing the (#) symbol.

Speed Calling (Abbreviated Dialing)

Speed Calling makes it easy to dial numbers that you call often. Instead of looking up the number, or dialing lots of long-distance digits, the phone will automatically do the dialing for you – when you dial just one or two coded digits.

Size Option

You can have just a few numbers set up for Speed Calling – or as many as 30! This decision can affect the cost of service, so please be sure to talk with an OTZ Customer Service Representative before you make a choice.

8-Number Option

With this option, your Speed Calling codes are the single digits 2 through 9. This limits you to eight Speed Calling codes

30-Number Option

Your speed calling codes are the double-digits 20 through 49. You can choose to code up to 30 phone numbers.

Coding Choices

There are two ways to set up the codes for Speed Calling. Before you decide which will work best for you, talk with an OTZ Customer Service Representative.

OTZ Coding

With this option, you tell us what numbers you want to call, and OTZ Telephone will take care of the coding. But you will not be able to make changes to codes from you telephone.

Subscriber Coding

This enables you to set up and change the Speed Calling codes from you telephone.

1. To enter a new Speed Calling code, dial 74 and wait 4 seconds* for a dial tone.
2. From the available code numbers, dial the code numbers you want to use.
3. Then dial the telephone number you want to assign to the code number; wait 4 seconds* for two bursts of dial tone; then hang up.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each number to be stored, using a different code number each time.

To use Speed Calling

To use Speed Calling, simply dial the desired code number and wait 4 seconds* for the call to be put through.

*If you own a push-button telephone, you can skip the 4 second wait by depressing the (#) symbol.

Selective Call Rejection

This feature allows a subscriber to reject calls from an party that is programmed on the subcriber’s Selective Call Rejection list. Rejected calls are routed to the Selective Call Rejection interception treatment. The CLASS 1 feature must be purchased and enabled.

Programming

1. Set the feature access codes for Selective Call Rejection Activation and Selective Call Rejection Deactivation in the Digit Translation Assignment view.
2. Program the Selective call Rejection Assignment view with the subscriber’s directory number. Note that the “activate” parameter must initially be set to “no” (the parameter maybe set to “yes” after step 3 is completed).
3. Program the Selective Call Rejection List Member Assignment views with the directory numbers from which calls are to be rejected.

Operation

To activate Selective Call Rejection:

1. Lift the handset. Dial tone is returned.
2. Dial the Selective Call Rejection Activation feature access code “*60”. Confirmation tone is returned.

To cancel Selective Call Rejection:

1. Lift the handset. Dial tone is returned.
2. Dial the Selective Call Rejection Activation feature access code “*61”. Confirmation tone is returned.

Selective Call Rejection allows subscribers to create a list of numbers from which they do not wish to receive calls. SCR can also be used to block calls from a number after an undesirable call has been received (even without knowing the number). All calls on the screening list are intercepted and rerouted to a rejection announcement.