FCC Finally Kills Off Ancient ASCII Relay Rule
Published Date: 9/10/2026
Rule
Summary
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) amends its rules to eliminate the requirement that Text Telephone (TTY)-based Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) be capable of communicating in the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format. By removing this outdated regulatory mandate, the Commission relieves TRS providers of the obligation to maintain costly and obsolete ASCII-compatible hardware and software systems. Eliminating this requirement will reduce inefficiencies, preserve the integrity of the TRS Fund, and allow providers to redirect resources toward modern relay technologies, all without adversely impacting functional equivalence for consumers who rely on TTY-based TRS.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
ASCII Mandate Removed for TTY TRS
The FCC deleted the rule that required TTY-based relay services to support the ASCII format, effective October 13, 2026. This means TRS providers no longer must maintain ASCII-compatible hardware and software, allowing them to reduce obsolete-system costs and redirect resources to other services.
Resources Redirected Toward Modern Relays
By removing the ASCII requirement, the FCC says providers can redirect resources toward modern relay technologies such as Real-Time Text (RTT), Internet-Protocol Relay, and Video Relay Service. The rule aims to reduce network complexity and preserve the integrity of the TRS Fund so providers can invest in upgraded services.
Very Few TTY Users Affected; Easy Switch
The record shows ASCII-format TTY use was tiny: in one three-month period in 2022 total ASCII minutes did not exceed 87 minutes (about 0.01% of TTY minutes) and fewer than 10 users placed ASCII calls in any month. The FCC says affected users can usually switch to Baudot by changing a setting on their existing TTY and providers will assist, so consumers who rely on TTY-based TRS should not be adversely impacted.
No New Small-Entity Reporting Burdens
The FCC determined the rule change does not create new or modified reporting, recordkeeping, or compliance obligations for small entities and that there are currently only two providers of TTY-based TRS. The Commission considered but rejected requiring providers to supply new Baudot devices because switching typically only requires changing a device setting.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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