Does 711 Work on Your Office Phone System? The FCC's 711 Relay Rules for PBX and VoIP Lines
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of the FCC's consumer guide 711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service, checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
What 711 does
Just like 411 for directory help, dialing 711 connects a caller to a TTY-based relay communications assistant anywhere in the U.S. The FCC calls it "fast, functional and free." Voice and TTY users can both start a relay call from any phone without remembering a ten-digit state relay number. See relay services explained.
Business phone systems must support it
- PBX systems: FCC rules require telephone companies that operate private branch exchanges (PBXs), the in-house phone systems many offices use, to implement three-digit 711 dialing. That includes wireline, wireless and payphone providers. PBX operators must modify their equipment so 711 works.
- VoIP: providers of interconnected VoIP must also offer 711 dialing.
- Dial-out prefixes: on a PBX, callers may need to dial 9 (or another prefix) before 711, just like any outside call.
Quick test for your office
- From a desk phone, dial your outside-line prefix (if any) plus 711, and confirm it reaches a relay center. Hang up politely, or explain you're testing.
- Check each line type you use: the main PBX or hosted VoIP, softphone apps and any analog fax or alarm lines.
- If 711 doesn't connect, ask your phone provider or installer to fix the dial plan. The FCC's rules put that duty on the provider and PBX operator.
Do the same check for 911, including the direct-dial and location rules (see VoIP 911 and Kari's Law).
911 is different
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires direct, equal access to 911 for TTY users. In an emergency, TTY users should call 911 directly, not relay through 711. Text-to-911 is also available in many areas (see text-to-911).
Relay types that don't use 711
711 doesn't work for Video Relay (VRS), IP Relay, IP Captioned Telephone or Captioned Telephone (CTS) calls. To reach someone who uses VRS, IP Relay or IP CTS, dial their number directly, and a communications assistant joins automatically. For a one-line CTS user, you first dial a toll-free CTS number.
Related: small business phone system options, hearing aid compatible phones.