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About Us

Man holding sonThe Montana Telecommunications Access Program (MTAP) and Montana Relay are administered and overseen by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

How We Serve Montana

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all Montanans through education, innovation, and technology, by enhancing communications options.

MTAP and Montana Relay not only improve the quality of life for many Montanans; our efforts also have a positive impact on the business and economic climate of the state. Businesses statewide realize that they, too, can benefit from accepting and placing Montana Relay calls. For instance, as the senior adult population continues to grow, so does the number of people who can take advantage of text-based telephone equipment and Montana Relay.

Woman and girl using sign languageHamilton Relay Partnership

Montana Relay’s calling solutions are provided by Hamilton Relay, a leading provider of Telecommunications Relay and Captioned Telephone Services. The contract is awarded every 10 years following a competitive procurement process led by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. In addition to Relay services, Hamilton supports MTAP and Montana Relay’s outreach efforts to educate individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout the state about the life-changing benefits of Relay and Captioned Telephone Services.

Governor’s Committee Oversight

The Governor’s Committee on Telecommunications Access Services for Persons with Disabilities serves as an oversight board to MTAP and Montana Relay. It consists of 13 committee members appointed by the Governor of the State of Montana:

  • Four members are persons with disabilities, two of whom must be deaf or hard of hearing
  • Two members who are not disabled, one of whom must be engaged in a business other than one in the telecommunications industry and one of whom is a senior citizen
  • One member from the Department of Public Health and Human Services
  • One member from a public safety answering point, as defined in MCA 10-4-101, who has knowledge of emergency communications issues for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • One member from an independent service provider
  • One member from an interLATA (long distance provider) interexchange carrier
  • One member from the Public Service Commission
  • One member who is a licensed audiologist
  • One member from the Department of Administration

Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 2-15-2212 and 53-19-304 states the Governor of Montana shall appoint a Committee on Telecommunications Access Services for Person with Disabilities. The Committee is allocated to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121.