The Federal Communications Commission released FCC 26-56 on August 25, 2026, amending the mandatory minimum standards for traditional Text Telephone (TTY)-based Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). The Report and Order removes the requirement that TTY-based TRS be capable of communicating in American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format.

The Commission found the mandate outdated and associated with costly legacy hardware and software, while the remaining user need can be served without maintaining mandatory ASCII capability. Baudot support remains mandatory: revised 47 CFR Section 64.604(b)(1) states that TTY-based relay service must be capable of communicating with Baudot format.

The rule becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. This is a service-level TRS technical-rule change; it does not establish a new radio equipment certification, spectrum, import or product-labeling requirement.

Impact

Impact assessment: Low. The order is final and removes a narrow legacy technical requirement for traditional TTY-based TRS while retaining mandatory Baudot capability. Key reasons: ASCII usage has become obsolete, the change primarily reduces maintenance of legacy TRS hardware/software, and the FCC expects no adverse impact on functional equivalence for current TTY users.

Who is affected?

Traditional TTY relay providers, relay-center technical teams and users of legacy TTY services.

Conclusion:

providers should update technical baselines and retirement plans for ASCII support after the Federal Register effective date while preserving Baudot capability.