Chronic delays in Colorado’s Telecommunications Relay Service have left residents with hearing or speech disabilities waiting hours for emergency calls to connect, state lawmakers found when they ordered a complete overhaul of the system as part of new law passed earlier this year.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission opened public comment this week on rules for a new enterprise intended to fix the broken system that will run all state programs helping people with disabilities communicate.

The new disability-communication enterprise pays for itself with a 6-cent monthly fee added to phone bills and prepaid wireless purchases. Its board may change the rate each year with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval.

The virtual comment hearing for that disability-communication rulemaking will take place on Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

People may register to speak or submit written comments at https://puc.colorado.gov. Those who only wish to listen may watch the live stream on the commission’s YouTube channel.

Separately, the 9-1-1 Services Enterprise Board will meet on Dec. 3, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. via Zoom. That board handles funding for advanced 9-1-1 technology and training statewide; public comment is not taken at its meetings.

General comments to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (on any non-pending matter) will occur on Dec. 10, at 9 a.m., in person or online. It will be live-streamed at the PUC YouTube channel.

The public may submit comments to the commission online, by email, to dora_puc_website@state.co.us, by mail to 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, or by calling 303-869-3490 in English or Spanish.