Call center for deaf closes; another opens

By Naomi R. Kooker

05/16/2008- Boston Business Journal

A local call center for the deaf and hard of hearing will be shutting down in June, laying off 62 workers.

Communication Services for the Deaf, which now operates a 62-worker call center in Holyoke, will close June 30 when its contract with the state ends.

Hamilton Communications, which was rewarded the new contract, is setting up a call center in Pittsfield; it is hiring 50 local workers for the center, slated to open July 1.

Massachusetts is required, by law, to maintain a call center for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Hamilton, a Nebraska-based company, won the contract through a bid with the state. The five-year deal's terms were not disclosed.

Sprint supports the state's call-center network and will be working closely with Hamilton so there is no disruption to service, according to MassRelay, a 24/7 service that enables the deaf and hard-of-hearing to use telephone services.