NAD Shares News from the FCC
FCC Extends Deadline to November 12, 2009 for 10-digit local phone
numbers for VPs, VRS and IP Relay users
People who use video relay service (VRS) or Internet Protocol relay
(IP Relay) must have real 10-digit local phone numbers – by November
12, 2009 – to make non-emergency calls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) extended the deadline
(previously set for June 30, 2009) to give people more time to get
their 10-digit local phone numbers.
Fake or “proxy” videophone (VP) numbers cannot be used after
November 12, 2009.
VRS and IP Relay calls will not be connected without a real 10-digit
local number after November 12, 2009.
Emergency 911 calls – without a 10-digit number – cannot be
connected automatically (but will be connected as quickly as possible)
to the nearest 911 emergency service center.
Benefits of 10-digit local phone numbers:
* Your 911 emergency call can be sent automatically to the 911
emergency center that serves the location associated with your
10-digit number;
* Telephone users can dial your 10-digit number and be connected
automatically to you through your VRS or IP Relay provider; and
* You can connect with other VRS or IP Relay users by dialing a
10-digit number.
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) urges all VP, VRS, and IP
Relay users to contact a VRS or IP Relay provider to get your 10-digit
local phone number today.
For more information, please see the FCC factsheets and American Sign
Language (ASL) videos available at
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html.
About the NAD
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) was established in 1880 by
deaf leaders who believed in the right of the American deaf community
to use sign language, to congregate on issues important to them, and
to have its interests represented at the national level. These beliefs
remain true to this day, with American Sign Language as a core value.
As a nonprofit federation, the mission of the NAD is to preserve,
protect, and promote the civil, human, and linguistic rights of deaf
and hard of hearing Americans. The advocacy scope of the NAD is broad,
covering the breadth of a lifetime and impacting future generations in
the areas of early intervention, education, employment, health care,
technology, telecommunications, youth leadership, and more. For more
information, please visit www.nad.org.
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