There has been a lot of filings on the FCC website related to VRS. A lot of white-label providers are filing applications for certification.

Why?

The FCC has decided that in order to provide VRS services, a provider must be certified. It is not good enough to be a subcontractor to a certified VRS company. Many of these subcontractors or affiliates are called “white-label” providers. The “white-label” providers are not certified so after October 1st or thereabouts, they will not be allowed to provide VRS services unless they are certified or waived by the FCC temporarily to provide VRS services.

A certified provider must employ (and not contract) with interpreters and they must own, or lease the platform they use to provide VRS services. There are other requirements for certification.

So, by October 1st or around that time, you may or may not be able to access some of your VRS providers. Dr. Z wants you to be aware that it is a possibility.

If that happens, you will need to call a certified VRS provider such as ZVRS to make a call. ZVRS is not the only certified provider–there are others out there.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclaimer: Dr. Z is currently the Vice-President of Marketing at CSDVRS, LLC.