On 7/28/09 2:07 PM, a deaf consumer from the University of Pittsburgh wrote:

I received the 150 for our university’s deaf staff and find that it can not make calls to people who have Sorenson VP….how can that be possible? Does FCC allow that?????? What do I have to do about this? I got CDSVRS to place calls and find that I can’t…..
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Dear Interested Consumer:

Yes, we are aware of the situation you are experiencing and this is an issue we have brought to the attention of Sorenson. What’s happening is Sorenson is not putting the phone numbers of those Sorenson VP units on the national data base. You can read the editorial on the Dr. Z website on this matter:

https://www.drzvrs.com/?p=1201

We are working hard to make this happen, and the FCC is aware of this issue. You might want to file a complaint with the FCC on this as well using this link (Docket Number 03-123):

https://esupport.fcc.gov/sform2000/formC!input.action?form_page=2000C

Other forms of filing complaints can be found at this link:

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm?sid=&id=d1e3

Thank you for asking.

Phil (Dr. Z)

This is a common question being asked by many peoiple and Dr. Z is here to try to clear the air on these questions.

Am I limited to one default provider?

The answer is NO.

Can I have more than one default provider?

The answer is YES.

How can this be so? The simple answer to this is that you are required by the FCC to have one default provider per videophone device. If you have two different videophones, then you will have two different default providers for each videophone. You will be required to inform the videophone provider of your contact information for that videophone.

For more information on default providers, click this link.

The FCC requires that you register for a local number. They issued a ruling on June 15, 2009 saying that VRS providers cannot process calls from an unregistered phone after November 12, 2009. If you are unregistered, that means you do not have a local number. The reason for this is the FCC wants to be sure they are paying for calls from deaf and hard of hearing people. An IP address can be used for point to point calls, but will not be good for relay (VRS) calls after November 12th.

How do you get a local number? You need to contact the provider of your videophone to register for a local number. They will then be the default provider for that local number. This, again does not mean you are stuck with that provider for VRS calls. You can call any service provider such as ZVRS from any videophone for VRS calls. Just call 888-888-1116 and you will be connected to ZVRS!

It should be noted that local numbers are available only to deaf and hard-of-hearing people . This is part of the regulation outlined by the FCC.

Many people are confused by the term “default provider”. This is basically set aside for 911 use, more than anything else. It does not prevent you from calling other VRS providers, such as ZVRS.

You need to register with a default provider who usually is the company that provides you with a videophone, so that your location information can be saved with them for 911 purposes. In case of an emergency, you can dial 911 on your videophone and it will connect you with the default provider who will have your location information already given to them previously.

If you want to make a VRS call (that is not a 911 call) or receive a VRS call, you do not necessarily have to use your default provider for this purpose. You can connect directly with the VRS provider (in the case of ZVRS, you can call 888-888-1116, and you will be connected with ZVRS.) If you have a Z340 for example, and the hearing person calls you using your Z340 phone number, it will connect them to ZVRS agent who in turn will call you on your Z340. This has nothing to do with being a default provider.

Remember—default provider=911.