Since March 2009, Federal VRS and IP Relay users obtaining ten-digit telephone numbers can make emergency calls through Federal Relay (“default” provider) and have the call, along with their ten-digit number and registered location information, automatically routed to the appropriate public safety answering point, the same E911 call center used by voice telephone users. All 911 emergency calls made through Federal VRS or IP Relay must receive priority attention so that they will be answered by the first available Video Interpreter (VI)/Communications Assistant (CA) ahead of all other non-emergency calls.

In addition, with a ten-digit number, voice telephone users calling someone using Federal VRS or IP Relay will simply dial the user’s assigned ten-digit telephone number, rather than the Federal VRS or IP Relay access number and the user’s IP address or proxy telephone number.

For instructions on how to obtain a 10-digit number with Federal VRS and IP Relay, please download the appropriate instruction sheet:

Federal VRS (1.6MB)

Federal IP (1.4MB)

If you would like to learn more about 10-digit numbering, check out the ASL video clips provided by FCC - Federal Communication Commision (requires RealPlayer software).

Note: Federal IP and VRS users are not required to complete registration by November 12, 2009.