Digital TV

On June 12, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States stopped broadcasting on analog airwaves and began broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. Find out more about the digital TV (DTV) transition. Go now.

Ten-Digit Numbering System

Beginning on November 12, 2009, persons with hearing and speech disabilities using Video Relay Service (VRS) or Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) – two forms of Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) – must obtain ten-digit telephone numbers from their default VRS providers. This ten-digit number requirement was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in conjunction with 911 call handling requirements for VRS and IP-Relay providers. Go now

Receiving Local Telephone Numbers from The Z™

The FCC ruling on ten-digit telephone numbers will make it easier for you to receive calls from hearing people — all you will have to do is give someone your telephone number and they will be able to call you on that number. (The number will be automatically mapped to your IP address.)

The Z will provide customers with local ten-digit telephone numbers with their videophones. Thus, in order to obtain a local number from The Z, you will need to have one of The Z’s videophone solutions from CSDVRS — either The Z Model 340, The Z Model 150, The Z Model Ojo or Z4. To obtain a Z-340, Z-150 or Z-Ojo videophone, you will need to sign up on our website. Note that the Z4 (videophone software) is available for immediate downloading from our website.

When you receive a local number from The Z, we will become your “default provider.” This means that VRS calls to and from your telephone number will be routed through ZVRS. Once you have your number, you will also be able to make a 911 call from your Z videophone/software and ZVRS will automatically route that call to the right emergency 911 service center. In order to do this, ZVRS will need you to provide us with your “Registered Location” — the exact physical address where you are likely to need 911 help. Typically, this will be the home or office where you keep your videophone. You will be able to provide us with your Registered Location through your online account profile at www.zvrs.com and you will be responsible for changing that registered location any time you move to a new address.   Each time you change your Registered Location you will receive a confirmation email from The Z.   It is critical that you keep your Registered Location information updated in order to get assistance in an emergency, so please remember to change this data anytime you move to a new address.

The local number you receive from The Z can be “ported” to another VRS provider. In addition, you can “port” a local number from another VRS provider to The Z. Porting numbers means that the default provider for that telephone number will change and the new VRS provider will be responsible for VRS calls to and from that telephone number, including emergency calls. When you are considering porting a number to The Z, please contact our customer service department (VP: help.zvrs.tv or Email: help@zvrs.com), and we will assist you. 

Note: If you do obtain a telephone number from a VRS provider other than The Z, it does not mean that you must use that VRS provider for all your VRS calls. The FCC has ruled that all users of VRS may use any VRS provider for any VRS call. So, if you use ZVRS for your VRS calls now, you may continue to do this even if you get a telephone number from another provider.

More Information: www.fcc.gov.