Hello! We have some more news about using text or video relay services to reach 9-1-1 in case of an emergency. The Federal Communications Commission has recently released a new Report and Order on Emergency 911, or E-911, accessibility for text (IP-relay) and video relay services (VRS).

As of 12/31/2008, we will add a pre-registered location for you for E-911. When you register and include this location, we are able to provide this location to the Emergency Calling Center for you. This may decrease the dispatch and response times of help during an emergency. You will need to provide us with the address where you use your device the most. You can do this on your "My Account" or "My Profile" page on one of our websites: www.i711.com, www.ip-relay.com, www.hovrs.com or www.purple.us. Please be sure to include your street number, name and type (example: Avenue, Street, etc.), and Suite/Apartment number if you have one. You must update your address any time you move so we can update the Emergency Location Records.

Calling 9-1-1 through your TTY is different than calling through the Internet, your pager, or your videophone. Since a TTY call is a direct call, and does not involve an interpreter or operator, your calls are automatically routed to your closest emergency response center. For almost every 9-1-1 call, this is the best and fastest way to get the attention of the local emergency response center nearest you. We recommend you call 9-1-1 via your TTY or dial 9-1-1 on a telephone and just take the phone off the hook before you consider calling 9-1-1 through relay.*

When you call 9-1-1 using relay on your computer, pager or videophone, you will be automatically connected to an interpreter or operator first before being connected to your closest emergency response center. The interpreter or operator will confirm your registered location information with you. If you are at your registered location, your 10-digit telephone number will be automatically forwarded to the Emergency Call Center in your area and emergency services will be dispatched immediately. If you are not at your registered location, you need to give your full name and location information at the beginning of the call. Be as clear and specific as possible, because your interpreter or operator will contact an emergency response center in your area and relay your information to the dispatcher at the center.

Please understand that a relay call is slower than a direct TTY or silent phone-off-hook call…and minutes are important in case of an emergency. It is better to call 9-1-1 through TTY or silent phone-off-hook instead of through relay. There are some things you need to keep in mind when you make a 9-1-1 call through your computer, videophone or pager. Your computer needs to be on and connected to the Internet for you to be able to call 9-1-1 through Internet-based text or video relay services. If your Internet connection is not working, call 9-1-1 through your TTY. If your videophone is not on, connected to the Internet, or you can't see the interpreter, use your TTY to call 9-1-1 instead. If you have an emergency and need to use your pager to call 9-1-1, make sure it is turned on, connected to the wireless network, and in an area with two or more bars of network coverage. If your pager isn't connected to the wireless network, or is not working properly, do not use your pager to call 9-1-1. Find and use the closest pay-phone or TTY to call 9-1-1.

* The 9-1-1 system in use by relay providers, including Purple Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries, may rely on manual transmission of location information which has inherent risks of error. Purple Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries cannot and will not be responsible for any delay in availability of a communications assistant or a video interpreter or for errors in the transmission of your location which delay the arrival or result in the misrouting of emergency personnel in response to your call. PURPLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, RELATED TO ANY EMERGENCY OR 9-1-1 CALL.