FCC Waives Pre-Departure Notification Requirement for International VRS Calling
On September 29, 2025, the FCC released an Order adopting a limited waiver of the requirement that Video Relay Service (VRS) users notify their service provider of their international travel plans prior to departure from the United States. The waiver will be in effect from November 1 through December 10, 2025.
During this time, VRS users may notify their service provider of their international travel plans at any time before making their first international call to the United States. The FCC adopted this time-limited waiver in anticipation of VRS users traveling to Tokyo, Japan, for the Deaflympics Games from November 15 to 25, 2025. However, the waiver applies to all VRS users on international travel without regard to whether the user is traveling in Japan.
For general information about TRS, visit https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Ftrs&data=05%7C02%7CSolita.Griffis%40fcc.gov%7C67e1a656c00b4eeb8a0b08de00317c94%7C72970aed36694ca8b960dd016bc72973%7C0%7C0%7C638948409704246919%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KtVmvmpFfUF%2Fa8e3R1md4jiHhfs6HEYgT5fCN7Hk20g%3D&reserved=0, and about VRS, visit https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Fvrs&data=05%7C02%7CSolita.Griffis%40fcc.gov%7C67e1a656c00b4eeb8a0b08de00317c94%7C72970aed36694ca8b960dd016bc72973%7C0%7C0%7C638948409704261305%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hHlqffAfUeMbstyGPaf4F30Jaixvll5mCops0rIsacQ%3D&reserved=0.
For further information about this item, please contact William Wallace, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-2716, or William.Wallace@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432‐2275.
