Ensuring you have access to 911 and other emergency services is important to Snap!VRS.
CALLS TO EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS (911/E911)
If you have selected Snap!VRS as your default provider, you can place an emergency call by dialing 911 using Snap!VRS service accessed via your videophone provided to you by Snap!VRS. To ensure that your 911 call is routed to the right emergency response center and that the emergency response center knows where to send assistance, your default provider needs to know the physical address (i.e., the Registered Location) from which you are placing the emergency call. As your default provider, it is critical that you inform Snap!VRS of your Registered Location and give Snap!VRS advance notice of any subsequent changes to your Registered Location. For example, if you are planning to move to a new address where you will use your computer or videophone to place VRS and/or IP Relay calls, you must register that new location with Snap!VRS . Please note that it can take several hours or, in some cases (e.g., if there is an error in your Registered Location), longer to activate 911 service at an initial or new Registered Location of your videophone. If you have not already done so, you can inform Snap!VRS of your Registered Location by contacting Snap!VRS' customer service. Snap!VRS will confirm receipt of your Registered Location or any updates to it that you submit to Snap!VRS. If you move to a new address without having given Snap!VRS sufficient advance notice, any 911 call you make from your videophone may be directed to the wrong emergency authority or may transmit the wrong address.
If Snap!VRS is not your default provider, due to current technical limitations affecting all VRS providers, Snap!VRS cannot automatically route emergency calls to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). We will make every effort to help you receive emergency services. In order to complete an emergency call, Snap!VRS would need to manually research the phone number and manually contact the PSAP. You will need to provide your name, address, city, state, and local phone number for the emergency service (not "911") that you wish to call. SNAP!VRS RECOMMENDS YOU USE TRADITIONAL TTY RELAY SERVICE FOR EMERGENCY CALLS TO AVOID A POSSIBLE LIFE-THREATENING DELAY.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR 911 CALLS
Any emergency call to 911 ("911 Call"), should whenever possible be made through a traditional text telephone ("TTY") or, if a TTY is not available, a standard telephone. Dialing 911 from a TTY or standard phone remains the most reliable and fastest method of reaching emergency personnel. In the event that you use Snap!VRS's Relay Services to make a 911 Call, Snap!VRS is not liable for any claim, damage or loss arising from your use of its Relay Services to facilitate that call. Specifically, Snap!VRS is not liable in tort, contract, or otherwise for any personal injury, property damage, or death arising out of or related to use of its IP-based Relay Services to make a 911 Call, or the provision of any IP-based, video remote, or in-person interpreting services incidental to or in conjunction with such a call, including but not limited to an act or omission involving (1) the development, design, installation, operation, maintenance, performance, or provision of any equipment or facility that permits you to use Snap!VRS's Relay Services, or any IP-based, video remote, or in-person interpreting services provided in connection with a 911 Call or the provision of emergency services; (2) misinterpretation, mistakes, interruptions, delays, transmission errors, network outages, failures, defects, technical difficulties, acts of God, or other occurrences, regardless of the source of the occurrence, that may arise in the course of transmitting or handling 911 Calls or providing emergency services; and (3) release to a public safety answering point, designated statewide default answering point, appropriate local emergency authority, emergency medical service provider or emergency dispatch provider, public safety, fire service or law enforcement official, or hospital emergency or trauma care facility of user information related to 911 Calls or the provision of emergency services. In addition, Snap!VRS is not liable for any damages arising from your failure to provide Snap!VRS an accurate, up-to-date Registered Location. For information about how to update your Registered Location, please refer to the Advisory section above.
NOTICE OF LIMITATIONS FOR 911 CALLS
If you use Snap!VRS to place a 911 Call, you should be aware that any such use is subject to significant limitations and risks.
You may not be able to place a 911 Call if equipment provided to or used by you fails to function.
You may not be able to use Snap!VRS to place a 911 Call if an act beyond our control (including an act of God) has occurred, including one or more of the following:
- a broadband network outage or power outage has occurred, or Internet service has been degraded for another reason, including congestion, interruptions, or technical problems that may affect your ability to access the Internet
- your broadband or ISP service has been cancelled, suspended or terminated for any reason (including for failure to pay or other reasons); or
- your use of relay service equipment, including an Ojo Videophone, has been terminated, suspended, restricted, or cancelled, or such equipment has been disabled.
Finally, 911/E911 is only available for a call placed from a location within the United States or one of its territories or possessions.
