Key Takeaways 

• Your captioned phone calls with ClearCaptions are always private and secure. 
• Captions of your calls and your captioned voicemails are stored only on your ClearCaptions Phone. Only you have access to them. 
• The same government program making ClearCaptions no cost for qualified people with hearing loss also ensures privacy. 
• Phones for hearing-impaired individuals and your privacy when using them are protected by law. 
• If you are a caregiver researching caption phone options for a loved one, know that privacy and security are built into the ClearCaptions service. 

Phone calls are personal. You talk to your doctor about your health. You catch up with your children and grandchildren. You handle things with your bank. Those conversations belong to you, and the thought of a stranger listening in is unsettling, no matter how the technology works. 

If you use a captioned phone, those feelings make complete sense. You can see the words on screen, and it’s natural to wonder who else might be seeing them too. Is someone reading along? Is the call being saved somewhere? Could another person listen back to what you said? 

Those are fair questions, and they deserve clear answers. Your calls using the ClearCaptions Phone are always private, and here’s exactly how that works. 

Is my Caption Phone Conversation Recorded? 

No. Your captioned phone calls are not recorded by ClearCaptions. And they never will be. 

Captions are generated during your captioned call so you can read your caller’s words on screen. Once your captioned call ends, those captions are stored only on your ClearCaptions Phone. You can look back at past captions of your previous conversations on your own device, but no one at ClearCaptions or any outside party has access to them. 

Your conversations stay with you and only you. 

How Does ClearCaptions Protect My Privacy? 

ClearCaptions is part of a government-funded program that provides captioned telephone service to people with hearing loss across the country. The program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. government agency that oversees phone and communications services. Because the government funds and regulates this program, ClearCaptions must meet strict privacy standards on every call. 

A few specifics worth knowing: 

• Captions live on your phone. Your caption history is stored on your ClearCaptions Phone. It is not stored on ClearCaptions servers or accessible to anyone else. 
• Government oversight. ClearCaptions participates in a government-funded program called the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) fund, which supports phone access for people with hearing loss. 
• Your personal information is protected. ClearCaptions collects only the information needed to set up and support your service and handles it in accordance with FCC privacy rules and applicable law. 

What Is a Caption Phone and How Does the Captioning Work? 

A caption phone, sometimes referred to as a phone with words on screen or a phone that shows words, displays your caller’s spoken words as text on a screen while you talk. You can read and hear the conversation at the same time. 

For people with hearing loss, this makes phone calls much easier to follow. Assistive devices for communication, like the ClearCaptions Phone, help people stay connected to family, friends, and medical professionals without missing a word. 

The captioning process runs during the call. When it’s over, what you said and what your caller said is not sent to ClearCaptions or stored anywhere outside your device. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are my captioned calls being recorded? 

No. ClearCaptions does not record your calls. Captions are generated to help you follow along during a conversation, and they are stored only on your phone after the call ends. 

Who can see my captions? 

Only you. Your caption history is stored on your ClearCaptions Phone and is not accessible to ClearCaptions or any third party. 

Does ClearCaptions share my call information with anyone? 

ClearCaptions handles your information in accordance with FCC regulations and applicable privacy law. Your call content is not shared. For full details, you can review the ClearCaptions Privacy Policy. 

Is a captioned phone covered by FCC privacy rules? 

Yes. ClearCaptions is a federally certified IP Captioned Telephone Service provider regulated by the FCC. This means privacy and confidentiality standards are built into how the service operates. 

Can I look back at my past captions? 

Yes. Your ClearCaptions Phone stores your caption history so you can review past conversations at any time. This history is only visible to you on your device. 

Is a caption phone safe for sensitive calls, like with my doctor? 

Yes. Whether you’re calling your doctor, your bank, or a family member, your conversation remains private. Captions are not recorded or transmitted to ClearCaptions after your call ends. 

I’m a caregiver. How do I know my loved one’s calls are private? 

Privacy is built into the ClearCaptions service by federal requirement. Your loved one’s caption history stays on their device, and no one outside their home has access to it. If you have specific questions about how the service works, the ClearCaptions Support Team is available to answer your questions at 866-868-8695. 

What is a captioned phone? 

A captioned phone, also called a phone with words on screen or a phone that shows words, displays a caller’s spoken words as text during a phone call. It’s one of the most widely used assistive devices for communication among people with hearing loss. ClearCaptions Phones for hearing-impaired individuals with captions are available at no cost to qualified individuals through a federally managed program. 

Does it cost anything to use the ClearCaptions Phone? 

No. The ClearCaptions Phone is available at no cost to qualified individuals thanks to a federally managed program. There are no monthly fees for the captioning service. 

How do I know if I qualify? 

You may qualify if you have hearing loss that requires captioned calls, live in the United States or a U.S. territory, and have home internet access. Learn more about caption phone eligibility. 

Your Privacy Matters to Us 

ClearCaptions is America’s largest captioned telephone service provider. We’ve been serving customers across all 50 states since 2011. Earning and keeping your trust is part of that mission. Every captioned call you make on a ClearCaptions Phone is protected by FCC privacy standards, and your caption history belongs to you alone. 

If you have questions about privacy, setup, or anything else, the ClearCaptions Support Team is here to help seven days a week at 866-868-8695. 

Learn how the ClearCaptions Phone works.