Why It’s Free2024-09-09T16:17:11+00:00

Accessibility in communication is your civil right

Accessibility in communication is your civil right

ClearCaptions is available to hard of hearing U.S. residents at no cost thanks to provisions made under Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

1990: ADA signed and established

President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which included a clause about accessibility in communication for all, and that includes telecommunications. Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have speech disabilities to communicate by phone in a manner that is functionally equivalent to telephone services used by people without disabilities. As part of a federal mandate, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must ensure the provision of TRS and that’s why the TRS Fund was established.

What is the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund?

The TRS fund was established to support programs for Americans with disabilities related to telecommunications. It’s funded by interstate telecommunications carriers and  Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers and is used to cover costs associated with captioning services. The fund and service are administered by the FCC to provide captions services at no cost to qualified individuals. 

How does ClearCaptions fit into this?

As an industry leader, we give you peace of mind by providing you the service and support for all your phone captioning needs so that you can connect with those you care about. Our service is available at no cost to you thanks to this federally managed program.

How do I qualify for free call captioning services?

To qualify, you must live in the U.S. or a U.S. territory and certify that you have a degree of hearing loss that requires captions to use the phone. During setup, you simply self-certify your hearing loss to verify that you are a qualified user of the service. It’s that easy! At this time, the ClearCaptions service is only available in English and requires internet connection. 

Learn more about the FCC

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common ClearCaptions questions.

How does ClearCaptions work?2023-12-12T20:57:17+00:00

The ClearCaptions Phone displays near real-time phone captions on an easy-to-use touchscreen display. Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes this service available at no cost to qualified U.S. residents.

Learn more about how ClearCaptions works by clicking here.

Why is ClearCaptions free?2023-12-13T21:19:46+00:00
ClearCaptions is available to qualified, hard-of-hearing U.S. residents at no cost as part of the Title IV of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A federally managed program, enacted by the ADA, makes this service available at no cost to you.

As an industry leader, ClearCaptions gives you peace of mind by providing you the service and support for all your phone captioning needs so that you can connect with those you care about.

Learn more about why captioning service is free by clicking here.

Is my conversation private with ClearCaptions?2023-12-12T20:54:35+00:00

Yes, conversations and account information are always private. ClearCaptions is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with strict obligations for confidentiality. In keeping with FCC rules and regulations governing Relay Services, no records of any call content are recorded or stored by caption communications assistants.

Rest assured, your conversations are private and secure.

Interested in learning more about how ClearCaptions works?

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1-866-996-1498

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