Hlibok Leaves Commission to be General Counsel and Compliance Officer with ZVRS

In TDI’s efforts to advocate for accessibility in the areas of telecommunications, media, and information technology, we often find ourselves working with Federal Communications Commission (FCC). One of the people there was an important leader we had the pleasure to work with to shape an accessible world: Gregory Hlibok, Chief of Disability Rights Office (DRO) in the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Last month, Hlibok in a surprise announcement during his keynote presentation at the 2016 ‘Accessible World‘ conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania stated that it would be his last presentation in his current capacity at FCC due to his long and illustrious career with the FCC coming to an end.

Hlibok, during his tenure as Chief of DRO oversaw several critical rulemaking proceedings on the implementation of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, the development of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), and various issues on accessibility of communication technologies. Since 2001 with DRO, his work contributed to progress in TRS, which began with only one type of service, TTY relay, to several types of services, video relay services, IP relay, and captioned telephone as well as increasing captioned programs on television.

Admitted to New York Bar, Hlibok holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Gallaudet University and a juris doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law. He is vice president of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Lexington School for the Deaf. He is an active member of several organizations, including Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., National Association of the Deaf, and Maryland Association of the Deaf.

Hlibok is known for his leadership role during the Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University in 1988 where he was named as ABC’s Person of the Week. In his early career, Hlibok served in two capacities, as a private practicing attorney and a financial consultant.

Last week on May 23, 2016, ZVRS, a video relay service provider, announced “the appointment of Gregory Hlibok, Esq., as the company’s new general counsel and compliance officer, bringing unique expertise and vast experience in regulatory and leadership to ZVRS’s management team.”

“I am honored to appoint Greg in this key role. Greg’s leadership will enhance the ZVRS transformation and I could not imagine a more suitable Executive to join the Z family,” said Sherri Turpin, ZVRS CEO. “Greg has an unwavering commitment to the community and having his talent and experience at ZVRS will foster an even more robust ZVRS. His addition further echoes the unwavering commitment to the enhancement of communication access by the ZVRS organization.”

Claude Stout, Executive Director of TDI, sends a congratulatory message to Hlibok: “Congratulations on your move to ZVRS as its new General Counsel and Compliance Officer. Like with your historical role at Gallaudet with Deaf President Now Movement, you and others have helped set many firsts during your fifteen years of service at the Commission. History will record favorably on your leadership and example as the first person with a disability to lead the FCC’s Disability Rights Office. Your cool, calm demeanor, and incredible people skills have served us well with distinction during your tenure at the Commission. Thanks very much from us in the consumer advocacy trenches. We wish you the very best at ZVRS.”

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