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Background
The
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) generally requires that the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ensure that telephones manufactured
or imported for use in the United States after August 1989, and all “essential”
telephones, are hearing aid-compatible. When Congress passed the Act in
1988, it specifically exempted “telephones used with public mobile services”
(wireless telephones) from these requirements. To ensure that the HAC Act
kept pace with the evolution of telecommunications, however, Congress
granted the FCC a means to revoke or limit the exemption for wireless
telephones. On August 14, 2003, the FCC determined that continuation of a
complete exemption for wireless telephones would have an adverse effect on
individuals with hearing disabilities, and that limiting the exemption was
technologically feasible and in the public interest. Based upon these
findings, the FCC established rules for the hearing aid compatibility of
digital wireless phones.
What
Makes a Phone Hearing Aid Compatible?
Hearing
aids operate in one of two modes – acoustic coupling or telecoil
coupling. Hearing aids operating in acoustic coupling mode receive and
amplify all sounds surrounding the user; both desired sounds, such as a
telephone’s audio signal, as well as unwanted ambient noise. Hearing aids
operating in telecoil coupling mode avoid
unwanted ambient noise by turning off the microphone and receiving only
signals from magnetic fields generated by telecoil-compatible
telephones. In the United
States, about 60 percent of hearing aids
contain telecoils, which generally are used by
individuals with profound hearing loss.
A telecoil is a small, tightly-wrapped piece of wire
inside the hearing aid that, when activated, picks up the voice signal from
the electromagnetic field that leaks from compatible telephones. While the
microphone on a hearing aid picks up all sounds, the telecoil
will only pick up an electromagnetic signal from the telephone. Thus, users
of telecoil-equipped hearing aids are able to
communicate effectively over the telephone without feedback and without the
amplification of unwanted background noise. Telecoils
can only fit in two styles of hearing aids: “In-The-Ear” and “Behind-The-Ear”
aids. Most smaller hearing aids are not large
enough to fit the telecoil. Many people report
feedback (or squealing) when they place a telephone next to their hearing
aid. When placed correctly, telecoils can
eliminate this feedback because the hearing aid microphone is turned off
and the hearing aid only amplifies the signal coming through the telecoil. Some hearing aid users may need to place the
telephone slightly behind the ear rather than directly over the ear to
obtain the clearest signal.
The
ability to make wireless telephones compatible with hearing aids also
depends in part on other technical and design choices made by carriers and
manufacturers. For example, for technical reasons, it is easier to meet
hearing aid compatibility standards on systems that use a Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface (including Verizon Wireless and Sprint
Nextel) than on systems that use a Global System for Mobile (GSM) (such as
AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile) air interface. It is also easier to meet
hearing aid compatibility standards in phones with clamshell (or “flip”)
designs than in “candy bar” or other styles. Therefore, consumers may
generally find more models that meet hearing aid compatibility standards
available from CDMA carriers and in clamshell designs.
What
Are the FCC’s Requirements for Hearing Aid Compatibility for Digital
Wireless Telephones?
Analog
wireless telephones usually do not cause interference with hearing aids.
Digital wireless telephones, on the other hand, sometimes cause
interference because of electromagnetic energy emitted by the telephone’s
antenna, backlight, or other components. Therefore, the FCC has adopted
specific hearing aid compatibility rules for digital wireless telephones.
The
standard for compatibility of digital wireless phones with hearing aids is
set forth in American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard C63.19.
ANSI C63.19 contains two sets of standards: an “M” rating (originally a “U”
rating) from one to four for reduced radio frequency (RF) interference to
enable acoustic coupling with hearing aids that do not operate in telecoil mode, and a “T” rating (originally a “UT”
rating) from one to four to enable inductive coupling with hearing aids
operating in telecoil mode. A digital wireless
handset is considered hearing aid-compatible for acoustic coupling if it
meets an “M3” (or “U3”) rating under the ANSI standard. A digital wireless
handset is considered hearing aid-compatible for inductive coupling if it
meets a “T3” (or “U3T”) rating under the ANSI standard.
In
addition to rating wireless phones, the ANSI standard also provides a
methodology for rating hearing aids from M1 to M4, with M1 being the least
immune to RF interference and M4 the most immune. To determine whether a
particular digital wireless telephone is likely to interfere with a
particular hearing aid, the immunity rating of the hearing aid is added to
the rating of the telephone. A sum of four would indicate that the
telephone is usable; a sum of five would indicate that the telephone would
provide normal use; and a sum of six or greater would indicate that the
telephone would provide excellent performance with that hearing aid.
Are
Hearing Aid-Compatible Digital Wireless Phones Available?
To
ensure that sufficient hearing aid-compatible digital wireless phones
complying with the ANSI standard are available, the FCC set benchmark dates
by which digital wireless handset manufacturers and service providers had
to gradually increase the number of hearing aid-compatible digital wireless
phones available to consumers. The currently applicable benchmarks are as
follows:
For
Acoustic Coupling
· Each handset manufacturer must meet
at least an M3 rating for one third of the handset models that it offers to
service providers per digital air interface. If one third of the
manufacturer’s handset models works out to a
fraction, the manufacturer may round the result down.
· Each nationwide wireless service
provider (Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile)
must meet at least an M3 rating for 50 percent or eight of the handset models
it offers to consumers, whichever is less, per digital air interface. For
service providers that do not meet the 50 percent threshold,
the minimum number of compatible models required will increase to ten on
February 15, 2010.
· Each non-nationwide wireless service
provider must meet at least an M3 rating for 50 percent or eight of the
handset models it offers to consumers, whichever is less, per digital air
interface. For service providers that do not meet the 50 percent threshold, the minimum number of compatible models
required, will increase to ten on May 15, 2010.
For Inductive Coupling
· Each handset manufacturer must offer
to service providers at least two T3-rated handset models per digital air
interface. In addition, manufacturers must ensure that 25 percent of their
handset models per air interface meet at least a T3 rating beginning
February 15, 2010, and one third beginning February 15, 2011. If these
percentages work out to a fraction, the manufacturer may round the result down;
however, any manufacturer offering four or more handset models over a
digital air interface must offer at least two that meet a T3 or higher
rating.
· Each nationwide wireless service
provider (Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile)
must meet at least a T3 rating for one third or three of the handset models
it offers to consumers, whichever is less, per digital air interface. For
service providers that do not meet the one third threshold, the minimum number
of compatible models required will increase to seven on February 15, 2010,
and ten on February 15, 2011.
· Beginning September 7, 2008, each
non-nationwide wireless service provider must meet at least a T3 rating for
one third or three of the handset models it offers to consumers, whichever
is less, per digital air interface. For service providers that do not meet
the one third threshold, the minimum number of compatible models required
will increase to five on May 15, 2009, seven on May 15, 2010, and ten on
May 15, 2011.
These numbers are minimum
requirements, and manufacturers and service providers may offer more
qualifying handsets if they choose. In addition, manufacturers are required
to partially refresh their offerings of hearing aid-compatible phones each
year, and service providers must offer a range of hearing aid-compatible
phones with differing levels of functionality.
The FCC allows a “de minimis” exception to its requirements for handset
manufacturers and wireless service providers offering a small number of
hearing aid-compatible handsets. Under this exception:
· Wireless service providers and
handset manufacturers that offer two or fewer digital wireless handsets in
the U.S.
for a particular air interface need not offer hearing aid-compatible
handsets.
· Wireless service providers and
handset manufacturers that offer three digital wireless handsets in the
U.S. for a particular air interface must offer at least one hearing
aid-compatible handset model.
Are There Labeling and
Testing Requirements?
Packages containing hearing
aid-compatible handsets must be explicitly labeled and must include
detailed information in the package or product manual. Wireless service
providers must offer a means for consumers to test hearing aid-compatible
handsets in their owned or operated retail stores.
Some hearing aid manufacturers are
voluntarily including information about hearing aid compatibility with
their products. Wireless service providers are also offering similar
information in their owned or operated retail stores and are training
employees to help persons with hearing aids. This information and the
package labeling required by the FCC help persons with hearing aids make
fully-informed decisions about purchasing their hearing aid-compatible
wireless phones.
Beginning on January 15, 2009,
manufacturers and service providers will be required to post information
about their hearing aid-compatible handset offerings on their Web sites.
Try Before You Buy
Be sure to try your wireless device
with your hearing aid in the store before making your purchase. It’s best
to try several models before buying to find the best match with your
hearing aids. Visit a full service carrier store and ask to try devices
that have been designated as “hearing aid compatible.” Your cell phone’s RF
emissions can change depending on your location. Be sure to fully evaluate
your listening experience outside and during the return period. Read the
fine print on the return policy, as well as, any early termination fees
before signing up for any new cell phone or service.
Filing a Complaint
with the FCC
If you have a problem using a
hearing aid with a digital wireless phone that is supposed to be hearing
aid-compatible, first try to resolve it with the equipment manufacturer or
your wireless service provider. If you can’t resolve the issue directly,
you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a
complaint. You can file your complaint using an on-line complaint form
found at esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm.
You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center
by e-mailing fccinfo@fcc.gov;
calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC
(1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal
Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554.
What to Include in
Your Complaint
The best way to provide all the
information the FCC needs to process your complaint is to complete fully
the on-line complaint form. When you open the on-line form, you will be
asked a series of questions that will take you to the particular section of
the form you need to complete. If you do not use the on-line complaint
form, your complaint, at a minimum, should indicate:
· your name, address, e-mail address,
and phone number where you can be reached;
· preferred format or method of
response (letter, fax, voice phone call, e-mail, TRS, TTY, ASCII text,
audio recording, or Braille);
· that your complaint is about hearing
aid compatibility for a digital wireless telephone;
· the make and model number of the
equipment or device you are complaining about;
· the name, address, telephone number
(if known) of the company or companies involved in your complaint; and
· a brief description of your
complaint and the resolution you are seeking, and a full description of the
equipment or service you are complaining about, including date of purchase,
use, or attempt to use.
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For More Information
For
information about hearing aid-compatible wireline
telephones, see our consumer fact sheet at www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/hac_wireline.html.
For more information about FCC programs to promote access to
telecommunications services for people with disabilities, visit our
Disability Rights Office Web
site at www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro.
Finally, for information about other telecommunications issues, visit the
FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web
site at www.fcc.gov/cgb,
or contact the FCC’s Consumer
Center using the
contact information provided for filing a complaint.
A list
of all equipment manufactures and service providers are listed at www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/section255.html.
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