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 25-30 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. 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 in 2003 and 2008 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
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Beginning June 6, 2008, 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.
-
Beginning June 6, 2008, 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
nine on February 15, 2009, and ten on February 15, 2010.
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Beginning September 7, 2008, 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 nine on May 15, 2009, and ten on May 15, 2010.
Until September 7, 2008, these service providers must offer at
least two M3-rated handset models per digital air interface.
For Inductive Coupling
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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 20 percent of their handset models per air interface meet
at least a T3 rating beginning February 15, 2009, 25 percent
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.
-
Beginning June 6, 2008, 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 five on
February 15, 2009, 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. Until September 7, 2008, these service providers must
offer at least two T3-rated handset models per digital air
interface.
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:
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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.
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 electronically using the on-line complaint Form 2000C
found at
www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. 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 2000C. If you do not use the on-line
complaint Form 2000C, your complaint, at a minimum, should
indicate:
-
your name, address, e-mail address, and
phone number where you can be reached;
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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;
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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-related 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. |
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Federal Communications Commission
