Wireless Associations Propose Revised Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules

The Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA and the Telecommunications Industry Association jointly proposed hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rules to the FCC as an alternative to a proposed requirement that all devices be HAC ready. “This proposal provides the wireless industry with the flexibility needed to overcome continuing design and other technical challenges, as well as access to handsets for smaller service providers,” the groups said in a Wednesday letter to the agency in docket 10-254. “The wireless industry has significant concerns about the proposal to require HAC of all wireless handsets offered by service providers and manufacturers.” Under the joint industry proposal, the FCC would require that 66 percent of handsets from Tier 1 carriers and manufacturers be HAC compliant. For smaller carriers, the requirement would be 66 percent or at least 10 models, under the proposal. The associations also said the FCC should require service providers to report on their devices on a biannual basis while maintaining manufacturer’s annual reporting requirements. The FCC also should encourage “continued dialogue between the wireless industry and advocates for people who use hearing aid devices about ways to improve education and awareness about the significant availability of HAC wireless handsets, and consider ways to address call clarity concerns and other usability issues for people with hearing loss, including collaboratively reassessing in five years whether these requirements continue to reflect market realities and address the needs of people who use hearing aid devices,” the groups said. In February, groups representing the deaf and hard of hearing said the HAC requirement should apply to all handsets offered by carriers (see 1502230045). The industry associations said they opened a discussion with the Hearing Loss Association of America: “While we recognize that HLAA has and will express support for the proposal to require HAC of all wireless handsets offered by service providers and manufacturers, the wireless industry will continue to seek a consensus-based proposal through an on-going dialogue with HLAA and other stakeholders.”