FCC Updates Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules by 4-0 Vote

FCC commissioners approved an order 4-0 incorporating 2019's American National Standards Institute standard into its rules and making it the exclusive testing standard for determining hearing aid compatibility after a two-year transition. The FCC sought comment last year (see 2001300041). The agency now extended the volume control deadline, to coincide with the start of the standard, and made technical changes. The order was released Monday in docket 20-3. “We improve accessibility by updating our … rules to ensure that people with hearing loss have access to the newest devices built with the latest technical developments and standards,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “This action is especially important right now with the deployment of 5G underway. It is imperative that this new service is built for all.”