Comments Due: April 6, 2020
Reply Comments Due: April 20, 2020
On January 30, 2020, the Commission released a Notice of Proposal Rulemaking that proposes:
- a new technical standard for determining whether a wireless handset is hearing aid compatible (HAC);
- updates to the Commission’s HAC labeling requirements so that consumers have the information they need to understand and evaluate the HAC of a handset; and
- changes to simplify and update the Commission’s HAC rules.
On March 6, 2020, the Federal Register published the NPRM and set the comment due dates. Interested parties may file comments by accessing the Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. All filings must reference WT Docket No. 20-3. People with disabilities who need assistance to file comments online may request assistance by email to FCC504@fcc.gov.
Links to the HAC NPRM:
URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-new-hearing-aid-compatible-handset-technical-standards-0
Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-6A1.docx
PDF: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-6A1.pdf
Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-6A1.txt
Link to the Federal Register publication:
URL: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/06/2020-03149/wt-docket-no-20-3-fcc-20-6-frs-16479-headstandards-for-hearing-aid-compatible-handsets
For information about the HAC NPRM, please contact Eli Johnson, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1395, email Eli.Johnson@fcc.gov. For general information about HAC, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/hearing-aid-compatibility-and-volume-control.
Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone). TTY users may call the FCC’s TTY number at (888) 835-5322.