At the Commission’s Open Meeting on October 17, 2024, the FCC will consider a Report and Order (Order) that would amend the Commission’s rules to require all future wireless handset models offered for sale or use in the United States to be hearing aid-compatible (HAC) after a transition period. If adopted, the amended rule would allow Americans with hearing loss to choose among the same handset models available to consumers without hearing loss.
Additionally, the HAC Order would encourage handset manufacturers to move away from proprietary Bluetooth coupling standards and ensure more universal connectivity between handset models and hearing aids, including over-the-counter hearing aids. The HAC Order would provide a phase-out period while older handset models are gradually replaced with new handset models meeting the latest certification standards. The HAC Order would also strengthen the wireless handset accessibility requirements to include a volume control requirement for all new handset models. Finally, the HAC Order would revise labeling and website posting requirements regarding hearing aid compatibility.
Also at the October 2024 Open Meeting, the FCC will consider a Third Report and Order to require “georouting” of mobile calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Georouting uses the location of a mobile device to direct the call to the nearest crisis center, rather than the area code of the device’s telephone number which may not match the physical location of the caller. The 988 Lifeline is accessible by voice, text, and direct video calling. In an associated Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC proposes to require covered text providers to provide georouting for texts to 988.
The October 2024 Open Meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am ET on October 17, 2024, and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room, 45 L Street N.E., Washington, D.C 20554. The FCC meeting is also streamed live with open captioning at www.fcc.gov/live. Open captioning and sign language interpreting will be provided for this meeting. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. In your request, please include a description of the needed accommodation and how you may be reached if we need more information. E-mail your request to fcc504@fcc.gov or call (202) 418-0530.
Link to the FCC October Open Meeting Agenda:
https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/notes/2024/09/25/october-2024-open-meeting-agenda
Link to the DRAFT 100% Hearing Aid Compatibility Report and Order:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-405825A1.pdf
Link to the Draft 988 Georouting Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-405823A1.pdf
Link to the News Release:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-405820A1.pdf
For general information about hearing aid compatibility, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/hearing-aid-compatibility-and-volume-control. For further information, please contact Eli Johnson, Attorney Advisor and Special Counsel, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division at (202) 418-1395 or Eli.Johnson@fcc.gov.
More information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available at: www.fcc.gov/988 or https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing/. For further information, please contact Michelle Sclater, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-0388 or Michelle.Sclater@fcc.gov.
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).