Consumer representatives from the Hearing Loss Association of America, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing filed a joint letter with wireless industry representatives Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA, and the Telecommunications Industry Association updating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on progress made toward creating a stakeholder task force that will determine, among other things, whether 100 percent hearing aid compatibility (HAC) is achievable for wireless handsets.
It is anticipated that the task force will be set up this year. It will be comprised of consumer representatives who use hearing aid devices, research and technical advisors, wireless industry policy and technical representatives, and hearing aid manufacturers.
Over the course of six years, the task force will gather data, regularly convene and make a determination on the 100 percent goal. Their recommendations will then be presented to the FCC for consideration.
HLAA is looking forward to working with all the stakeholders to ensure greater access to wireless phones for people with hearing loss who use hearing aids or cochlear implants.
More information on existing FCC hearing aid compatibility rules is available on the FCC website.
Source: https://www.hearingloss.org/
