Tweaks Expected on Hearing-Aid Compatible Handset Order Set for Commissioner Vote
Discussions are continuing among groups representing the deaf and hard of hearing and industry, and also at the FCC, on proposed tweaks to how industry reports availability of hearing-aid compatible handsets, agency and industry officials said. An order is set for a vote at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting (see 1810240030). It builds on a letter by CTIA, the Competitive Carriers Association, the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (see 1810240030).
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Representatives of HLAA and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing sought changes, in meetings last week with staff from the Wireless and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs bureaus. The groups noted they asked for changes that weren’t incorporated in the draft. They reported Friday on a meeting with an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Telecommunications of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the National Association of the Deaf also support the arguments.
“We requested that the service providers included on their public websites a link to the Commissions’ HAC Fact Sheet providing an outline of the rules on HAC handsets, and/or as a listing on service providers’ websites of components of the rule that consumers should be aware of,” said deaf consumer groups in docket 17-228. “We recommended that service providers date stamp all of their updated listing of HAC offerings.” Most consumers don’t know what information is available when they shop for a new handset, the groups said: “People may not know that websites have information about HAC listings and about HAC ratings -- instead they may simply turn to the specifications of each model to determine which they would prefer to purchase and hope they work with their hearing aids.”
CCA, CTIA and TAC also seek tweaks. “Certain provisions in the Draft Order -- specifically, the certification requirements -- should be modified to ensure consistency with the Joint Letter and with the Commission’s precedent regarding certification of compliance with accessibility-related obligations,” they said. The edits would clarify who may sign the certification and reconcile the order with the Communications and Video Accessibility Act. They sought clarity on the new website and record retention policies.
Lise Hamlin, HLAA director-public policy, told us the consumer groups and the RERC support most of the draft. “It is important that deaf and hard of hearing consumers who are looking for a hearing-aid compatible phones are fully informed about their rights and the industry's obligations,” Hamlin said. “There must be an expectation that consumers can find this information, as well as current and accurate information about the phones themselves, on industry webpages where they would start looking for information on what phone to buy."
Competitive carriers “are committed to ensuring that all consumers have access to advanced communications services, including by continuing to meet current and future HAC requirements,” said CCA President Steve Berry. “The commission’s draft order is generally positive ... Ensuring that wireless carriers have flexibility to provide their consumers with sufficient information will result in a win-win scenario for carriers and consumers.”
The item “reflects the ongoing collaboration between industry and consumer groups to improve the hearing-aid compatibility process,” said Cinnamon Rogers, TIA senior vice president-government affairs. “We hope the commission will ... consider whether similar common-sense revisions can be made for stakeholders to access manufacturer information regarding HAC-compliant wireless handsets.”