Hearing-Aid Compatibility

On July 10, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules requiring wireless manufacturers and service providers to provide digital wireless phones that are compatible with hearing aids. The FCC has modified the exemption for wireless phones under the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1998 (HAC Act) in WT Docket 01-309 RM-8658 to extend the benefits of wireless telecommunications to individuals with hearing disabilities. These benefits encompass business, social and emergency communications, which increase the value of the wireless network for everyone. An estimated more than 10% of the population in the United States show signs of hearing impairment and of that fraction, almost 80% use hearing aids. Approximately 500 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss (Source: Hearing Review, July 2005).

The standard calls for wireless communications devices to be measured for:

• RF Electric-field emissions
• RF Magnetic-field emissions
• T-coil mode, magnetic-signal strength in the audio band
• T-coil mode, magnetic-signal frequency response through the audio band
• T-coil mode, magnetic-signal and noise articulation index

Our laboratory results determine the C63.19 HAC Rating levels from M3, M4, T3 or T4 (equivalent to U3, U4, UT3, UT4)

 

Since 2003, PCTEST has been actively involved in the regulatory (FCC) and standards bodies (such as ANSI C63.19) committees so that our customers will be the most up-to-date in HAC testing requirements and regulations.

PCTEST has tested the majority of HAC-compliant devices on the market and continues to extend its testing capability in T-Coil compliance testing for the new requirements of the FCC.

For more information about HAC visit the HLAA website.