T-Ratings: Phones rated T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and are likely to generate less interference to
hearing devices than phones that are not labeled. T4 is the better/ higher of the two ratings. Hearing devices
may also be rated. Your hearing device manufacturer or hearing health professional may help you find this
rating. Higher ratings mean that the hearing device is relatively immune to interference noise.
The hearing aid and wireless phone rating values are then added together. A sum of 5 is considered acceptable
for normal use. A sum of 6 is considered for best use.
In the example to the left, if a hearing aid meets the M2 level rating and the wireless phone
meets the M3 level rating, the sum of the two values equal M5. This should provide the
hearing aid user with “normal usage” while using their hearing aid with the particular
wireless phone. “Normal usage” in this context is defined as a signal quality that’s
acceptable for normal operation.
The M mark is intended to be synonymous with the U mark. The T mark is intended to be synonymous
with the UT mark. The M and T marks are recommended by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industries
Solutions (ATIS). The U and UT marks are referenced in Section 20.19 of the FCC Rules. The HAC rating and
measurement procedure are described in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C63.19 standard.
To ensure that the Hearing Aid Compatibility rating for your phone is maintained, secondary transmitters such
as Bluetooth and WLAN components must be disabled during a call.
When you’re talking on a cell phone, it’s recommended that you turn the BT (Bluetooth) or WLAN mode
off for HAC.
For information about hearing aids and digital wireless phones
Wireless Phones and Hearing Aid Accessibility
http://www.accesswireless.org/
Gallaudet University, RERC
http://tap.gallaudet.edu/Voice/
FCC Hearing Aid Compatibility and Volume Control
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/hearing.html
The Hearing Aid Compatibility FCC Order
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-168A1.pdf
Hearing Loss Association of America [HLAA]
http://hearingloss.org/content/telephones-and-mobile-devices
7.11 Warranty Laws
The following laws govern warranties that arise in retail sales of consumer goods:
• The California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act [CC §§1790 et seq],
• The California Uniform Commercial Code, Division Two [Com C §§2101 et seq], and
• The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act [15 USC §§2301 et
seq; 16 CFR Parts 701– 703]. A typical Magnuson-Moss Act warranty is a written promise that the product
is free of defects or a written promise to refund, repair, or replace defective goods. [See 15 USC §2301(6).]
Remedies include damages for failing to honor a written warranty or service contract or for violating
disclosure provisions. [See 15 USC §2310(d).] Except for some labeling and disclosure requirements, the
federal Act does not preempt state law. [See 15 USC §2311.]
The Consumer Warranty Act does not affect the rights and obligations of parties under the state Uniform
Commercial Code, except the provisions of the Act prevail over provisions of the Commercial Code when
they conict. [CC §1790.3.] For purposes of small claims actions, this course will focus on rights and duties
under the state laws.
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