Safety Guidelines
117
a substantial margin of safety to give
additional protection for the public and to
account for any variations in measurements.
FCC Hearing-Aid Compatibility
(HAC) Regulations for Wireless
Devices
On July 10, 2003, the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Report
and Order in WT Docket 01-309 modified
the exception of wireless phones under the
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC
Act) to require digital wireless phones be
compatible with hearing-aids. The intent of
the HAC Act is to ensure reasonable access to
telecommunications services for persons with
hearing disabilities.
While some wireless phones are used
near some hearing devices (hearing aids
and cochlear implants), users may detect a
buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some
hearing devices are more immune than
others to this interference noise, and phones
also vary in the amount of interference they
generate.
The wireless telephone industry has
developed a rating system for wireless
phones, to assist hearing device users to find
phones that may be compatible with their
hearing devices. Not all phones have been
rated. Phones that are rated have the rating
on their box or a label located on the box.
The ratings are not guarantees. Results will
vary depending on the user’s hearing device
and hearing loss. If your hearing device
happens to be vulnerable to interference,
you may not be able to use a rated phone
successfully. Trying out the phone with your
hearing device is the best way to evaluate it
for your personal needs.
M-Ratings: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet FCC
requirements and are likely to generate less
interference to hearing devices than phones
that are not labeled. M4 is the better/higher
of the two ratings.
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.
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