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Wireless telecommunications technology is increasingly important in people’s everyday
lives. These wireless devices are used for transacting business, staying in touch with
family and friends, and for communicating during emergencies. While the digital wireless
revolution has brought many benefits to consumers, including customers with disabilities,
there continue to be technical challenges which limit the use of digital wireless telecommunications
for some consumers who wear hearing aids.
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A key challenge for our industry is reducing the interference between some
hearing aids and some digital wireless phones. Wireless telecommunications
devices emit two types of electromagnetic (EM) fields: those necessary to connect phone calls that
sometimes cause RF interference and those emitted by the circuitry and device backlighting that sometimes
cause baseband interference. Some hearing aids, particularly those with low immunity levels,
unintentionally pick up outside electromagnetic (EM) fields (e.g. florescent lighting, PC monitors ,
some digital wireless phones…etc.) creating a "buzz" heard by a hearing aid wearer that makes it
difficult or impossible to hear the telephone conversation. A consumer's experience with interference
to his hearing aid is dependent on the unique interaction between the digital wireless telecommunications
device he's using and his hearing aids.
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| The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act |
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Effective November 17, 2003 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated the
Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1998 implementing new requirements for digital wireless phones (WT
Docket No. 01-309; FCC 03-168) to enable hearing aid wearers to more effectively use these devices.
The FCC adopted certain handset performance levels established by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI C63.19) that require companies to certify compliance with the ANSI C63.19 standard
and indicate the appropriate device ratings for both reduced RF emissions and magnetic coupling1. In
addition, by September 2005 digital wireless handset packaging material will be made available to
clearly display the handset’s performance level (M rating). Further explanations about the ANSI C63.19
M ratings will be included in the Use's manual or as an insert in the handset packaging materials.
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| What does this law mean for our customers? |
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Approximately one in ten people in the United States have a hearing loss, and this number is
increasing especially as our population ages. Many of these individuals wear hearing aids and
they want to use wireless phones for the same reasons that everyone else wants to use them.
Educating company call center and retail representatives about hearing aids and digital wireless
phones and encouraging customers to try the phones before they purchase them, will help to
insure a successful customer experience. A compan's compliance with this law will translate into
new customers, extending the benefits of digital wireless technology to millions of people with a
hearing loss.
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| What are the technical requirements? |
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| For Manufacturers with more than two digital wireless phone models for sale in the United States |
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| Reduced RF emissions |
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By September 16, 2005 - Offer to service providers at least two handset models for each
air interface offered that comply with a minimum of M3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 requirements
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By February 18, 2008 - Ensure at least 50% of handset offerings for each air interface offered
comply with a minimum of M3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards
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| Telecoil / Magnetic Coupling |
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By September 18, 2006 - Offer to service providers at least two handset models for each
air interface offered that comply with a minimum of T3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards
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| For Manufacturers with only three digital wireless phone models for sale in the United States |
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By September 16, 2005 - Offer to service providers at least one compliant model for each
air interface offered that comply with a minimum of M3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards
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| For Tier I Carriers |
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| Reduced RF emissions |
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By September 16, 2005 - Include in handset offerings at least two handset models or 25%
(whichever is greater) of the total number of unique digital wireless handset models
offered by the carrier nationwide for each air interface, that comply with a minimum of M3
rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards, and make available in each retail store
owned / operated by the carrier all of these handset models for consumers to test in the store
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By February 18, 2008 - Ensure that at least 50% of handset models for each air interface
comply with a minimum of M3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards calculated
based on the total number of unique digital wireless phone models that the carrier offers nationwide
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| Telecoil / Magnetic Coupling |
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By September 18, 2006 - Include in handset offerings at least two handset models for each
air interface that comply with a minimum of T3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards,
and make available in each retain store owned / operated by the provider all of these
handset models for consumers to test in the store
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| For Tier I Carriers that obtain handsets only from manufacturers that offer three digital
wireless phone models in the United States |
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By September 16, 2005 - Offer at least one compliant model for each air interface offered
that comply with a minimum of M3 rating as set forth in the ANSI C63.19 standards
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| Important Points my Clients Need to Know |
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Labels containing a cell phone's rating wil be located on the outside package of the cell phone.
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Look for cell phones rated M3 or M4 (as of Sept. 2005) if a hearing aid wearer uses acoustic coupling to a telephone.
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Look for cell phones rated T3 or T4 (as of Sept. 2006) if a hearing aid wearer uses inductive coupling to a telephone.
http://www.eiae.org, consumers can type in their state in order to find a convenient recycling option.
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These ratings (i.e., M or T) should be used as a guide to narrow the search
for a digital wireless handset to try out before making a purchase.
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Even though volume control is not part of the FCC ruling, most cell phones do have a volume control.
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Look for cell phones rated T3 or T4 (i.e., whether the display is illuminated or not, and the amount of time the display
stays lit) may be an important consideration for telecoil users. Interference from backlighting, which can be particularly
bothersome for telecoil users, is not tested when determining a cell phone's rating.
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The key to finding the right cell phone for an individual hearing aid and hearing
loss is to try cell phones before purchasing them.
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As of September 2005, most stores owned and operated by cell phone
service providers (i.e., carriers) will allow customers who use hearing aids
to try out cell phones in stores before purchasing them.
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Customers should ask how long they have to cancel the service and return a phone
without penalty, if the cell phone doesn't work with their particular hearing aid.
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It is the customer's responsibility to make sure any cell phone that doesn’t
work with their particular hearing aid is returned before any early termination fees go into effect.
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CTIA, the wireless association, provides additional information about cell phone
ratings and links to many other disability and age related services available from its
member companies. This information can be found at: www.accesswireless.org
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