NAD/FCC

The NAD filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of the Commission's re-examination of the current exemption for digital cell phones from the requirements of the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988. Digital cell phones, also known as PCS phones, are exempted from rules requiring other phones to be hearing-aid compatible. The reason for the current exemption is that the industry has said that it doesn't know how to make those phones hearing-aid compatible.

In its comments, filed January 11, the NAD said that hearing-aid compatible digital cell phones do exist and are on the market. Only a few models a Nokia phone, one from Motorola, one from Samsung, etc. are commercially available. But the fact that industry has found ways to make digital cell phones hearing-aid compatible is important. The NAD said in its comments that what is now needed is incentives for the industry to use available technologies, and new technologies, to make more digital cell phones hearing-aid compatible.

We believe this is important because digital cell phones are rapidly replacing the now-outdated analog cell phones. People use digital cell phones not only to make and receive voice calls but also to check sports scores, the weather, stock quotes, and many other things. The NAD believes that people who use hearing aids or cochlear implants should not be deprived of opportunities to do these things, as well.

The NAD, in its comments, supported the comments filed by Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH).

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