Finding a Cell Phone that You Can Use

IFHOH CongressVancouver, BC July 2008Brenda Battat M.A.

Background

European hearing aid users warned us of the interference problem

Cell phones were exempt from the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 that covers landline phones

The Need for Legislation

Market forces do not drive access to telecommunications for people with disabilities

Access to telecommunications for people with hearing loss has always come from Congressional action

HAC Act 1988

Landline telephones manufactured after August 16, 1989 (Cordless 1991) - must be hearing aid compatible

What is HAC?

A phone is HAC if it provides an internal means to be used with hearing aids equipped with a telecoil

FCC’s technical standard for HAC is codified at 47 C.R.R. Sec.68.316

Volume Control Requirement All telephones, including cordless,

must include VC after November 1, 1998

12dB of gain min., up to 18dB gain max

18dB gain may be exceeded if automatic reset

Underlying Principles in Advocating for Accessible Cell Phones

Universal design – accessibility built in and does not require accessories

HAC built in at the design stage and does not require retro fitting

Consumer choice: features, styles and prices

Accessibility should not cost more

Consumer Advocacy HLAA petitioned the FCC to remove

the exemption, June 1995

Digital Wireless/Hearing Aid Compatibility Summit Jan 3-4, 1996

HLAA and other consumer organizations filed second petition with FCC in 2000

FCC Action New FCC ruling for cell phones

partially lifted exemption July 10, 2003

Requires certain cell phones to be HAC over the next few years

To view the rule go to:http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/

attachmatch/FCC-03-168A6.txt

Standards

2007 ANSI C63.19

Measurement of interference for phones and immunity level for hearing aids

Look for LabelsPhones

M rating (M3 or M4). Potential for interference on microphone setting

T rating (T3 or T4). Telecoil coupling capability.

Look for ratings on call out cards, packaging, product inserts and company websites

C63.19 ANSI measurement standard

Look for LabelsHearing Aids

• How well is your hearing aid protected from interference cause by mobile phones?

• Rating for immunity level. Must be at least M2• Ask audiologist and/or look in product insert

Add ratings for phone and hearing aid together (5 or more is best). The higher the total the more likely the cell phone will not cause interference with your hearing aid

Form Factor of Phone

Flip versus Candy bar Screen size and back lighting Casing material

Air Interface

In United States – four Tier 1 carriers CDMA (Sprint/Nextel, Verizon) GSM, WiMax (AT&T, T-Mobile)

Try Before you Buy

Test in the carrier store for interference and volume control

Find out the length of the trial period for a test run at home

Know the conditions of the return policy

Web Links for More Information

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/hac_wireless.htmlwww.phonescoop.comwww.accesswireless.orghttp://tap.gallaudet.edu/Voice/

Joint Industry/Consumer Consensus AgreementRF interference reduction – handsets must have ratings of M3 or

higher:

Manufacturers: At least 1/3 of all phones

Tier 1 Carriers:

Before Feb 15, 2009……….8 handsetsBeginning Feb 15, 2009……9 handsetsBeginning Feb 15, 2010……10 handsets

Joint Industry/Consumer Consensus Agreement

Inductive coupling – handsets must have ratings of T3 or higher

Manufacturers:

20% for each air interface Feb 15, 200925% for each air interface Feb 15, 20101/3 for each air interface Feb 15, 2011

Tier 1 Carriers:

Before February 15, 2009 - 3 handsets February 15, 2009 - 5 handsets

February 15, 2010 - 7 handsets February 15, 2011 - 10 handsets

Multi mode/band Handsets

To be considered HAC, a handset operating over several frequency bands must be HAC in each frequency band and air interface over which it operates for which there are established standards.

The record will remain open for the next 3 months for consumers and industry to develop general principles of a consensus plan on the extent to which phones that have multiple bands or air interfaces for which no standards exist should be counted as HAC, if they are HAC in bands and interfaces for which HAC standards do exist. The record will stay open an additional 3 months after this initial period (for a total of 6 months), for the submission of detailed proposals to implement this consensus plan.

De Minimis Exception

The FCC’s de minimis exception exempts providers and manufacturers that offer 2 or fewer digital wireless handset models from the HAC rules.

Consumers raised concerns about application of this exception to lucrative companies such as Apple (that produce only one or two handsets with mass appeal – i.e., the iPhone), the FCC declined to impose any limitations on the de minimis exception at this time.

Product Refresh

Manufacturers offering 4 or more handset models must ensure that at least ½ of their M3-rated handsets be new models that are introduced in that calendar year. This “refresh” requirement is needed to ensure that service providers offer consumers a selection of HAC models that include those with the latest features.

Consumer Choice

Service providers must offer customers a range of HAC models with different levels of operating capabilities, features, frequency bands, and prices. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that hearing aid users have a variety of handsets from which they can make their selections.