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The new regulations introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also include new Bluetooth coupling requirements
The FCC has adopted new rules that require all mobile phones available in the US to be compatible with hearing aids.
The new rules include new stipulations for devices’ Bluetooth connections, requiring manufacturers to move away from proprietary coupling standards and instead ensure “universal connectivity” between handsets and hearing aids.
This measure will mean that the 48 million US citizens with hearing loss will no longer be limited in their choice of handset, allowing them to access any device on the market.
“Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features, and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace,” said the FCC in a statement.
Alongside improved connectivity, the new rules also include stricter audio quality controls, mandating all handsets meet volume control benchmarks. This ensures that customers can increase the audio volume on their device to a mandated level before beginning to lose audio quality.
This measure is intended to not only ensure quality of service for customs with hearing loss that do not use hearing aids.
These rule changes come as the result of years of study and campaigning by the Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Task Force, a group featuring mobile operators, handset manufacturers, researchers, and other hearing loss stakeholders. Work from the HAC Task Force culminated in a final report submitted with recommendations to the FCC in March last year, which has been in discussion ever since.
With the new rules in place, handset manufactures will be required to clearly label their devices, showing whether they meet these new requirements.
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