108
Safety Guidelines

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.
Hearing devices may also be rated. Your
hearing device manufacturer or hearing health
professional may help you find this rating. Higher
ratings mean that the hearing device is relatively
immune to interference noise. The hearing aid
and wireless phone rating values are then added
together. A sum of 5 is considered acceptable for
normal use. A sum of 6 is considered for best use.
In the above example, if a hearing aid meets the
M2 level rating and the wireless phone meets the
M3 level rating, the sum of the two values equal