The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed forfeiture penalties against three Tier III wireless carriers in Texas and Oklahoma for failing to offer their customers the required number or percentage of hearing aid compatible (HAC) handsets.
In separate actions, the Commission has proposed forfeitures of $15,000 each against OK-5 Licensee Co. LLC and Oklahoma Independent RSA 5 Partnership, two GSM carriers based in Oklahoma, and TX-10 Licensee, LLC, a GSM carrier based in Texas, for failing to provide customers with a sufficient selection of handsets that meet or exceed the Commission’s frequency interference standards for HAC compatibility.
Under the Commission’s regulations, non-Tier 1 service providers are required to ensure that at least 50% of the wireless phones offered per digital air interface meet or exceed the minimum rating for hearing aid compatibility.
In its Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the Commission cited data submitted by each of the companies in mandatory filings regarding the number of HAC handsets available for sales to consumers.
