FCC Seeks Comments on Rule Changes for HAC-Compatible Mobiles

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed changes to its regulations applicable to small service providers regarding the reporting of hearing aid compatible (HAC) wireless devices they offer to consumers.

Under current regulations, all handset manufacturers and wireless service providers must file an annual report regarding their efforts to comply with the FCC’s HAC requirements. The Commission’s recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requests public comment on a variety of measures, including:

• Whether to exempt non-nationwide wireless service providers from the FCC’s HAC annual reporting requirements;

• The feasibility of reliance on information complaints and other sources of information to assesses industry compliance; and

• Other suggestions for streamlining and simplifying reporting requirements in general.

Public comments on the proposed rule changes are due by the end of October, and can be filed electronically at the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System.

Read the complete text of the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.