Scofflaw Wireless Companies Slammed With Fines for Violating Hearing Aid Compatibility Requirements

An Enforcement Advisory issued January 15, 2010 by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau proposed $87,000 in fines for seven companies and citations to two other companies that have failed to comply with the Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) act status filing requirements. Companies who have received such enforcement notices include well-known brands such as Apple, Cellular One (AZ), 7-Eleven (Speakout prepaid wireless), Firefly (FL), Appalachian Wireless (KY), ACS (Alaska) and others. List of all companies here on FCC website.

FCC rules require most digital wireless handset manufacturers and wireless service providers to make available a minimum number of hearing aid compatible handsets. To ensure that consumers have access to up-to-date information on the availability of those handsets, and to ensure that the Commission can monitor compliance, FCC rules require manufacturers and service providers to make periodic status reports and to post specific information on their public web sites. The Enforcement Bureau proposed the monetary forfeitures and citations for violating these reporting and posting requirements.

Since May 2007, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has issued 31 Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeitures and Consent Decrees totaling $665,500 for violations of the hearing aid compatibility handset, labeling and reporting requirements.

COAT national affiliate Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) says one in ten Americans has hearing loss, with the number expected to almost double by 2030 as "baby boomers" age. Companies failing to provide hearing aid compatibility information about their products and services create unnecessary barriers to phone access for millions of people and their families.

FCC Enforcement Advisory

FCC Consumer Fact Sheet on Hearing Aid Compatibility

HLAA Fact Sheet on Hearing Loss

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