Disability Advocates Seek Changes in Hearing Aid Compatibility Order

Groups representing the deaf and hard of hearing urged the FCC to add a paragraph to the draft hearing-aid compatibility order teed up for a vote at the commissioners' open meeting Oct. 17 (see 2409260047). Representatives also spoke with an aide to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel about the draft order, according to a filing posted Thursday in docket 23-388. The order should say the agency “will continue to monitor consumer and technology trends for Bluetooth and telecoil coupling to reevaluate their benchmarks, taking into consideration consumer preferences and trends, changes in the marketplace, and developments in research and technical standards pertaining to hearing aid compatibility.” The order should also commit to update benchmarks “as needed to reflect changes,” beginning “four years from the effective date of this order, and continuing on a regular basis thereafter,” the groups said. “The addition of the proposed language to the Report and Order would underscore the Commission's commitment to a forward-looking, flexible policy that impacts people with hearing loss.” Those signing the filing were the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Hearing Loss Association of America, Deaf Equality, TDIforAccess and Communication Service for the Deaf.