Table of Contents
Advertisement
*In the United States and Canada,
the SAR limit for mobile phones
used by the public is 1.6 watts/kg
(W/kg) averaged over one gram of
tissue. The standard incorporates a
substantial margin of safety to give
additional protection for the public
and to account for any variations in
measurements.
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
155
Advertisement
Table of Contents
