Fcc Hearing-Aid Compatibility (Hac) Regulations For Wireless Devices - Zte Memo User Manual

for assistance.
Changes or modification not
expressly approved by the party
responsible for Compliance could
void the user's authority to operate
the equipment. Connecting of
peripherals requires the use of
grounded shielded signal cables.
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),
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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 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 phone
with your hearing device is the best
way to evaluate it for your personal
needs.
M-Ratings: Phones
rated M3 or M4 meet
FCC requirements
and are likely to
generate less
interference to hearing devices than
phones that are not labeled. M4 is
the better/higher of the two ratings.
Hearing devices may also be rated.
Your hearing device manufacturer or
hearing health professional may help
you find this rating. Higher ratings
mean that the hearing device is
relatively immune to interference
noise. The hearing aid and wireless
phone rating values are then added
together. A sum of 5 is considered
acceptable for normal use. A sum
of 6 is considered for best use. In
the above example, if a hearing aid
meets the M2 level rating and the
wireless phone meets the M3 level
rating, the sum of the two values
equal M5. This should provide the
hearing aid user with "normal usage"
while using their hearing aid with the
particular wireless phone. "Normal
usage" in this context is defined as
a signal quality that is acceptable
for normal operation. The M mark is
intended to be synonymous with the
U mark. The T mark is intended to be
synonymous with the UT mark. The
M and T marks are recommended by
the Alliance for Telecommunications
Industries Solutions (ATIS). The U and
UT marks are referenced in Section
20.19 of the FCC Rules. The HAC
rating and measurement procedure
are described in the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI)
C63.19 standard.
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