HLAA, along with several other consumer groups, have banded together in opposition of the proposed elimination of the requirement that wireless carriers file annual reports on hearing aid compatible handsets. The wireless industry argues that the requirements are no longer necessary because information about hearing aid compatible (HAC) phones is available on their websites and in stores that sell HAC phones and thus they are meeting or exceeding the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC’s) requirements for the number of HAC phones they must carry.
In a joint filing, HLAA, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc., the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Gallaudet University Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology RERC said, “Consumer Groups and the Gallaudet RERC find the current reporting requirements for Non-Tier I Service Providers to be both useful and necessary. We believe reporting requirements should stay in place. However, we would not be opposed to working with the Commission and industry to modify existing requirements to make the reporting less burdensome for all Service Providers.”