WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission granted T-Mobile USA Inc. a short extension of time to comply with last Friday’s deadline for national mobile-phone carriers to begin making hearing-aid-compatible handsets available to consumers.
The waiver, following on the heels of longer relief granted to Cingular Wireless L.L.C., requires T-Mobile USA immediately to offer one hearing-aid-compatible phone; two HAC handsets by Oct. 16; and four HAC phones by Nov. 16. T-Mobile USA must file progress reports with the FCC next month and in November.
Under the Sept. 16 deadline, the top four cellular operators were to have made available-per air interface-four HAC mobile phones or ensured that 25 percent of their handset models had that capability.
“First, in view of the unique circumstances at issue here, strict application of the deadline set forth in the rule would be inequitable,” said the FCC. “Given the close cooperation between the companies, T-Mobile relied on its vendor’s representation that the company’s digital wireless handsets would be available to T-Mobile for timely distribution.”
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is mentioned in the T-Mobile USA waiver as requesting a separate waiver for GSM phones.
A leading disability group, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, and hearing-aid manufacturers reluctantly supported narrow waivers for T-Mobile USA and Cingular. SHHH said 28 million people have some hearing loss.
The FCC two weeks ago gave Cingular nearly a year of additional time to get into retail stores hearing-aid-compatible GSM handsets that work in the 850 MHz band and dual-band handsets that operate in both the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands. Both T-Mobile USA’s and Cingular’s networks are based on GSM technology.
Mobile-phone carriers must ensure that 50 percent of their handset models are hearing aid compatible by February 2008.
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, echoing remarks he made about the Cingular waiver, voiced displeasure in giving another wireless carrier more time to meet requirements for making digital phones compatible with hearing aids. “Again, with hesitation, I will support today’s action because the brief extension will ensure that Americans with hearing disabilities will soon have access to digital wireless services.”
Sprint Nextel Corp. said it is fully compliant on the order for both CDMA and iDEN phones. Verizon Wireless offers five different HAC handsets.
