[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66527-66528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19254]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WT Docket No. 06-203; DA 06-2285]


Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Topics To Be 
Addressed in Hearing Aid Compatibility Report

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks comment on the three topics to be 
addressed in the Hearing Aid Compatibility staff report to assist in 
the examination of three topics: The impact of our rules in achieving 
greater compatibility between hearing aids and digital wireless phones; 
the development of new technologies that could provide greater or more 
efficient accessibility of wireless telecommunications to hearing aid 
users; and the impact of the compatibility requirements on cochlear 
implant and middle ear implant users and their ability to use digital 
wireless phones.

DATES: Comments are due December 15, 2006 and Reply comments are due 
January 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WT Docket No. 06-203, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Clearwater or Peter 
Trachtenberg, Spectrum & Competition Policy Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, (202) 
418-1310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 8, 2006, the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau released a public notice in which it seeks 
comments on topics to be addressed in the hearing aid compatibility 
report. Interested parties may file comments by December 15, 2006 and 
reply comments by January 5, 2007.

Background

    On August 13, 2003, the Commission released the Hearing Aid 
Compatibility Report and Order, 68 FR 54,173, September 16, 2003 which 
adopted several measures to enhance the ability of persons with hearing 
disabilities to access digital wireless telecommunications. Among other 
actions, the Commission established technical standards that digital 
wireless handsets must meet to be considered hearing aid-compatible, 
including a standard for radio frequency interference that would enable 
acoustic coupling between hearing aids and digital wireless phones, and 
a separate standard for handset production of an audio signal-based 
magnetic field that would enable inductive coupling between digital 
wireless phones and hearing aids operating in telecoil mode. The 
Commission further established phased-in deployment benchmark dates for 
the offering of hearing aid-compatible digital wireless handset models.
    In particular, the Commission required handset manufacturers and 
providers of public mobile services that did not fall within the de 
minimis exception to offer, for each air interface they use, at least 
two digital wireless handset models that meet the Commission's radio 
frequency interference standard by September 16, 2005, and to ensure 
that at least 50 percent of their handset offerings for each air 
interface comply with the interference standard by February 18, 2008. 
The Commission further required these entities to offer at least two 
handset models for each air interface they used that comply with the 
technical standard for inductive coupling by September 18, 2006. In 
order to monitor efforts to make compliant handsets available, the 
Commission required manufacturers and wireless carriers to report every 
six months on efforts toward compliance with the hearing aid-
compatibility requirements for the first three years of implementation 
(on May 17, 2004, November 17, 2004, May 17, 2005, November 17, 2005, 
May 17, 2006, and November 17, 2006), and then annually thereafter 
through the fifth year of implementation (on November 19, 2007, and 
November 17, 2008).
    In addition to establishing these requirements, the Commission 
provided that, ``[s]hortly after three years after the effective date 
of this Order, FCC staff will deliver to the Commission a report'' that 
examines three topics: (1) ``the impact of our rules in achieving 
greater compatibility between hearing aids and digital wireless 
phones;'' (2) ``the development of new technologies that could provide 
greater or more efficient accessibility of wireless telecommunications 
to hearing aid users;'' and (3) ``the impact of this Order's 
compatibility requirements on cochlear implant and middle ear implant 
users and their ability to use digital wireless phones.'' The 
Commission stated that the report would ``form the basis for the 
Commission to initiate a proceeding to evaluate: (1) Whether to 
increase [or] decrease the 2008 requirement to provide 50 percent of 
phone models that comply with a U3 rating; (2) whether to adopt HAC 
implementation benchmarks beyond 2008; and (3) whether to

[[Page 66528]]

otherwise modify the HAC requirements.''
    The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) now invites the 
public to comment on the three topics to be addressed in the staff 
report. As the Bureau will examine the filed compliance reports as part 
of its review of these issues, parties that have filed such reports 
need not re-file the same information in response to this Public 
Notice. Interested parties may file comments no later than December 15, 
2006. Reply comments are due no later than January 5, 2007. All filings 
should refer to WT Docket No. 06-203.
    Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing 
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 1998. 
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via 
the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy 
of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or 
rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, 
commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each 
docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing 
the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. 
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking 
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-
mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should 
send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include the following words 
in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and directions 
will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an 
original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. 
Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor will receive hand-
delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's 
Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 
20002.

--The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
--All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or 
fasteners.
--Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
--Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express 
Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, 
Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
--U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail 
should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
--All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office 
of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

    Three (3) copies of the comments and reply comments should also be 
sent to the Spectrum & Competition Policy Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, 
Attn: Christina Clearwater and Peter Trachtenberg. Parties shall also 
send one copy to Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (800) 378-3160, or via 
e-mail to [email protected].
    Comments filed in response to the public notice are available for 
public inspection and copying during business hours in the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
A257, Washington, DC 20554. The comments may also be purchased from 
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (301) 
816-0169.

Federal Communications Commission.
James D. Schlichting,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
 [FR Doc. E6-19254 Filed 11-14-06; 8:45 am]
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