The Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (Wireless RERC) and CTIA - The Wireless Association® present Hearing Aid Compatibility: Choosing a Cell Phone That Works For You.

This is a five-part video series to help consumers choose a hearing aid compatible wireless device that meets their needs.  Each video breaks down the information consumers need into easy to understand segments.

The first segment presents information regarding Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) and wireless devices as told by a certified audiologist.

• Part 1 - Introduction To Hearing Aid Compatibility
• Part 2 - How To Use Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Ratings To Choose Your Wireless Device
• Part 3 - Helpful Tips Before Beginning Your Search

The second segment demonstrates a suggested “try and buy” process between a customer representative and a customer at an actual wireless carrier's retail store.

• Part 4 - Beginning Your Search For The Right Wireless Device
• Part 5 - Testing Your New Cell Phone

Fellow advocate Janice Schacter from New York City tells us that both AT & T and Verizon now have websites that include listings and explanation of the M (microphone) and T (telecoil) ratings of cell phones they carry.

AT & T
http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/hearing-aid-compatibility.jsp

Verizon
http://aboutus.vzw.com/accessibility/products.html

We have also learned that the Motorola website has had information about the M and T ratings for their phones for some time now. That information can be found on the following pages:

For basic information and FAQs about hearing aid compatibility:
http://direct.motorola.com/ens/accessibility/Hearingaid.html

For information about the different Motorola models, including M/T ratings:
http://direct.motorola.com/ens/accessibility/Hearingaid.html

For basic wireless accessibility: http://www.motorola.com/accessibility . The 2 sites above are within this website.

HLAA will update our website as we get more information from manufacturers and service providers. If you don’t see the information you are looking for here, be sure to ask the service provider or manufacturer directly about the phone you want to purchase and ask about their return policy. And remember, try before you buy—that’s the only way to be really sure the product you buy works for you.

Julius Genachowski was confirmed by the U.S. Senate June 25, 2009 as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. In addition, Commissioner Robert McDowell was approved for a full term at the Commission.

In addition, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Meredith Attwell Baker (Republican) and Mignon Clyburn (Democrat) as new FCC Commissioners. Each will also now have confirmation hearings in the Senate.

The men and women who are confirmed as Commissioners make decisions on many issues that impact people with hearing loss: television captioning, relay services, broadband, just to name a few. HLAA looks forward to working with the Commissioners in the coming months and years.

“Beginning on December 31, 2008, persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities who use Video Relay Service (VRS) or Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) – two forms of Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) – will be able to obtain ten digit telephone numbers from their VRS or IP Relay provider. These are the ten-digit telephone numbers used by voice telephone users. New Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules require that VRS and IP Relay users be able to make and receive calls using their new ten-digit numbers, and be able to make 911 calls and have those calls – AND the caller’s ten-digit number and location information – routed to the appropriate public safety answering point, the same enhanced 911 (E911) call center used by voice telephone users. “

Find the full text of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory at:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trstendigit-user-meaning.pdf

Comments due by July 27, 2009
CG Docket number 03-123

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a public notice asking whether captioned telephones services (such as CapTel) should be mandatory across the country. Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is urging the FCC to mandate captioned phone services.

If you use CapTel, or would like to, let the FCC know why. Let the FCC know how important telephones are to you and how CapTel has helped you. You don’t need to make your comments long or technical. Your stories why you benefit from CapTel services will help the FCC understand the needs of real people with hearing loss when they attempt to use the phone.

To send your stories go to http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi (If you need additional help on how to file comments, take a look at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs)

When you fill out the form to file your comments, just use the number: 03-123. Fill out all that is required on this form, then post your story in the space provided. If you need help, contact the HLAA Advocacy Department. We’ll send step-by-step instructions directly to you via email. [Read more]

To see the Comments filed June 10 by HLAA and others regarding captioned telephones services click here.

Act today! Your stories are powerful!

Hearing Loss Association of America along with 11 other organizations recently filed a supplement to our 2005 petition requesting the FCC mandate captioned telephones. Captioned phones, such as CapTel, provide people with hearing loss who can use their voice an opportunity to enjoy the use of telephone services in a way that is very nearly the same as those with no hearing loss. We would like to see many consumers add their comments to the proceedings. Watch the HLAA home page for an upcoming action alert on how to file comments in support of mandating captioned telephone services. Or contact the Advocacy Department directly to see what you can do to make captioned telephone service a reality in all 50 states!

Below is the announcement released June 26 by the FCC:

Released: 06/26/2009.
CONSUMER & GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU SEEKS TO REFRESH THE RECORD ON PETITION TO MANDATE CAPTIONED TELEPHONE RELAY SERVICE (CTS). (DA No. 09-1436) PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED.

Comments Due: 07/27/2009.
Reply Comments Due: 08/10/2009. CGB .
Contact: Thomas Chandler at (202) 418-1475
email: Thomas.Chandler@fcc.gov
TTY: (202) 418-0597

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1436A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1436A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1436A1.txt

Hearing Loss Association of America recently learned that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) included a provision in its Request for Proposals (RFP) for Captioned Telephone Services (CTS) that would require the CTS Caller Assistant (CA) to inform all of the parties on any CTS relay call (that originates from or terminates in California) of the presence of the CTS CA on the call. This requirement is alleged to assure compliance with California state law that prohibits monitoring, recording, or transcribing of telephone conversations unless all parties to the conversation give their express prior consent or have received notice that such monitoring, recording or transcribing is occurring. Read more