Cordless Phone Incompatibility and What to Do
About It
July 2004
We've been hearing for awhile that many cordless phones are not
hearing aid compatible, despite federal regulation that requires
compatibility (the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1989). To be sure
we're all on the same page, cordless phones are NOT the same as wireless
(cell) phones. Cordless phones are the ones that have a base station
that plugs into the phone jack in the wall, and a separate receiver that
you can pick up and carry around your house.
Here's a report from SHHH-News on phones that have been reported to
be incompatible and what you should do if you discover one.
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From the Desk of Brenda Battat, Director of Public Policy and States
On July 14th, 2004 Brenda Battat and other consumer representatives
met with Colleen Heitkamp, chief of the FCC Enforcement Bureau, members
of her staff and staff of the Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau of
the FCC, to discuss the very serious issue of cordless phones not being
accessible to hearing aid telecoil users. At the meeting we asked the
FCC take action with companies that are violating the Hearing Aid
Compatibility (HAC) Act of 1989. Cordless phones are not wireless
phones. They are landline phones and have been covered by the HAC Act
since 1989. By law, every cordless phone should have the capability to
couple with a telecoil-equipped hearing aid and should be labeled as
such.
Included here is a list of phones that we have received complaints
about as not being hearing aid compatible:
Panasonic
KX-TC1713B
KX-TG2237S
KX-TG2235B
KX-TCS970B
KX-TC1871B
KX-TG2730S
KX-TG5100M 5.8 GHz expandable systems
KX-TGA510M
Uniden
DCT5285-2
TRU8885-3HS
DCT648-3HS 2.4 GHz expandable systems
TRU8885-3HS 5.8 GHz expandable systems
Vtech
i5881
Siemens
4010 2.4 GHz
4000 series
AT&T
5.8 GHz series
We need to find out if there are other cordless phones that are not
designed as required by law and are inaccessible to you. If you have
tried other cordless phones that do not work with your hearing aid on
the telecoil setting please send the information to the FCC. Be very
specific giving the following information:
Your name and contact information
Make and model of the telephone
Place where you purchased the phone or tried to purchase it
Date of purchase
What the problem is
What you would like to see done to resolve the problem
Send your complaint by email to Jenifer.Simpson@fcc.gov and fccinfo@fcc.gov
and please copy battat@hearingloss.org
The FCC has indicated that they will be following up on these
violations but they MUST hear from you. Thank you.
