Cordless Phones to be Hearing Aid Compatible

Editor: Several telephone manufacturers have agreed to make ALL their cordless phones hearing aid compatible! This is wonderful news for those of us who have struggled with this issue! Here's the announcement.

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Cordless Phone Manufacturers to Make All Handsets TIA-1083 Compliant

TIA's Interference Standard Quickly Becoming Ubiquitous in the Industry.

Arlington, Va. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) announced today that Panasonic, Uniden, Thompson, and V-Tech will have 100% of their new cordless telephones comply with the TIA-1083 interference standard. This standard will curtail the interference experienced by cordless phone users with hearing aids and cochlear implants. These manufacturers have indicated phased-in commitments to 100% compliance, with most achieving it for new designs in 2008 and all expecting to comply by the beginning of 2010.

This milestone is the result of consistent, coordinated efforts by TIA, its members, HLAA and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telecommunications Access at Gallaudet University. Collaboration between TIA, the communications industry and HLAA is productive on many levels. Good-faith negotiations allow all parties to avoid burdensome regulations that might have unintended consequences for consumers. Working directly with industry allows consumers with hearing loss to voice their concerns and see their suggested changes brought to market as quickly as possible.

TIA-1083, Telephone Terminal Equipment Handset Magnetic Measurement Procedures and Performance Requirements, defines measurement procedures and performance requirements for the handset generated audio band magnetic noise of wireline telephones. Simply put, applying the TIA-1083 standard to cordless phones significantly reduces the audio interference problems that had previously affected cordless telephone users with hearing aids and cochlear implants.

"TIA believes that the more people who can access the telecom network, the more powerful and useful that network is for everyone," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "The success TIA and HLAA have had in working together to solve this potential problem is simply inspiring."

"This shows that industry and consumers can work together to bring accessible products to market," said Brenda Battat, associate executive director of HLAA. "As a result of this collaborative effort hearing aid and cochlear implant users now have more phone options."

For more information about TIA-1083 and TIA's work with the hearing loss community, please contact Ian Martinez at 703.907.7723 or imartinez@tiaonline.org.

About TIA

For almost three decades the Telecommunications Industry Association has leveraged its global resources to create the best possible business environment within which our 500+ members can research, develop, manufacture, market and sell their products and services worldwide. The association accomplishes this through its expertise in standards, advocacy, business development, market intelligence, environmental compliance and information security. TIA is committed to expanding market opportunities while protecting and enhancing the reputation of the global communications industry with all its stakeholders. For more information, go to www.tiaonline.org.

About HLAA