STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re:  Improvements to Benchmarks and Related Requirements Governing Hearing Aid-Compatible 
Mobile Handsets, WT Docket No. 15-285
This past June, I had the privilege of visiting the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, 
Massachusetts. There, as a part of my #ConnectingCommunities tour, I met with two impressive 
students, brothers Logan and Shae, as they demonstrated innovative ways in which off-the-shelf 
technologies are enabling them to communicate with increased ease and aiding them in their quest to gain 
more knowledge, skills and independence.  It was truly marvelous to see firsthand the transformative 
impact that access to technology is having on the lives of these students.  
That is why I am pleased to support the item before us today, because it promises to deliver even 
more options and accessible devices to millions of Americans who deserve just as much choice as 
everyone else when it comes to wireless handsets.  Industry leaders and consumer organizations joined 
forces and submitted a consensus proposal that this item significantly adopts. In addition to streamlining 
and increasing the hearing aid compatibility deployment benchmarks for providers and manufacturers, we
chart a clear path going forward towards pursuing 100 percent hearing aid compatibility.  
Over the next several years, industry and consumer groups will establish a task force to examine 
the technical and market conditions for wireless handsets as well as hearing improvement technologies.  
Following this review, the group has committed to submitting a report to the Commission, by the end of 
2022, on the achievability of a 100 percent hearing aid compatibility deployment benchmark.  I know I 
am in good company in saying that I look forward to the day when all Americans who use hearing aids
have the same options as everyone else when purchasing a mobile phone.  
In addition to recognizing the contributions of HLAA, Telecommunications for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing, the National Association of the Deaf, TIA, CTIA and CCA, I would like to thank the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau for their hard 
work on this historic item.