Media Contact: 
Mike Snyder, (202) 418-0997
michael.snyder@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC ADOPTS RULES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY OF WIRELESS & 
WIRELINE PHONES BY PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS
  --
WASHINGTON, October 24, 2017—The Federal Communications Commission today approved
updates to various Commission rules for hearing aid compatibility and volume control on 
wireline and wireless telephones.
Under the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, the Commission is required to establish rules that 
ensure access by people with hearing loss to telephones manufactured or imported for use in the 
United States.  With today’s action, the Commission continues its efforts to ensure that tens of 
millions of Americans with hearing loss have access to and can benefit from critical and modern 
communication technologies and services.    
With the Order, the Commission adopted a revised volume control standard for wireline handsets
to provide a more accurate measurement of voice amplification. The Order also implements a 
provision of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act to apply all 
the Commission’s hearing aid compatibility requirements to wireline telephones used with 
advanced communication services, including phones used with Voice-over-Internet-Protocol 
(VoIP) services. Compliance with these provisions must be achieved within two years.
Recognizing the increased reliance on wireless phones, the Order further requires that, within the 
next three years, all wireless handsets newly certified as hearing aid compatible must include 
volume control suitable for consumers with hearing loss.  It also reminds manufacturers and 
service providers of existing outreach obligations to ensure that consumers are informed about the 
availability of hearing aid compatible phones, such as by posting information about wireless 
phones on their websites.
More information on existing FCC hearing aid compatibility rules is available online at 
https://www.fcc.gov/general/hearing-aid-compatibility-and-volume-control. 
Action by the Commission October 24, 2017 by Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration 
(FCC 17-135). Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel approving. 
Commissioners O’Rielly and Carr approve in part and dissent in part. Chairman Pai, 
Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly and Carr issuing separate statements.
CG Docket No. 13-46; WT Docket No. 07-250; WT Docket No. 10-254
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes 
official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).