Access to Telecommunications Equipment and Services by Persons With Disabilities (Hearing Aid Compatibility)

This action amends Commission rules regarding HAC, which would have required all telephones manufactured or imported for use in the United States after November 1, 1998 to contain a volume control feature. Under the amended rules, this compliance date is extended to January 1, 2000. Furthermore, the Commission has made conforming amendments to its hearing aid compatibility rules so that workplaces, hotels and motels, and confined settings (e.g, hospitals and nursing homes) will not be required to ensure that new or replacement telephones contain a volume control feature until January 1, 2000, parallel with the manufacturing requirements. This action was taken in response to a petition for reconsideration filed by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA).