The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a new announcement that says that all smartphones sold in the United States should be compatible with hearing aids. This decision will improve accessibility for over 48 million Americans who experience some form of hearing loss. The new rule will be implemented during a transition period, as per the announcement.
The
press release (PDF) states that all mobile handsets, including smartphones and feature phones, should be compatible with hearing aids. The FCC has also established new Bluetooth-device coupling standards to push hearing aid manufacturers to move away from proprietary technology and make it easier for users to switch between devices without having to buy new compatible hearing aids.
There are also new volume control benchmarks that will allow users to increase or decrease the volume of their device without any distortion, so that people who don't use hearing aids but still experience hearing difficulties, can also listen to clear audio.
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