SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
More than two years ago the FCC proposed to fine T-Mobile a whopping $819,000 for violations of hearing aid compatibility (HAC) requirements. Under those requirements both manufacturers and mobile carriers must offer a broad range of handsets that (a) don’t cause interference to hearing aids and (b) do work with the telecoil add-ons that many hearing aid wearers use. The Commission has now finalized the fine.
While fines for HAC violations have increased dramatically since the requirements were imposed in 2008, T-Mobile’s whammy was still a record amount for this time of violation. T-Mobile knew that it was violating the rules but figured that the likely penalty would be small enough that the company’s bottom line could tolerate it. Everybody agrees what the requirements are; the only significant difference here is in the amount of the fine. And the Commission believes that it is plainly permitted to issue stiffer sentences if it wants, with or without warning, particularly it does so as part of a “dynamic enforcement approach”. Given that T-Mobile is obviously a large company, the FCC wanted to be sure that any fine it issued would not be so low as to be treated as a mere cost of doing business.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday September 14 2014, @06:01PM
But imagine, you pair pretty much anything with your hearing aid or implant.
Is that how deaf people operate?
Have you looked at all the existing bluetooth hearing aid devices? Have you even look at ONE of them? Ever?
No, of course not.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Sunday September 14 2014, @06:22PM
YOU are the one who claimed that's how it should be. *I*'m not the one talking about mandating that hearing aids pair with cellphones through bluetooth. So look in the mirror when you reply.