By Peter Tannenwald, CommLawBlog, September 3, 2014
Hearing aid compatibility shortfall draws big fine.
More than two years ago we reported that the FCC had proposed to fine T-Mobile a whopping $819,000 for violations of hearing aid compatibility (HAC) requirements. (Under those requirements both vmanufacturers 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.) As is customary, T-Mobile was given a chance to respond to the proposed fine, which it did (in May, 2012), arguing not that it hadn't violated the rules, but rather that the fine was "unduly punitive" and should be sliced in half.
The FCC was not convinced. We know this because the Commission has now finalized the fine, leaving it at $819,000 - no reduction for effort, good behavior, or anything else.
Continued:
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Neal McLain