User's Manual

4
Important Safety Information
x To prevent injury or burns, ensure that no metal objects come
into contact with the + and – terminals of the battery.
FCC Hearing-Aid Compatibility
Regulations for Wireless Devices
On July 10, 2003, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Report and Order in WT Docket 01-309 modified the exception of
wireless phones under the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988
(HAC Act) to require digital wireless phones be compatible with
hearing-aids. The intent of the HAC Act is to ensure reasonable access
to telecommunications services for persons with hearing disabilities.
While some wireless phones are used near some hearing devices
(hearing aids and cochlear implants), users may detect a buzzing,
humming, or whining noise. Some hearing devices are more immune
than others to this interference noise, and phones also vary in the
amount of interference they generate.
The wireless telephone industry has developed a rating system for
wireless phones, to assist hearing device users find phones that may
be compatible with their hearing devices. Not all phones have been
rated. Phones that are rated have the rating on their boxes or a label
located on the boxes.
The ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary depending on
the user’s hearing device and hearing loss. If your hearing device
happens to be vulnerable to interference, you may not be able to use
a rated phone successfully. Trying out the phone with your hearing
device is the best way to evaluate it for your personal needs.
x M-Ratings: Phones rated M3 or M4 meet FCC requirements and
are likely to generate less interference to hearing devices than
phones that are not labeled. M4 is the better/higher of the two
ratings.
x T-Ratings: Phones rated T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and
are likely to generate less interference to hearing devices than
phones that are not labeled. T4 is the better/higher of the two
ratings.
Hearing devices may also be rated. Your hearing device manufacturer
or hearing health professional may help you find this rating. Higher
ratings mean that the hearing device is relatively immune to
interference noise. The hearing aid and wireless phone rating values
are then added together. A sum of 5 is considered acceptable for
normal use. A sum of 6 is considered for best use.
In the above example, if a hearing aid meets the M2 level rating
and the wireless phone meets the M3 level rating, the sum of the
two values equals M5. This is synonymous for T ratings. This should
provide the hearing aid user with “normal usage” while using their
hearing aid with the particular wireless phone. “Normal usage” in this
context is defined as a signal quality that is acceptable for normal
operation.
The M mark is intended to be synonymous with the U mark. The T
mark is intended to be synonymous with the UT mark. The M and
T marks are recommended by the Alliance for Telecommunications
Industries Solutions (ATIS). The U and UT marks are referenced in
Section 20.19 of the FCC Rules. The HAC rating and measurement
procedure are described in the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) C63.19 standard.
To ensure that the Hearing Aid Compatibility rating for your phone
is maintained, secondary transmitters such as Bluetooth and
WLAN components must be disabled during a call. See page 79 for
instructions to disable these components.