1200 G Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20005 202/628-6380 202/393-5453 (fax)	Contact: Rachel Krajc Phone: 202/434-8850 E-mail: rkrajc@atis.org

ATIS Responds to FCC Ruling with Launch of “Fast Track” Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Technical Solutions Program

ATIS’ HAC Incubator Solutions Program Seeks to Speed Availability of Digital Wireless Phones to Individuals with Hearing Disabilities

July 17, 2003, Washington, D.C. – In response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent ruling requiring wireless manufacturers and service providers to make digital wireless phones accessible to individuals with hearing disabilities, ATIS launched the “Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC)” Incubator Solutions Program. The HAC Incubator will investigate interference characteristics between hearing aids and digital mobile phones to ascertain methods of enhancing interoperability and usability for the more than 6 million consumers utilizing hearing aids.

Launched in 2000, ATIS’ Incubator Solutions Program provides the industry with a “fast-track” approach to solving critical technical and operational issues. It serves as an alternative approach toward solutions development with few, if any, impediments.

“ There are many challenges the hearing aid and digital wireless industries must quickly overcome in order to make products and services compatible and comply with the FCC’s ruling,” said Susan M. Miller, president and CEO of ATIS. “ATIS’ HAC Incubator will provide the forum for stakeholders to investigate and develop recommendations for standards necessary to improve digital mobile access for individuals with hearing disabilities.”

The HAC Incubator will aid the FCC by coordinating an independent assessment of the current standard (ANSI C63.19) specified by the FCC to determine its validity as a potential solution to enable consumers with hearing aids to select digital mobile phones and hearing aids that will work well together. The HAC Incubator will also develop standard methodologies for lab and user testing of digital mobile phone and hearing aids, and encourage implementation of its findings into new products supporting hearing aid compatibility.

Companies planning to participate in the HAC Incubator include Verizon Wireless, Siemens, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Motorola, Sprint PCS and T-Mobile. The first meeting of the HAC Incubator will be in mid-August, and registration in the HAC is required to attend. For more information on the HAC Incubator, or the upcoming meeting, contact ATIS’ Technical Coordinator Jim Turner at jturner@atis.org or 202-662-8662.

About ATIS

ATIS is a technical planning and standards development organization that is committed to rapidly developing and promoting technical and operations standards for the communications and related information technologies industry worldwide using a pragmatic, flexible and open approach. Over 1,400 participants from more than 400 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 16 industry committees, and its Incubator Solutions Program. www.atis.org

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