For Immediate Release
ATIS 1200 G Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005	Contact: Trish Gessner Phone: 202-434-8851 E-mail: tgessner@atis.org www.atis.org

ATIS Incubator Honored for Work for Hearing Impaired

June 30, 2005, Washington – ATIS today announced that its incubator program for Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) has been selected to receive the National Wireless Access Award for 2005.

The award, given by Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), is presented to those who provide and improve access to wireless technology in a significant way for people with hearing loss. It was presented during the opening session of the 20 th International SHHH Convention this afternoon at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington.

“SHHH is recognizing the ATIS Incubator for its leadership in refining a measurement standard that will ultimately make it easier for consumers to find a cell phone that they can use with their hearing aids,” said Terry Protis, executive director of SHHH in ATIS’ award letter. “Many engineers from wireless manufacturers and carriers have dedicated hours of effort and significant resources through ATIS’ Incubator to comply with FCC regulations that require hearing aid compatibility. The Incubator has shown a commitment to technical excellence, outreach and labeling to make the new regulations meaningful to consumers, industry and hearing health professionals.”

“ ATIS is honored to receive this recognition from SHHH,” said Susan Miller, president and CEO of ATIS. “The incubator program offers the industry a neutral forum to work together to overcome the technical challenges presented by interference between hearing aids and wireless devices. ATIS is proud of the work completed by the incubator participants and looks forward to continued success in the effort to increase the accessibility of wireless devices in the hearing impaired community.”

In August 2003 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Report & Order for WT Docket No. 01-309, RM 8658 (R&O), requiring hearing aid compatibility for digital wireless services. The ATIS Incubator Solutions Program #4 (AISP.4) was created to investigate performance between hearing aids and wireless devices, with the goal of assisting those in the hearing aid and cellular wireless industries to meet the requirements of the FCC's R&O. The work of the Incubator participants has enabled the wireless device manufacturers to meet the September 2005 requirements that will an enable a specified number of handsets to be compatible with the microphone, or “M” setting on hearing aids.

The Incubator tested several handsets in laboratories around the world and has made recommended revisions to existing standards to ensure consistent test and measurement across laboratories.

In addition, an Incubator working group has focused on consumer outreach to assist the wireless industry educate consumers and hearing health professionals. The working group also has created uniform package labels that easily identify phones that are compatible with hearing aids.

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. Participants from more than 350 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 22 industry committees and Incubator Solutions Program. www.atis.org

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