Thread Subject: Re: FW: TIA RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof2006.11.13)

Note

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From: Brenda Battat
Date: Mon, Nov 27 2006 8:15 AM

John wrote: So, as we can see from the above info, no form of wireless
phone is required to support VC at all. Only "wireline" phones are
required to do so.

I agree there is no FCC requirement for wireless phones to have VC (as
there is for HAC)but lets not forget Section 255 that states that
telecommunications products and services must be accessible to and
usable by people with disabilities.

Brenda Battat
Associate Executive Director
Hearing Loss Association of America (formerly SHHH)
301-657-2248 phone
301-913-9413 fax


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of John Combs
(jcombs)
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 4:29 PM
To: TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA
RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

Hi Jim,

You asked:

>>> John -- has Cisco ever referred to the gain issue in VPATs for its
wireless handsets? (To be clear, Cisco makes wireless handsets not for
public wireless networks but for its own VoIP phone systems.)<<<

FCC HAC = Hearing Aid Compatible, i.e., it puts out a strong, uniform
magnetic field that is picked up by T-coil hearing aids.

FCC VC = Volume Control (the 12 dB minimum audio gain requirement)


Cisco makes one wireless handset -- the 7920 WiFi phone --, which only
works via VoIP for WiFi frequencies (802.11), with our IP-PBX called
Cisco Call Manager.

The 7920 WiFi phone is HAC, i.e., it works with T-coil hearing aids. It
does not have high volume boost, I'm not sure what it actually is, but I
am sure it's less than 12 dB, due to battery life considerations.


Here's some background on FCC-speak for various categories of radio
frequency handsets:

* Cordless -- this is the FCC's term for a radio frequency handset that
communicates only with a private a base station, and the base station
plugs into a normal analog PSTN phone line. Cordless handsets must be
HAC, but are NOT required to meet the FCC VC gain requirement, due to
battery life considerations.

* Wireless -- this is the FCC's term for radio frequency handsets
(analog and digital) that work on public mobile radio services, i.e.,
cellular telephone service. Up until a couple of years ago, wireless
handsets did not have to meet HAC or VC, primarily because this would
have made the phones heavier/larger, and reduced battery life. But
digital cellular phones have become so important to the public that the
FCC recently took steps to phase in HAC requirements on cell phones.
HOWEVER, please note that the FCC did NOT require VC support for cell
phones!

* Private Radio Service -- this is a radio frequency handset that
communicates only with a private PBX (privately owned phone system).
Examples of this include the SpectraLink brand of PBX radio handsets,
and the Cisco 7920 WiFi phone. As of this time, the FCC has made no
move to require private radio service handsets be HAC or VC. (Although
Cisco voluntarily makes ours HAC.)
--------------

So, as we can see from the above info, no form of wireless phone is
required to support VC at all. Only "wireline" phones are required to
do so.


For more information, see these FCC web pages:

FCC MODIFIES HAC EXEMPTION FOR DIGITAL WIRELESS TELEPHONES:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/accessiblewireless.html


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY AND
VOLUME CONTROL (HAC/VC):
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/FAQ/faq_hac.html


- John


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jim Tobias
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 12:32 PM
To: 'TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request
forGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)


> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Combs (jcombs) [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 2:50 PM
> To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for
> Guidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)
>
> Speaking from a manufacturer's standpoint, on our ITI-format Voluntary

> Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) for the 20 dB amplification
> requirement, we state:
>
> "Supports when combined with compatible Assistive Technology"
>
> "Cisco IP Phones meets the FCC 68 requirements for volume gain of
> minimum of 12dB of gain from default factor setting.
> To achieve 20dB or greater, Cisco recommends using an inline
> amplifier, such as Walker Clarity CE-125, or Ameriphone Clarity HA-30.

> The Plantronics Clarity
> EC225/ECE225* inline amplifier is an example of a manufacturer selling

> 3rd party handset and headset amplifiers. Recommended headset
> amplifiers can be viewed through the following URL:
> http://www.plantronics.com/media/media_resources/literature/us
> er_guides/
> cisco_setup.pdf
> "
>
> Most of our IP phones actually have 15 dB of gain, but for some reason

> no one wrote that into our VPAT!
>
> - John Combs

John -- has Cisco ever referred to the gain issue in VPATs for its
wireless handsets? (To be clear, Cisco makes wireless handsets not for
public wireless networks but for its own VoIP phone systems.)

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