Thread Subject: Re: FW: TIA RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

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From: John Combs (jcombs)
Date: Wed, Nov 15 2006 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: 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.)

From: battat@hearingloss.org
Date: Wed, Nov 15 2006 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: FW: TIA RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof2006.11.13)

The HAC Act does requie cordless phones to be HAC and have volume control
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: "John Combs (jcombs)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:29:14
To:"TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
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: <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: <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/FAQ/faq_hac.html>


- John


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = 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 = : <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: <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.)

From: Diane Golden
Date: Mon, Nov 20 2006 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: FW: TIA RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

So again that raises the question of how the Subpart A requirement for "best
meets" the access standards is being interpreted/applied. There is a
product that meets the gain/VC standard, but it is not being purchased --
instead products that do not meet the standard are being purchased. Can
someone clarify how this fits with the requirement to purchase products that
meet or best meet the technical access standards?

Diane Golden

-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]On Behalf Of Michaelis, Paul
R (Paul)
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 8:41 AM
To: TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request
forGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

Our VPATs state that 1194.23(f) is satisfied when the phones are configured
with Avaya amplified handsets. Our bids always show the price for the
standard telephone and for the same phone configured to provide the
additional amplification.

My impression is that most contract officers will check the VPATs to see
whether amplified handsets are available, and then -- if we're lucky -- will
purchase them for the employees who are known to be hard of hearing. I can
double-check on this, but I am not aware of any case in which the purchasing
agency required all phones to provide the 20+ dB of gain that is specified
in 1194.23(f). On the other hand, there are many cases in which NONE of the
phones that were purchased satisfy this requirement.

-- Paul Michaelis


_____

From: Diane Golden [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:44 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for
Guidance(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)


I'm still not following what has happened with federal procurements related
to the gain/volume control requirement. There are products commercially
available that deliver the 20 dB gain. They are just not the typical
business phone set (especially in terms of cost). The gain/VC standard
could be met with a different handset or with a phone set that is built to
deliver the required gain/VC. Both are commercially available yet if I
understand correctly, none have been purchased under a federal soliciation.
Paul indicates that Avaya has bid on phone solicitations with the substitute
handset but the phone configured that way is not procured due to cost --even
though that configuration meets the 508 standard. So this doesn't appear to
be an issue of commercial availability. Instead it appears cost
considerations are over-riding conformance to this particular access
standard in the decision making process. Is there another explanation?

Diane Golden

----- Original Message ----
From: " = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = " < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 3:06:15 PM
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance
(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)


The federal procurement process involves requirements definition followed by
market research followed by (possibly) refinement of requirements and the
development of the actual solicitation document.

So, if I am looking to acquire a phone system and I have my business
requirements (number of sets, features, service, etc) and my accessibility
requirements (mostly 1194.23 plus a few additional provisions) I need to
find out if what I want (and I am going to ask to have proposals submitted
for) actually is commercially available. If not, I have to either refine my
requirements before my RFP/Q/I is posted or run the risk of modifying my
solicitation during the actual procurement process. If there are not
products that fully meet the Standard, I need to define my requirements
accordingly.

An agency complies with Section 508 when it follows the entire process -
including exceptions. Fully complying with all of the applicable provisions
is a high bar and most products have some area where they won't fully meet.
I, as a federal buyer, need to acquire the product that best meets my
requirements (which include business needs and accessibility). If there are
additional accessibility features that are not commercially available (or
not by enough vendors to comply with the Competition in Contracting Act
requirements), then my agency may chose to award extra value to products
that give me more accessibility.





"Diane Golden" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent by: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =


11/15/2006 03:04 PM


Please respond to
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ; Please respond to
"TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >



To
"TEITAC Telecom listserv (E-mail)" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >

cc

Subject
Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance (TEITACDiscussionsof
2006.11.13)






Thanks for the VPAT narrative example. So as a rater/reviewer, I would have
to say the base product bid does NOT conform to that standard. The base
product does not provide 20 dB of gain as is required by the standard so it
does not conform. Is that how federal procurement reviewers have been
rating conformance to that standard? Does a phone with 15 dB of gain
"better conform" using the "best meets" language of 508?

Diane Golden

-----Original Message-----
From: John Combs (jcombs) [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:50 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/user_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

P.S.: Web link to info about the HA-30 & CE-125 inline handset cord
amplifiers:
http://www.twacomm.com/catalog/model_AME-01931.htm?sid=70GN0CH3EMG69NA95
KNC8EL2T56XBPP9


-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Diane
Golden
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 10:21 AM
To: 'TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance
(TEITACDiscussionsof 2006.11.13)

So if in reality the phones coming to federal procurers or looked at
during market research do NOT meet the 20dB gain standard - how have
those products been reviewed/rated in terms of conformance to that
access requirement? What is the thinking in the purchase decision
making process? Do the phones with 15 get some sort of bonus over those
with just 12? Can any of the federal purchasers on this listserv
clarify?

Thanks,
Diane

Diane Cordry Golden, Ph.D.



-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]On Behalf Of Rebecca
Schwartz
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:14 AM
To: TEITAC Telecommunications Subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-telecom] FW: TIA Request for Guidance (TEITAC
Discussionsof 2006.11.13)


Hi, all, this is Steve Whitesell's response to the question raised on
Monday's conference call as to whether there are phones capable of
exceeding 12 db gain without significant battery drain. The short
answer is no, but please read his entire response.

Rebecca Schwartz, Esq.
Manager, Regulatory and Government Affairs TIA 2500 Wilson Blvd. Ste.
300 Arlington, VA 22201
703.907.7477 (OFFICE)
703.395.7511 (CELL)
703.907.7727 (FAX)

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Whitesell [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 1:42 AM
To: Rebecca Schwartz
Cc: John Derr; Bill Belt
Subject: TIA Request for Guidance (TEITAC Discussions of 2006.11.13)






Hi Becky

I am responding to John Derr's request below.

I believe most mass market telephones provide receive volume controls
with
a gain in the 12 to 15 dB range. There may be some that provide more,
but
I am not aware of specific models that I can point to. If you want, I
could contact representatives of Uniden, Panasonic, and Thomson (GE
Phones)
to ask that question. I can tell you that VTech phones (VTech and AT&T
brands) have gains in the 12 to 15 dB range.

If there are any mass market phones providing greater gain, they are
most
likely ac powered corded telephones. Simple telephone-line-powered
telephones like the basic 500 set and the Trimline(R) simply do not have
enough power available to them from the telephone line to provide gains
on
the order of 20 dB. Likewise, most cordless handsets do not have the
voltage swing capability to provide that much gain without introducing
severe distortion. I would think that corded telephones operating on
power
provided from a plug in wall transformer could be designed to provide
higher receive gain levels, but there are not that many of them in the
marketplace.

It is probably worth pointing out that the FCC rules on volume control
specify gain with respect to a "nominal" starting value that has to be
within certain limits on loudness. It is possible to create a larger
"range" by having low volume settings below the nominal value in
addition
to having high volume settings above it. But to meet the FCC
requirements, a product has to have at least 12 dB of gain above the
nominal value. Additional "range" achieved by having volume settings
below
the nominal value does not count from the viewpoint of FCC compliance.

Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions on this
subject or at any time you feel I can be of help.

Steve

Stephen R Whitesell
Chair, TIA TR-41
Senior Technical Consultant
Standards, Regulatory, and
Intellectual Property Matters
VTech Communications
2 Shannon Ct
Howell, NJ 07731
Tel: 732 751 1079
Email: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =




----- Forwarded by Steve Whitesell/ENG/VTNCAN/VTECH on 11/15/2006 12:11
AM
-----


"John Derr"

<JDerr@tiaonline. To: "Steve
Whitesell" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
org> cc: "Bill Belt"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, "Rebecca
Schwartz"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
11/14/2006 12:44 Subject: TIA Request for
Guidance (TEITAC Discussions
PM of 2006.11.13)












Good Afternoon Steve,



Hope all going well for you as we start to head into Thanksgiving
season. You may be aware that TIA just added a new attorney to our
External Affairs Department, Rebecca Schwartz. Becky was on yesterday's
TEITAC Telecom call where the group was having discussions regarding,

From: Brenda Battat
Date: Mon, Nov 27 2006 8:15 AM
Subject: Re: FW: TIA RequestforGuidance(TEITACDiscussionsof2006.11.13)

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.)