Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) FCC Testing

On January 26, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (fcc) released Public Notice fcc 24-112, which provided key supplementary explanations for the Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) requirements for wireless mobile phones and revised relevant textual errors. With the official approval of the information collection requirements for this rule by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), it marks that the realization of 100% HAC for wireless mobile phones has entered a substantive implementation phase.

Comprehensive Upgrade of Regulations

100% Mandatory Compatibility for Mobile Phones Exported to the US Starting from December

FCC § 20.19 Hearing loss compatible wireless handsets is intended to ensure that people with hearing loss can use digital mobile voice communication services in the US equally and barrier-free, and to avoid compatibility obstacles between wireless mobile phones and hearing aids.

On January 26, 2026, the FCC official website released Public Notice FCC 24-112 (FR ID 327224), which provided supplementary explanations for FCC 24-112, the report document for achieving 100% HAC for wireless mobile phones, and revised some textual errors in FCC 24-112. At present, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements related to the FCC 24-112 rule, with a three-year validity period for the approval.

This means that the implementation phase of achieving 100% HAC for wireless mobile phones has commenced, with compliance requirements as follows:

①　Comply with the requirements of FCC § 20.19 Hearing loss compatible wireless handsets for packaging labeling, Bluetooth coupling technology, website disclosure, etc.

②　By December 14, 2026, the proportion of mobile phone models meeting HAC requirements remains 85%, but they must comply with ANSI C63.19-2019.

③　After December 14, 2026, compliance with ANSI C63.19-2019 is mandatory, including:

100% compliance with the acoustic coupling requirement (RF Emission)

100% compliance with the volume control requirement

100% compliance with the induction coil coupling and Bluetooth coupling requirements, among which 85% must meet the induction coil coupling requirement (T-Coil) and 15% the Bluetooth coupling requirement.

Bluetooth coupling requirements: From December 14, 2026 to December 13, 2028, dedicated or universal Bluetooth protocols may be applied; starting from December 13, 2028, the global universal low-power Bluetooth protocol shall be adopted.

Official Document: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-112A1.pdf