On August 26, 2025, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“Bureau”) released an Order granting CTIA’s request to extend the Bureau’s existing waiver of section 20.19(b) through September 29, 2027, permitting handset manufacturers to continue using a temporary volume control standard for certifying hearing aid-compatible (“HAC”) devices until a permanent standard is finalized. A summary of the initial waiver is included in the email chain below. The two-year extension ensures continued certification of new handsets while the Telecommunications Industry Association (“TIA”) and the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”) complete a new standard, which CTIA alleges is expected to be released in 2026.
The waiver is effective upon release of the Order and is limited to two years. The Bureau expects that parties will work together to develop an improved volume control standard that can be incorporated into the rules before the waiver period ends. CTIA, in coordination with TIA, is required to file two progress reports in late 2025 and mid-2026 to track development of the permanent standard.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions.