The FCC proposed an $819,000 penalty against T-Mobile for violating the...
The FCC proposed an $819,000 penalty against T-Mobile for violating the commission’s hearing-aid compatibility requirements during 2009-2010. “T-Mobile, a nationwide wireless carrier with more than 33 million customers and more than $21 billion dollars [sic] in annual revenue, apparently failed…
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to offer the required number of hearing aid compatible digital wireless handset models as set forth in the Rules,” said a notice of apparent liability approved by commissioners (http://xrl.us/bm329o). During 2009, T-Mobile was required by the rules to offer between four and nine M3-rated handset models, that work through acoustic coupling, for its WCDMA air interface. “T-Mobile apparently failed to meet this standard, repeatedly falling short each month by one to three handset models,” the FCC said. In 2010, T-Mobile was required to offer nine or 10 M3-rated handset models “but failed to meet this benchmark even once, repeatedly falling short each month by as many as four handset models,” the FCC said. It said T-Mobile similarly fell short of offering the required number of T3 handset models, which work through inductive coupling. “T-Mobile USA is committed to providing high-quality products and services to all of its customers, including a broad selection of handsets that are hearing aid compatible,” the carrier said in a statement late Monday. “T-Mobile takes seriously its obligations to comply with its hearing aid compatibility responsibilities as part of our overall commitment to the accessibility needs of our customers."