A New FCC Requirement Will
Pave the Way for Inclusive
Audio Experiences for All

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced new rules establishing that 100 percent of all mobile handsets sold in the US — such as smartphones — must be compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Thanks to this change, more than 48 million Americans with hearing loss will soon be able to take advantage of the same mobile phone models and connectivity available to all consumers, expanding their choice in handset technologies, features, and pricing.

How We Got Here

The 2022 release of Bluetooth^® LE Audio was a key enabler of this important FCC ruling. Until then, support for Bluetooth technology in hearing aids had only been based on proprietary implementations. As a result, relatively few hearing aids included Bluetooth technology, and compatibility has been limited. Bluetooth LE Audio standardized support for Bluetooth technology within hearing aids and defined the requirements for interoperability between hearing aids and complementary products, such as smartphones. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) Hearing Aid Working Group — which includes representatives from Google, Intel, Sonova, Starkey, GN Hearing, and others — was instrumental in bringing this new approach to standardization to the hearing aid market.

The release of Bluetooth LE Audio, therefore, introduced the potential to enable true global interoperability and allow people with hearing loss to realize the same Bluetooth audio benefits enjoyed by users of standard Bluetooth headphones and earbuds – seamless wireless calling, listening, and media streaming. The FCC ruling now helps bring that potential to life for hearing instrument users in the US. The new rules establish Bluetooth® technology requirements that better support a wide range of consumers by ensuring universal connectivity between mobile handsets and hearing instruments, including over-the-counter hearing aids and cochlear implants. This change will encourage manufacturers to move away from proprietary solutions in favor of Bluetooth standards.

“For the first time, Bluetooth® technology has been mandated in smartphones to support those with hearing loss,” said Neville Meijers, Bluetooth SIG CEO. “This marks a significant milestone for hearing aid compatibility across all smartphone brands sold in the US, paving the way for greater accessibility and seamless connectivity for millions of people with hearing loss.”

How a Mandate for Connectivity Can Benefit Everyone

More than ten years ago, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) commissioned research that showed that the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) were six times greater for drivers who dial a mobile phone while driving than those who do not. The FMCSA, therefore, mandated that hands-free calling be used instead of hand-held mobile devices when operating any commercial motor vehicle.

Additionally, most states in the US have implemented their own hands-free laws for drivers of personal vehicles as well. These regulations not only help keep us all safe while on the road, but they have also encouraged car manufacturers to install a wider range of Bluetooth connectivity options in new vehicles. This evolved beyond hands-free calling and audio streaming to a range of additional value-added use cases, including Bluetooth enabled sensors strategically placed throughout a vehicle to help monitor temperature, tire pressure, open doors, and more.

Similarly, requiring Bluetooth connectivity in all handsets will benefit millions of users. Not only will this create greater accessibility for those with hearing loss, but it will also open a range of new audio opportunities for all.