Back to Basics: Accessibility and Public Safety

Oct 29, I’m circulating a proposal to make Wireless Emergency Alerts a more effective tool to communicate important information to the public. For example, we propose to increase the amount and type of information that can be included in alerts and to make it easier for state and local authorities to send these messages. In Nov, the Federal Communications Commission will consider rules that would strengthen accessibility by Americans with hearing loss to emerging and future technologies and services by expanding the scope of our hearing aid compatibility requirements to all forms of voice communication. If adopted, this action would cover emerging technologies such as Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE as well as those that may develop in the future.

In addition to these rules, the FCC will lay the groundwork for future improvements by calling on stakeholders to work collaboratively to develop a consensus plan for dramatically expanding the kinds of devices that Americans with hearing loss can use. If there is a better way to consider and implement accessibility at the front end of the handset-design process, millions of Americans with hearing loss will benefit. The draft item makes clear that a consensus solution is the preferred path forward, but the Commission will also seek comment on whether there are other steps it might take to ensure 100 percent of handsets are hearing aid compatible at the same time as promoting innovation and investment.