FCC Pushes to Make Apple Accessible for People with Disabilities

Disabilities are still an issue in the technology age. Last Thursday, the FCC issued an order to expand hearing aid compatibility rules to include all devices with built-in speakers that are intended to be held to the ear, like the cell phone. As technology advances, government has to catch up to advocate for people who would be left out otherwise. It’s not often when we think of shopping for a new phone that we think of whether or not the phone is compatible for physical disabilities. How do blind people use phones? Can deaf people use cell phones? If we don’t have the disability ourselves, we overlook these things that are necessary for others.

“Normal” hearing does not pick up the radio frequency and radiation buzzes, hums, or whines that can make hearing difficult for people with hearing aids. It can make having a conversation hard to hold. A few years ago, the FCC created a system that rates the level of compatibility of cell phones with hearing aids on a scale of 1 to 4. It hasn’t been a rule however, until last week. A look at several cell phone providers websites shows either aptitude at honoring people with hearing disabilities or not. AT&T has a list of all their phones that are compatible to FCC guidelines, “We work closely with handset vendors to improve the user experience of customers who have hearing aids,” and lists over 20 phones that are acceptable.

iPhone, however, has no mention of the rating system and if it’s phone follows the guidelines. They have several “Accessibility Solutions” for people with special needs, but none of them mention hearing aids or cochlear implants.  In 2007, the Hearing Loss Association of America filed a complaint to the FCC regarding iPhone, saying the phone doesn’t meet FCC standards. The rules now address the problem, which a major communications company failed to acknowledge when they were developing the device. 50 percent of Smartphone traffic came from iphone in 2009. They should be leading not only in general technology advancement, but in advocating for people with disabilities by way of the type of product they produce. Sure, hearing impaired people could use an AT&T product, but that does not lend itself to equality. If technology is to truly open doors, as it should, it needs to enable all people to lead better lives. 

Lisa Gillespie is a former staff writer for Campus Progress as well as the Managing Editor & New Media Director at Street Sense. She graduated from the University of North Carolina–Asheville.