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T-Mobile fined $819,000 by FCC

Posted: , by Alan F.

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T-Mobile fined $819,000 by FCC
T-Mobile is being fined $819,000 by the FCC for "willfully and repeatedly" violating FCC rules that require U.S. carriers to offer a certain number of hearing-aid compatible handsets. The violations apparently took place in 2009 and 2010 and most likely the agency at first warned T-Mobile about its lack of HAC models in its line-up. The government's intention with this regulation is to allow those hard of hearing to enjoy the same feature rich handsets that the general public owns.

HAC compatible Android model

HAC compatible Android model

The current requirement for a Tier 1 carrier like T-Mobile is that 10 handsets, or 50% of devices offered by a mobile operator, should be equipped with an M3 acoustic coupling. 7 handsets, or at least 33 percent, need to offer a T3 inductive coupling. Before cutting a check to the Feds, T-Mobile will get the chance to ask for mercy from the FCC by producing evidence that would allow the carrier to refute the charges.

Acoustic coupling turns both desired and undesired sounds into electrical signals, which are turned back into sound by the hearing-aid speaker. The inductive coupling (telecoil) turns sound into magnetic fields which are reproduced as sound by a hearing aid. Because the microphone is off for the latter process, there is no feedback which is normally heard when a hearing aid is pressed against a telephone earpiece. Background noise and over amplification are also both eliminated.

source: FCC via IntoMobile

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1. DroidGod posted on 16 Apr 2012, 13:52 9 2

And Tmobile just went bankrupt..

4. PimpStrong posted on 16 Apr 2012, 13:59 4

LMAO that's jacked up!

5. Doakie posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:08

No kidding. I read this article and thought "There goes all those LTE upgrades!" Lol. I'll just go upgrade to an Amaze 4G 42Mbps HSPA+ phone from my Sensation 4G. That tech is already in place... lol I saw one off those getting 21Mbps actual throughout the other day. I was shocked.

11. JunitoNH posted on 16 Apr 2012, 15:11 4

Lol damn it DroidGod, you beat me to the punch line. :)

2. issa8 posted on 16 Apr 2012, 13:54 1

man... more bad news for T-Mo.. get it together guys!

6. lubba posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:22 5 1

It would be nice but TMO USA is a company that doesn't listen or pay attention to customers. For example, while all want the HTC one X, they would rather offer the poor One S. Note Tmo USA is the first to Forster Android, HTC, and is dedicated to Nokia. Again instead of offering the Nokia lumia 900, they would rather sell the 710. Also they could have even offered the Titan 1, but no they would rather take the HTC Radar! Now you see why they are fined almost a million dollars. They don't even pay attention to the FCC.

9. cellphonator posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:53 1 2

You'll see how many more One S will be sold compared the AT&T One X. Get ready!

13. lubba posted on 16 Apr 2012, 16:30 2

Lolzzz! Less than the One X because it will be sold on sprint too as the evo 4G LTE. Lolzz.

17. BuckeyeCadet86 posted on 16 Apr 2012, 18:17 1

Yeah, but the one S will be sold as the incredible 4g on Verizon.

18. cellphonator posted on 16 Apr 2012, 22:48 2

...good thing I specified "AT&T One X"

PS: Lolzzzz-zzz-zzz-z... (wtf)

3. PimpStrong posted on 16 Apr 2012, 13:59

Nice input at the end there.

7. networkdood posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:39 5 1

They are still a Tier I carrier?

8. shamataa posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:39

I'm surprised that it was tmobile that got charged.

10. cellphonator posted on 16 Apr 2012, 14:55

Can you elaborate?

12. Jeradiah3 posted on 16 Apr 2012, 15:41 2

Another reason why the merger should have went thru!! you cant supply phones for certain groups of people. Tmobile is trying to stay afloat and this wont help!!

14. omarc26 posted on 16 Apr 2012, 16:57 3

LOLZ WERE IS REMIXFA TO DEFEND T-MOBILE?????? btw t-mobile sukz imo.

15. Mandroid posted on 16 Apr 2012, 17:07 1

I'm torn between my hatred of tmobile and my hatred of government meddling. If tmobile doesnt want to offer HAC devices that should be their choice.

16. Penny posted on 16 Apr 2012, 18:05

Agreed (about the government meddling, I have no reason to hate T-Mobile).

It would be nice to get free funding for my business by fining other companies that are providing actual goods. Nothing wrong with this picture.

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