**DA 05-1683**

**Released: June 17, 2005**

**FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA'S REQUEST
FOR WAIVER OF HEARING AID-COMPATIBILITY AND VOLUME CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
FOR ITS PANASONIC 2.4 GHz FHSS CORDLESS TELEPHONE WITH BONE CONDUCTION
TYPE EAR-PIECE**

**CC Docket No. 87-124**

**Comment date: June 27, 2005**

**Reply Comment date: July 7, 2005**

On April 19, 2005, Panasonic Corporation filed a Request for Waiver with
the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") of the hearing aid
compatibility and volume control requirements set forth in 47 C.F.R. §§
68.316 & 68.317 in order to market the Panasonic 2.4 GHz FHSS Cordless
Telephone with Bone Conduction Type Ear-Piece, Model KX-TG2388.
Panasonic asserts that the non-conforming ear-piece will benefit the
special needs of "transmission hearing impaired" persons, *i.e*.*,*
individuals who have loss of hearing in the outer ear that collects
incoming sound waves. Panasonic also states that the product would be
labeled as non-hearing aid compatible, contain a warning that the phone
may not be used in a public location, and provide instructions on how to
reduce feedback in a hearing aid caused by the telephone.

Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47
C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or
before June 27, 2005, and reply comments on or before July 7, 2005. All
filings must reference **CC Docket No. 87-124**. Comments may be filed
using the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by
filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>.
Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If
multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this
proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the
comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption.
In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their
full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable
docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic
comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail
comments, commenters should send an e-mail to <ecfs@fcc.gov>, and should
include the following words in the body of the message, \"get form.\" A
sample form and directions will be sent in reply.

Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four
copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number
appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two
additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, electronic media, by
commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal
Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving
U.S. Postal Service mail). The Commission\'s contractor, Natek, Inc.,
will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings or
electronic media filings for the Commission\'s Secretary at 236
Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, D.C., 20002. The filing
hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries
must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must
be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial and electronic
media mail sent by overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
Capitol Heights, MD, 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail,
Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12^th^
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20554. All filings must be addressed to
the Commission\'s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Room TW-B204,
Washington, D.C., 20554.

Parties who choose to file by paper should also submit their comments on
diskette. These diskettes should be submitted, along with three paper
copies, to: Arlene Alexander, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau,
Disability Rights Office, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Room CY-C418,
Washington, D.C., 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch
diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 or
compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover
letter and should be submitted in \"read only\" mode. The diskette
should be clearly labeled with the commenter\'s name, proceeding
(including the lead docket number in this case **(CC Docket No.
87-124)**), type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of
submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The
label should also include the following phrase \"Disk Copy - Not an
Original.\" Each diskette should contain only one party\'s pleadings,
preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, commenters must
send diskette copies to the Commission\'s copy contractor, Best Copy and
Printing (BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, S.W., Room,
CY-CB402, Washington, D.C., 20554.

Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §
1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in which *ex parte* communications are subject to disclosure.

A copy of this document, Panasonic\'s Request for Waiver, and any
subsequently filed documents in this matter will be available during
regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445
12^th^ Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C., 20554, (202)
418-0270. This document, Panasonic's Request for Waiver submission and
any subsequently filed documents in this matter may also be purchased
from the Commission's duplicating contractor, BCPI, Inc. Customers may
contact BCPI, Inc. at their website,
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/), or call 1-800-378-3160. A
copy of the submission may also be found by searching on the
Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at
[http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs]{.underline} (insert CC Docket No. 87-124
into the Proceeding block).

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail
to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This *Public Notice*
can also be downloaded in Text and ASCII formats at:
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro>.

For further information, please contact Arlene Alexander, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, at (202) 418-0581
(voice), (202) 418-0183 (TTY), or e-mail at <Arlene.Alexander@fcc.gov>.

**-FCC-**