G/TBT/N/USA/2093  
30 January 2024  
(24-0651) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [2124]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicate d if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Wireless 
handset model hearing aid compatibility; Hearing aids (excl. parts and acce ssories) (HS 
code(s): 902140); Quality (ICS code(s): 03.120); Aids for deaf and hearing -impaired 
people (ICS code(s): 11.180.15); Acoustics and acoustic measurements (ICS code(s): 
17.140); Telephone equipment (ICS code(s): 33.050.10); Accessories (ICS code (s): 
33.160.50)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Achieving 100% 
Wireless Handset Model Hearing Aid Compatibility; (26 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule - In this document, the Federal Communi cations 
Commission ("Commission") tentatively concludes that requiring 100% of all handset 
models to be certified as hearing aid -compatible is an achievable object and seeks 
comment on revising the definition of hearing aid compatibility to include Bluetoo th 
connectivity technology. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on a number of 
implementation proposals related to this tentative conclusion.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information,  labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection; Quality requirements  G/TBT/N/USA/2093  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
89 Federal Register (FR) 5152, 26 January 2024; Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Part 20 : 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-01-26/html/2024 -00414.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-01-26/pdf/2024 -00414.pdf  
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC -23-108A1.pdf  
The full text of the proposed rule is identified by WT Docket No. 23 -388 and FCC 23 -108. 
Primary and supporting documents (if any) are available at 
https://www.fcc.go v/edocs/search -results?t=quick&dockets=23 -388 and 
https://www.fcc.gov/edocs/search -results?t=quick&fccdaNo=23 -108. Documents are 
also accessible from the FCC's Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS)  by 
searching the WT Docket Number. Comments are due on or before 26 February 202 4; 
reply comments are due on or before 11 March 2024. WTO Members and their 
stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point  by or before 
4pm Eastern Time on 1 1 March 2024. Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point 
from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also 
be submitted to the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)  if received within the 
comment period.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  11 March 2024  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members .wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_00822_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_00822_01_e.pdf