All Mobile Phones Must Be HAC, says FCC

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules requiring that all mobile phones available on the market be compatible with hearing aid technologies (i.e., hearing aid compatible, or HAC).

According to an FCC press release announcing the rule change, the new rules are the result of years of extended discussions and collaboration by members of the FCC’s Hearing Aid Compatibility Task Force. Once implemented, the 100 percent HAC requirement will provide an additional 48 million Americans dealing with hearing loss with the flexibility of choosing any model of mobile phone available to the general public.

In addition to the 100 percent HAC requirement, the FCC has also established a Bluetooth coupling requirement that will help to ensure connectivity between mobile handsets and hearing aids. Further, the FCC rules also require that all newly introduced mobile handsets meet volume control requirements that allow users to adjust handset audio volume without introducing distortion.

Mobile handset manufacturers have 24 months to comply with the FCC’s new HAC requirements. Nationwide service providers are given a transition period of 30 months, while non‑nationwide service providers have 42 months.

FDA Classifies Radiofrequency Toothbrush as Medical Device

As new and emerging technologies continue to define and influence our lives in the 21st Century, regulators must work to ensure that their own efforts reflect the latest technology developments and address potential regulatory and safety concerns.

The case is perhaps most interestingly illustrated by a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its review of an electric toothbrush that uses radiofrequency (RF) waves to remove plaque and stains from teeth. Developed by the company Home Skinovations Limited, the ToothWave™ electric toothbrush uses patented RF technology to direct RF waves to the teeth and gum line. The company claims that the RF waves destabilize impure molecules that bond to teeth and replaces them with new, purer molecules that provide a stronger protective layer.

The company submitted a De Novo classification request regarding the device to the FDA back in 2019. After a year-long extensive review, the FDA classified the toothbrush as a Class II device, that is, a device that requires specific “special controls” to provide reasonable assurances of the safety and effectiveness of the device for its intended use.

In the latest development, the FDA has now modified its regulations under 21 CFR Part 872, adding a “radiofrequency toothbrush” as a regulated device. In a Final Amendment and Final Order, the FDA now defines specific requirements applicable to this advanced dental care product that are intended to mitigate potential risks to health associated with the use of such a device.

ARRL Releases Updated Amateur Radio Handbook

The National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) has announced the release of an updated version of its classic guide to amateur radio technology and practice.

According to a press release posted on the ARRL website, the newly-released 101st edition of The ARRL Handbook captures “the state of radio science and technology in one authoritative work.” The six‑volume set spans over 1200 pages and provides a “deep dive” into radio electronics, circuit design, digital modulation techniques, and equipment construction.

Important updates to the latest edition of the Handbook include: