# 47 CFR § 68.4: Hearing aid-compatible telephones

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.4

## Section

- **Citation:** 47 CFR § 68.4
- **Heading:** Hearing aid-compatible telephones
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 47—Telecommunication > CHAPTER I—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION > SUBCHAPTER B—COMMON CARRIER SERVICES > PART 68—CONNECTION OF TERMINAL EQUIPMENT TO THE TELEPHONE NETWORK > Subpart A—General

## Text

(a)(1) Except for telephones used with public mobile services, telephones used with private radio services, and cordless and secure telephones, every telephone manufactured in the United States (other than for export) or imported for use in the United States after August 16, 1989, must be hearing aid compatible, as defined in § 68.316. Every cordless telephone manufactured in the United States (other than for export) or imported into the United States after August 16, 1991, must be hearing aid compatible, as defined in § 68.316.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) A telephone is hearing aid-compatible if it provides internal means for effective use with hearing aids that are designed to be compatible with telephones which meet established technical standards for hearing aid compatibility.
(4) The Commission shall revoke or otherwise limit the exemptions of paragraph (a)((1) of this section for telephones used with public mobile services or telephones used with private radio services if it determines that (i) such revocation or limitation is in the public interest; (ii) continuation of the exemption without such revocation or limitation would have an adverse effect on hearing-impaired individuals; (iii) compliance with the requirements of § 68.4(a)(1) is technologically feasible for the telephones to which the exemption applies; and (iv) compliance with the requirements of § 68.4(a)(1) would not increase costs to such an extent that the telephones to which the exemption applies could not be successfully marketed.
[54 FR 21430, May 18, 1989, as amended at 55 FR 28763, July 13, 1990; 57 FR 27183, June 18, 1992; 61 FR 42186, Aug. 14, 1996; 91 FR 20377, Apr. 16, 2026]

## Nearby sections

- [47 CFR § 68.1 § 68.1 Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.1.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.2 § 68.2 Scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.2.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.3 § 68.3 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.3.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.4 § 68.4 Hearing aid-compatible telephones.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.4.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.5 § 68.5 Waivers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.5.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.6 § 68.6 Telephones with volume control.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.6.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.7 § 68.7 Technical criteria for terminal equipment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.7.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.100 § 68.100 General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.100.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.102 § 68.102 Terminal equipment approval requirement.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.102.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.105 § 68.105 Minimum point of entry (MPOE) and demarcation point.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.105.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.106 § 68.106 Notification to provider of wireline telecommunications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.106.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.108 § 68.108 Incidence of harm.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.108.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.110 § 68.110 Compatibility of the public switched telephone network and terminal equipment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.110.md)
- [47 CFR § 68.160 § 68.160 Designation of Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.160.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-47-68.4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.