TIA commended the FCC on its vote to approve the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions’ (ATIS) Joint Consensus Plan.  The plan sets out rules governing hearing aid-compatible (HAC) mobile handsets. TIA appreciates the hard work of the various industry representatives, regulators and consumer groups in developing the Joint Consensus Plan, which changes the deadlines and percentage of HAC phone requirements for service providers and handset manufacturers.

“The FCC’s approval of the Joint Consensus Plan is another step toward feasible, well-managed network access for all Americans,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert. “TIA is pleased the FCC understands that the development of proper accessibility technologies should be handled through market forces rather than regulation. The industry-consumer collaborative process that led to the Joint Consensus Plan is very productive and should serve as a model in the future.”

TIA expressed its approval that the commission allowed market forces and industry-consumer collaboration, rather than regulation, to guide this decision, which will result in more innovation and increased choice for the consumers, including those with hearing loss.  Upon its completion, TIA will review the order in its entirety.

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TIA’s Technical Regulatory Issues Committee (TRIC) met on Wednesday, March 5, in Washington, D.C., to review the results of its December 10 meeting with representatives from FCC labs. During that meeting, TRIC members discussed the status of the Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) Exclusion List; TCB Approval for Software Defined Radios; New TCB Surveillance Guidelines; Streamlined Laptop Approval; Class 2 Permissive Changes; Recommendations to Streamline the Product Certification Process; and the FCC Enforcement Model, in which the Enforcement Bureau now takes the lead on all non-compliance matters, rather than Office of Engineering and Technology.

At the meeting, TRIC members also addressed TIA members’ questions and concerns regarding the status of the TCB Exclusion List and other certification-related issues that members are currently facing. The TCB Exclusion List is comprised of items that are not able to be approved for market release by telecommunications certifications bodies, which can bring devices to market much more quickly.  A major concern of TIA is whether devices with simultaneous transmitters will be removed from the TCB Exclusion List, as their current presence there has delayed their effective deployment.

TIA will continue to update members on the results of the TRIC meeting and all future developments.

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On March 6-7, TIA wireless staff directed the semiannual Wireless Communications Division (WCD) meeting in Las Vegas immediately following the annual committee-wide meeting of TIA's TR-45: Mobile and Personal Communications Standards Engineering Committee.

WCD members discussed major wireless policy areas of importance to TIA members, including the 700 MHz auction and related matters, accessibility regulation and standards, white spaces, E-UIM_IDs, the Commercial Mobile Alert System, and more.  The main topic of discussion was TIA's work as administrator of electronic serial numbers (ESN), especially TIA's strategy for ensuring that the wireless industry's transition to the bigger and more flexible 56-bit MEID numbering system occurs as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The WCD scheduled its next meeting for September 4, 2008, in conjunction with the next TR-45 meeting.

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TIA will host its 9th Annual Spring Policy Summit, "Driving Communications Innovation," April 8 at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C. The all-day event is open to all TIA members and invited government guests.

Last year's summit featured contributions from FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, NTIA head John Kneuer, Meredith Broadbent of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Majority Counsel Mark Seiffert and many others.

Look for agenda updates and more information in the coming weeks. Interested members should RSVP to SPS@tiaonline.org or call +1.202.346.3240 (TIA members and government guests only).

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