The new rules will go into effect after a transition period, and also require that phones meet volume-control benchmarks.

The gist is the FCC is establishing a Bluetooth pairing requirement, thereby discouraging smartphone makers from using proprietary versions that could limit compatibility. In a pr

Now that hearing aids are available over-the-counter, the FCC takes accessibility a step further with requirements for Bluetooth and volume control.

The FCC has mandated that every phone sold in the US must be compatible with hearing aids. The commission also requires both Android OEMs and Apple to abandon proprietary Bluetooth standards that could interfere with hearing aid compatibility.