On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Federal Release website posted an update to the mandatory date for the 100% HAC requirement. After the update, the relevant date requirement is (the red text 13 replaced the previous 12):

• From December 14, 2026 to December 13 2028, Bluetooth coupling can be proprietary or universal Bluetooth protocol; After December 13 2028 only low-power-based universal Bluetooth protocols can be used;
• Before June 13 2028, non-national service providers should meet 85% of the HAC requirements and 100% of the HAC requirements thereafter.

Click this link to view the original announcement.

On December 13, 2024, the FCC issued a third edition of its report and order, numbered FCC 24-125, following a press release from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 8, 2024, to open the entire 6GHz band to very low power devices (VLPs). Based on the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 already used, the report and command will allow VLP equipment to operate in the U-NII-6 (6.425-6.525 GHz) and U-NII-8 (6.875-7.125 GHz) bands in the 6 GHz band.

Click this link to view the original FCC 24-125 report and order.

On December 2, 2024, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a report and order numbered FCC 24-124, which modifies the emission limits for the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 24.75-25.25 GHz bands (collectively, the 24 GHz band). The report and order were posted on the Federal Register website on December 13, 2024, and will become effective on January 13, 2025.

The rules for the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 24.75-25.25 GHz bands (collectively referred to as the 24 GHz band) were revised in the Report and Order to implement certain decisions taken by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) in 2019. Specifically, the FCC modified the existing Part 30 to align with the limits of Resolution 750 adopted by WRC-19 to protect the passive band 23.6-24.0 GHz from interference from unnecessary emissions in the time frame after the adoption of WRC-19.

Click this link to view the original reports and orders posted on the Federal Register website.

On November 21, 2024, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued the second report and order to formally incorporate C-V2X technical specifications into the regulations issued by the FCC. These new regulations will help vehicles and infrastructure transition to more advanced communication technologies, enabling in-vehicle and roadside devices to operate C-V2X technology in the 5.9 GHz band to support Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

Click this link to view the original published report and order. The report and order have not yet been posted on the Federal Register website.

On November 13, 2024, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially published the regulation numbered 257122 on the Federal Register website, with an effective date of December 13, 2024. The regulations specify the following requirements for 100% HAC compliance:

• By December 14, 2026, from the perspective of standard, newly certified and modified products must comply with existing HAC2019 standards. The HAC ratio requirement is still 85%;
• After December 14, 2026, the product shall:
  • should meet the volume control requirements;
  • Should comply with acoustic coupling requirements (RF emission);
  • It shall meet the T-Coil coupling requirements or Bluetooth coupling requirements, of which the T-Coil coupling requirements shall not be less than 85%, and the rest shall meet the Bluetooth coupling requirements;
• From December 14, 2026 to December 12, 2028, Bluetooth coupling can be a proprietary or universal Bluetooth protocol; After December 12, 2028, only low-power-based universal Bluetooth protocols can be used.

The regulations have indefinitely postponed the requirements for new QR code labels and the filling requirements for FORM855.

Click this link to view the original text of the regulations on 100% HAC on the federal release website.

On October 18, 2024, the FCC issued a report and order numbered FCC 24-112, following the release of FCC 23-106 by the FCC on January 26, 2024, regarding the 100% compliance of handsets with HAC requirements. The regulation requires all mobile phones to be compatible with hearing aids, requiring 100% of mobile phones to support acoustic coupling; 100% of mobile phones are required to support inductive coupling or Bluetooth coupling, of which the inductive coupling ratio is not less than 85%, and the Bluetooth coupling ratio is not less than 15%. The regulations put forward specific requirements for manufacturers/service providers to maintain mobile phone HAC certification information (including FCC ID, corresponding ANSI standards, etc.) on their websites. The regulations also update the content of the FORM855.

The regulation is not currently available on the Federal Register website and will normally go into effect 30 days after publication on Federal Register.

Click this link to view document FCC 24-112.

On August 29, 2024, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a report and order allowing drones to operate in the 5030-5091 MHz band. These new regulations will ensure the safe control of unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAS) flights.

Click on this link to view the original text.

On October 4, 2024, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a press release with new rulemaking recommendations to expand the operating frequency bands for 6 GHz ultra-low-power devices (VLP devices). The proposed reports and orders will allow VLP devices to operate in the U-NII-6 (6.425-6.525 GHz) and U-NII-6 (6.875-7.125 GHz) bands in the 6 GHz band, opening up more possibilities for innovation in these technologies. VLP is allowed to operate in the U–NII–5 (5925–6425 MHz) and U–NII–7 (6525–6875 MHz) bands in the final regulation for FCC 23-86 published January,8th 2024. Therefore the fcc's proposal will open up full Wi-Fi 6e band to VLP devices.

Click this link to view the original FCC press release.

On September 6, 2024, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a Proposed Rule Making Notice (NPRM) on the Federal Release website to facilitate investments in the 3550-3700 MHz band. The NPRM contains an overview of the federal protection regime implemented by the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the FCC, and seeks comments on updates to technology and services rules. The NPRM updates the original definition of exclusion zone, giving the definition of dynamic protected areas (DPAs) and adjacent areas of dynamic protected areas, and clearly requiring that the spectrum management system (SAS) cannot authorize CBSDs to work in exclusion zones, dynamic protected areas and adjacent areas of dynamic protected areas.

Click this link to view the original announcement. Comments are open until 7 October 2024.

On July 5, 2024, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to promote the integrity and security of certification programs for telecommunications certification bodies, measurement facilities, and equipment authorization. The proposed rule is essentially the same as FCC 24-58 document issued by the FCC on May 24.

Click this link to view the original proposed rule, the comment period is valid until 3 September 2024.