The American Samoa Telecommunications Authority has been fined for failing to file hearing aid compatibility reports.
The Federal Communications Commission has issued a monetary forfeiture of 6,000 US dollars to the telecommunications authority.
In 2003, the FCC adopted several measures to enhance the ability of individuals with hearing loss to access digital wireless telecommunications.
In 2008, it was found that the ASTCA willfully and repeatedly violated the filing requirements by failing to file seven hearing aid compatibility status reports between May 2004 and November 2007.
ASTCA has argued that it was unfamiliar with the hearing aid filing requirements, that their failure to file the reports minimally impacted consumer access, and the amount should be reduced because of its history of compliance FCC rules.
However FCC denied the telecommunication authority's request and has ordered it to pay the forfeiture within 15 days of its order.
