How short did T-Mobile fall? This fine concerns the period from 2009 to 2010, because governments act in glacial time. There are two different ratings a phone can have, M-ratings and T-ratings; some phones have satisfactory ratings on both scales, and the main difference is that T-ratings are for hearing aids with telecoils, a device that helps wearers receive sound input from various electronic sources. Like phones.
The FCC requires carriers to sell a certain number of phones rated M3 or T3. (The scale goes up to M4 and T4.) During that period, T-Mobile was short 38 M3-rated devices and 14 T3-rated devices. In 2010, half of the phones a carrier offered or ten models (whichever is less) had to be rated M3, and the lesser of a third of phones offered or seven had to be rated T3.
The government and T-Mobile bickered over the amount, with T-Mobile arguing that the fine should be lessened for reasons ranging from problems getting compatible phones to market and their past as a “leader in the disabilities access arena.” The FCC ultimately denied their request, and imposed the fine yesterday.
