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In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposed to amend the definition of "auditory assistance device" in the Commission's rules to allow them to be used by anyone at any location for simultaneous language interpretation (where the spoken words are translated continuously in near real time). This was action taken in response to a petition for declaratory ruling filed by Williams Sound Corporation (Williams Sound Petition), a provider of wireless auditory assistance devices. The current definition restricts the use of part 15 auditory assistance devices that operate in the 72.0-73.0 MHz, 74.6-74.8 MHz, and 75.2-76.0 MHz bands (72-76 MHz bands) to auditory assistance to a handicapped person or persons. The devices may be used for auricular training in an educational institution, for auditory assistance at places of public gatherings, such as a church, theater, or auditorium, and to handicapped individuals, only, in other locations.

The proposed amendment would permit part 15 auditory assistance devices that operate in the 72-76 MHz bands to be used by anyone at any location for simultaneous language interpretation. The Report and Order modified the definition of "auditory assistance device" in part 15 of the Commission's rules to expand the permissible uses of these devices beyond solely providing auditory assistance to persons with disabilities (for example, amplification of sounds for the hard of hearing and audio description for the blind) to include simultaneous translation for anyone at any location. This action harmonized the part 15 definition of "auditory assistance device" with the definition of "auditory assistance communications" in part 95 of the Commission's rules. Under this expanded definition, part 15 auditory assistance devices that operate in the 72-73 MHz, 74.6-74.8 MHz, and 75.2-76 MHz (72-76 MHz) bands on an unlicensed basis may provide auditory assistance or simultaneous translation, or both, to anyone at any location. The Report and Order also lowered the limit for part 15 auditory assistance devices' unwanted emissions to the limits that are provided in 15.209 of the Commission's rules to help reduce the likelihood that the unwanted emissions from increased use of these devices for simultaneous translation will degrade the reception of very high frequency television (VHF TV) channels 2-4 (54-72 MHz) and 5-6 (76-88 MHz) and help improve the reception of VHF TV service.