Consumer Technology Association

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is a standard and trade organization representing 1,376 consumer technology companies[1] in the United States. CTA works to influence public policy, holds events such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and CES Asia, conducts market research, and helps its members and regulators implement technical standards. CTA is led by president and CEO Gary J. Shapiro.

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
FormerlyConsumer Electronics Association (1999–2015)
TypeTrade organization
PredecessorConsumer Electronics Association
FoundedApril 16, 1924 (1924-04-16) (as Radio Manufacturers Association)
1999 (as Consumer Electronics Association)
2015 (as Consumer Technology Association)
U.S.
Headquarters1919 S. Eads St., Arlington, Virginia, U.S. 22202
Number of locations
San Francisco, California, U.S. (1980-present)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Gary J. Shapiro, President and CEO
Websitewww.cta.tech

Trade shows

CES
Main article: Consumer Electronics Show

CES is a major technology trade show held each January in Las Vegas. The CTA-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new product announcements.[2][3]

The first CES was held in 1967 in New York City.[4] It was a spin-off from the Chicago Music Show,[5] which until then had served as the main event for exhibiting consumer electronics. The event had 17,500 attendees and over 100 exhibitors,[6] and the kickoff speaker was Motorola chairman Bob Galvin. From 1978 to 1994, CES was held twice each year: once in January in Las Vegas, known as Winter Consumer Electronics Show (WCES), and once in June in Chicago, known as Summer Consumer Electronics Show. In 1998, the show changed to an annual format with Las Vegas as the location. CES is one of the largest and longest-running trade shows held in Las Vegas, taking up to 17 days to set up, run, and break down.[7]

CES Asia

CES Asia is owned and produced by the International CES (Shanghai) Exhibition Co. Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and is co-produced by Shanghai INTEX Exhibition Co., Ltd (Shanghai INTEX).[8] Special co-organizers for CES Asia are the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce (CECC).[8] CES Asia serves as a platform for both Chinese and American companies to introduce new products into the Asian marketplace.

Leadership

Gary Shapiro

Gary J. Shapiro is the president and CEO of CTA. Shapiro has worked for CTA since 1979, when he was a law student. Shapiro is also the chairman of the Home Recording Rights Coalition. As chairman, Shapiro has testified often before Congress and has helped ensure the growth of the video rental market, VCRs, home computers, and audio-recording equipment, including MP3 technology. Shapiro is also the author of the bestselling book, The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream.[3][9][10]

Shapiro holds a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He is also a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Binghamton University, where he majored in economics and psychology. Shapiro was an associate at the law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey. He also worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill.[3][9][10]

David Hagan

As of September 2018, David Hagan serves as chairman of the board.[11]

Publications

It Its Innovation (i3) magazine

i3, CTA's flagship magazine, is published six times a year and focuses on innovation in technology, policy and business as well as the entrepreneurs, industry leaders and startups that grow the consumer technology industry. The magazine has a circulation of 38,600 (print and digital) and has won a number of awards including the Eddie Award, Full Issue (N/D 2017), FOLIO, Top 25 Tabbie Best Issue Award (J/A 2017).[12]

CTA Corporate Report

The CTA Corporate Report is published every year and covers CTA's accomplishments and assesses trends relevant to the consumer electronics industry. The Corporate Report won a Platinum Award from the League of American Communications Professionals.[13]

Digital America

Digital America is the CTA's annual comprehensive report on the state of the consumer electronics industry in the United States. Digital America includes market research, analysis of new and existing technology, industry history, and other detailed information.[14]

Awards programs

CTA has several awards programs for industry leaders, inventors, products, and technologies.

Since 1976, the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards has given consumer technology manufacturers and developers an opportunity to have their newest products judged by a panel of designers, engineers and members of the trade press. The winning products are then showcased each year at CES, also produced by CTA.[15]

To recognize the contributions of the "true pioneers" of the consumer electronics industry, CTA created the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame, first launched at the 2000 International CES. Each year a new class of inventors, engineers, business leaders, retailers and journalists is inducted.[16]

CTAPAC

CTAPAC is CTA's political action committee. About CTAPAC, CTA says, "The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ Political Action Committee (CTAPAC) protects your freedom to build and sell consumer technology products."[17] With regard to CEAPAC's funding, CEA says, "CTAPAC is funded solely through voluntary, personal contributions from the executive and administrative personnel of CTA's corporate members — people like you. Corporate contributions are prohibited under federal law."[18]

CTA Foundation

In 2009, CTA established a charitable foundation dedicated to providing seniors and the disabled with technology in order to enhance their quality of life.[19] Selfhelp Community Services, an eldercare service organization, in New York City received the first grant issued by what was originally called the CEA Foundation. The grant was dedicated to reducing social isolation and providing better access to community services among homebound seniors using computer and internet technology.

Hall of Fame
Main article: Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame

The CTA maintains a Hall of Fame, to which notable contributors to the field of consumer electronics are named.

Name changes
This logo is still the sign on the CTA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
Former CTA logo, used from 1999 until 2015

CTA originally started as the Radio Manufacturers Association (RMA) in 1924. In 1950, it changed its name to Radio-Television Manufacturers Association (RTMA). In 1953, it changed its name to Radio-Electronics-Television Manufacturers Association (RETMA). It was then the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) from 1957 to 1998, when it became the Electronic Industries Alliance. In 1995, EIA's Consumer Electronics Group (CEG) became the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA). In 1999, President Gary Shapiro announced the trade group's name change from CEMA to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and became an independent sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA).[20] The name of CEA was changed to Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in November 2015.[21]

See also
  • CEA 2030, multi-room audio cabling standard

Notes
  1. "CTA Member Directory". members.cta.tech.
  2. First CES Goes Broadway in June 1967 Archived May 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Bob Gerson, TWICE, August 28, 2006
  3. Shapiro, Gary (2011). The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream. Beaufort Books. pp. 224. ISBN 978-0-8253-0562-7.
  4. June, Laura; Pierce, David (January 4, 2013). "Incredible photos from the CES vault: 1967 to 2014". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  5. "The History of CES – the Consumer Electronics Show". AVADirect. January 5, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  6. "50 Year Anniversary of First CES in New York".
  7. "Freeman Show Schedule".
  8. "About CES Asia".
  9. Steve Smith (October 28, 2002). "Shapiro Outlines CEA's Copy Protection View". This Week In Consumer Electronics.
  10. "Board of Directors". Northern Virginia Technology Council. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  11. "CTA – Executive Board". CTA. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  12. "It Is Innovation 2019 Media Kit" (PDF).
  13. "CEA Corporate Report". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  14. "Digital America 2011". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  15. "Innovation Awards". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  16. "Consumer Technology Hall of Fame Inductees" (PDF).
  17. "CTAPAC". www.cta.tech.
  18. "Contributing to CTAPAC".
  19. "CTA Foundation: About Us".
  20. "Digital America". Consumer Electronics Association. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  21. "Group behind Consumer Electronics Show is changing its name". Las Vegas Sun. November 13, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
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