Consumer Electronics Association

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is a business association of consumer electronics (CE) companies that promotes collaboration between technology manufacturing companies, retail companies, and consumers. The organization facilitates CE industry growth in terms of innovation and interoperability of products by developing industry standards and technical specifications. In addition, it advocates the interests of the industry in government and legal affairs; provides research library facilities, workshops, and educational programs; and offers technical training and certification programs. CEA's members include companies involved in design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integ.

Consumer Technology Association, formerly the Consumer Electronics Association announced Tiffany Moore has been named Vice President of congressional affairs. Most recently, Moore worked as a consultant for Twin Logic Strategies. In her new role, Moore will lead CTA’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill on key tech issues including patent litigation reform, strategic immigration reform and trade. Moore will also oversee CTA’s political action committee, CTAPAC. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) R10 Residential Systems committee announced the availability of software versions of the symbols defined in the publication of ANSI Standard J-STD-710 Audio, Video and Control Architectural Drawing Symbols announced in April. This new standard defines a common set of floor plan icons that represents all facets of pre-wire and installation of electronic systems, products and devices in residential and commercial environments. Standardized symbols on plans allow architects, designers, builders, and electronic systems contractors (ESC) to share information, making home technology planning and design easy. Layouts designed with Symbols help minimize miscommunication among all parties involved by easily identifying the locations of installed technologies, whether they are equipment, devices, sensors, control interfaces or cabling. Software file formats for symbols are in black and white and include: .dwg for use with AutoCAD and compatible software, .vss stencils for use with Microsoft Visio, .png graphics with transparent backgrounds, .jpg standard graphic format with white backgrounds, .gif graphics with transparent backgrounds and  tif graphics for printing, non-transparent . The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)  announced a new set of camera terminology for digital imaging-related communications and promotion to help provide consistency and clarity for retailers and consumers. The new terms and definitions are as follows: DSLR (short for Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras): a subset of ILC cameras that includes a mirror mechanism; Mirrorless (short for Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens cameras): a subset of ILC cameras that does not include a mirror mechanism; ILC (short for Interchangeable Lens Cameras): includes both DSLR and Mirrorless cameras which, by definition, have Interchangeable Lenses. CEA’s Digital Imaging Board identified the need for a new set of terminology that better represents the industry innovations of today, and immediately launched a working group to explore various imaging terms and recommend updated terminology. The Digital Imaging Board approved the updated terms and definitions, and implementation is now underway.

As a catalyst to the dynamic technology industry, the Consumer Electronic Association (CEA) accelerates growth and progress for the fast-paced economy. With leading market research, CEA educates members, and by establishing standards, CEA shapes the industry at large. A proponent of innovation, CEA advocates for the entrepreneurs, technologists and innovators who mold the future of the consumer technology industry. CEA provides a platform that unites technology leaders to connect and collaborate, and it avidly supports members who push the boundaries to propel consumer technology forward.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), is a standards and trade organization for the consumer electronics industry in the United States. CTA works to influence public policy holds events such as the International CES and SINOCES, conducts market research, and helps its members and regulators implement technical standards. CTA is led by Gary Shapiro. CTA launched The Innovation Movement, a broad based group with more than 200,000 members, in order to spur economic growth and technological innovation. CTA provides Innovation Movement members with tools to contact their members of Congress via social media in support of policies that the group says will advance American innovation and increase the strength of the economy. The Innovation Movement is active on issues including international trade, immigration, deficit reduction, broadband deployment, and intellectual property. CTA believes that "spectrum is the oxygen of innovation." CTA supports legislation to allow the FCC to conduct voluntary incentive auctions in order to obtain 500 megahertz of new radio spectrum for wireless broadband internet services. CTA supports making this spectrum available for licensed and unlicensed use. In March 2011, CEA and CTIA sent a joint letter to Congress in support of voluntary incentive auctions. In February of the same year, the two groups also released a white paper on freeing up broadcast television spectrum for use by wireless broadband services. On the issue of net neutrality, CTA states, "We believe that consumers should have the right to attach devices of their choice to broadband networks as well as have unfettered access to content. CTA believes that the government can most effectively address the net neutrality debate by reallocating spectrum for wireless broadband use. This reallocation would ensure rapid broadband deployment and a competitive, pro-consumer broadband marketplace.

CEA supported the FCC's National Broadband Plan in 2010. CEA specifically praised the FCC's efforts to address the "spectrum crunch," competition in the market for video devices, and improved internet access for underserved populations. On the issue of parental controls, CEA states, "CEA’s member companies have developed and continue to provide effective products and product features to help parents structure their children’s television experience. Video providers also offer a broad array of parental control tools. Interested parents can take advantage of this vibrant marketplace to find technological tools and services to tailor their children’s viewing experience to meet their family’s particular needs. Because a myriad of options for parents exist, CEA does not support government-mandated parental control technologies.

CEA facilitated the eCycling Leadership Initiative. The CEA eCycling Leadership Initiative is an industry-wide effort to "recycle one billion pounds of electronics annually by 2016, which would be a more than threefold increase over 2010. The eCycling Leadership Initiative seeks to improve consumer awareness of the more than 5,000 collection sites currently sponsored by industry; increase the amount of electronics recycled responsibly; increase the number of collection opportunities available; and provide transparent metrics on eCycling efforts." CEA supported SB 329, a television recycling law signed into law by Governor Rick Perry in June 2011, as it was consistent with the eCycling Leadership Initiative. On the issue of energy efficiency, CEA states, "Voluntary, market-oriented programs and initiatives, including industry-led standards, are a proven and successful approach to advancing energy efficiency in consumer electronics. CEA works cooperatively with governments in the development of energy efficiency initiatives and opposes mandates that stifle innovation, reduce consumer choice, and limit product features and services. About the Energy Star program, CEA states, "CEA has long supported ENERGY STAR as the most effective and proactive program to encourage consumers to make more energy-conscious choices. Home electronics were responsible for 59 percent of the energy savings achieved by the program for residential products in 2008, according to a recent report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CEA is concerned, however, that EPA’s recently-mandated changes to ENERGY STAR are creating unreasonable burdens for partners and harming international expansion of the program. CEA supported the EPS Service Parts Act of 2014 (H.R. 5057; 113th Congress), a bill that would exempt certain external power supplies from complying with standards set forth in a final rule published by the United States Department of Energy in February 2014. The United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce describes the bill as a bill that "provides regulatory relief by making a simple technical correction to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act to exempt certain power supply (EPS) service and spare parts from federal efficiency standards.