TIA End of Year 2012 Statement

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TIA has been the premier association for technology innovators in the constantly evolving ICT industry for over 88 years.  That’s because our association not only evolves with the industry - we chart the course for the future.

This past year, TIA continued to expand its membership by providing leadership, participation and direction in nearly every major ICT-related policy initiative in the U.S.  And our input was felt across the world in numerous global initiatives.  TIA hosted events and brought together world leaders in the ICT industry, and provided multiple fora for our membership to communicate their own industry-groundbreaking developments.

Importantly, TIA continued to release standards, research, and publications at a level of quality and commitment to the industry, utilizing a range of expertise unlike any other association.

TIA’s mission is to stay ahead of the rapid pace of industry innovation and the issues and challenges we face in deploying technology.  As a member-led, member-driven organization, our success depends on advancing global communications and the interests of manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech equipment, products and services within the ICT industry through innovation, investment, economic growth and global competitiveness. The following details just some of our achievements in 2012.

Leadership in Innovation

TIA maintained an extremely active role in domestic and international ICT policy through our Innovation Agenda - created and endorsed by our membership.  Our team directly participated in rulemaking proceedings; providing meaningful contributions in policy agendas at the FCC, NTIA, FAA, EPA, DOE, State Department, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and other government agencies.  TIA provided formal comments and participated in policymaking initiatives on broadband (with link to broadband initiatives), global market access (link to international work), research ecosystem (link to CTO Council and R&D white paper), cybersecurity, public safety, energy efficiency, rural health care, spectrum relocation and incentive auctions,  accessibility, and many more.

Policy

One policy area where TIA will have a major role is spectrum policy.  Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that authorized the FCC to conduct a rulemaking proceeding on the first ever spectrum incentive auctions, where broadcasters are incentivized to relinquish valuable spectrum to carriers in return for a portion of the proceeds.  TIA will be an active participant in the incentive auction design and technology portions of this proceeding.  Over the next few years the ICT community, as well as consumers, can reap the benefits of increased wireless broadband networks to meet growing demand. Increasing spectrum availability is part of TIA’s overall innovation agenda, and you can expect us to continue to advocate for further reallocation of federal spectrum, flexible regulations, and rapid implementation of incentive auctions.

Standards

TIA again had a tremendous year in developing ICT standards and growing the presence and influence of our many industry committees.  We believe that both the role of standards - and our associations’ and members’ role in developing standards along with our collaboration with other organizations and academia - will escalate exponentially in the coming years.  TIA reached a milestone by marking its 20th year as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO).  We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and the 2,700 active standards that we have produced over the years.  And we will use that experience and momentum to build on our success and develop standards for Device to Device Communications, Mobile Communications, Fiber Optics, User Premises and Components, Satellite and other technologies crucial for our members business growth and interests.

TIA anticipates that growth in M2M communications and smart devices will continue at an extraordinary rate over the next few years (50 billion devices by 2020), and we TIA will be at the forefront of the M2M movement worldwide. In July, TIA announced a crucial and important partnership with six other internationally renowned SDOs in a new global organization focused on ensuring the most efficient development of M2M communications systems.  The new organization, oneM2M, will help create and accelerate new business opportunities, generate mass-market economies of scale for standardized M2M devices; and help usher in a new world of connected devices in every industry - from healthcare to transportation to agriculture.

In cooperation with BICSI, CompTIA, InfoComm, and the Communications Cable & Connectivity Association, TIA launched the standards development process of the Sustainable Technology Environments Program (STEP). This effort will bring sustainability to the process of planning, designing, integrating and operating technology systems.  Technology is part of the solution to the future’s economy and STEP will play an important role in coordinating and enhancing the benefits that technological innovation brings to the built environment.

TIA 2013: The Future of the Network

TIA led the industry with events, education, research, and publications that heightened awareness of key ICT developments across the U.S. and the world.   Our flagship annual conference - TIA 2012: Inside the Network was held in Dallas in June; it had 2,000 attendees with more than 100 top ICT executives, leaders, and policymakers delivering presentations on the challenges, opportunities, and most pressing issues facing the ICT industry. TIA’s members drive innovation and create jobs worldwide, and our annual conference is the best opportunity for the industry to come together and learn from one another about challenges, innovations and trends.  We are extremely excited about TIA 2013: The Future of the Network, which will be held in Washington, D.C. next October.

You have surely heard the buzz about the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai held December 3-14.  TIA hosted a luncheon in October with U.S. Ambassador Terry Kramer to preview some of the top issues at the WCIT.  One topic that TIA cares strongly about is the threat of heavy-handed regulation of the Internet on a global level.  TIA advocates light, market-based regulations, trade liberalization and the reduction of market barriers, technology-neutral policies, bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements, transparency, and the continuance of the abundant opportunities for business and technology development.  That’s what’s made the ICT industry as profitable, life-changing, and successful as it is today, and is critical to our future growth and opportunity.

ICT Market Review and Forecast

We released the TIA ICT Market Review and Forecast (MR&F), the industry’s most comprehensive, trusted data review, with forecasts through 2015.  The 2012 MR&F unveiled profound projections about growth in smartphones, tablets, cloud services, and video streaming.  Among the many findings, the MR&F forecast that global Internet traffic will quadruple by 2015, with global telecom spending surpassing $5 trillion in 2013.

We welcome three of our newest members:

  
For a complete list of our members click here.

TIA NOW

TIA is a powerhouse of news, analysis, and communication for the global ICT industry. We continually provide timely and compelling content on a variety of platforms including our blog, social media, and our very own online video network, TIA NOW.  Topics featured on TIA NOW span policy, industry news, business strategies, and new technologies.  TIA NOW’s content is closely aligned with the work we do in all corners of the industry, and we encourage you to watch some of the top names in ICT as they discuss the latest industry insights and trends.

TIA's New Headquarters

In January, 2013 TIA moved it's offices to a new location: 1320 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201. TIA’s new headquarters features state of the art communications technologies that showcase the diversity and leadership of TIA Members.

We are very excited about 2013 and look forward to working with you over the coming year.  For a list of first quarter events, activities and future meetings, please go to our Events Calendar.

Sincerely,

Grant Seiffert
President