Arlington, Va. – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today announced that they have reached agreement to end their formal affiliation and that CEA has decided to withdraw from its sector affiliation with EIA, effective Jan. 1, 2005.
CEA and EIA will continue to share physical space at their mutual headquarters, here.
The agreement ends a long-standing relationship between EIA, CEA and CEA’s preceding organizations, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association and the Consumer Electronics Group. The move follows a 1999 decision by the EIA Board of Governors to allow separate incorporation for its sector associations. CEA became a separately incorporated organization in 2000.
“EIA and CEA have enjoyed a long and valuable affiliation and I believe going forward there will be many opportunities to collaborate on issues of common concern,” EIA president Dave McCurdy said. “EIA will continue in its mission to promote the market development and competitiveness of the U.S. high-tech industry through domestic and international policy efforts.”
“This agreement marks a ‘win-win’ for both CEA and EIA,” said CEA executive board chairman and EIA board member Kathy Gornik, the president of Lexington, Ky.-based Thiel Audio Products. “This move allows both organizations to grow and prosper as we focus squarely on meeting the needs of our distinct constituencies. This is simply the natural evolution of CEA’s separate incorporation and the new structure created by EIA in 1999.”
“Our association has grown by leaps and bounds since we became separately incorporated,” noted CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. “Our membership has increased by 300 percent, we have turned the International CES into the world’s largest annual trade show for consumer technology and we have continued moving forward in our mission to grow the consumer technology industry. We are excited to see what heights we can now reach as a fully independent association. We look forward to working with our volunteer leadership to leverage this opportunity to pursue the best interests of our members and our industry.”
CEA represents more than 1,850 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA’s members account for more than $100 billion in annual sales.
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is the leading advocate in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. high-tech industry. The Alliance, which celebrated its 80th anniversary this year, is a partnership of electronic and high-tech associations and companies whose mission is to promote the market development and competitiveness of the $400 billion U.S. high-tech industry through domestic and international policy efforts.
