CTIA is a trade association representing the wireless communications industry in the United States. The association was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a 501(c)(6)[1] nonprofit membership organization,[2][3][4] and represents wireless carriers and suppliers, and manufacturers and providers of wireless products and services.[5][6]

CTIA
Established1984; 40 years ago (1984)
Headquarters1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 600
Location
Key people
Meredith Attwell Baker (President and CEO)
Websitewww.ctia.org
The logo from 2004 through 2015

CTIA operates certification programs for the wireless industry and publishes wireless industry surveys.[5][7][8] It has also sponsored various public service initiatives related to wireless.

It was initially known as the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association until 2004, and later the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association. The organization has since operated under its initialism only, subtitled as CTIA – The Wireless Association until 2015.

History

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CTIA was established in May 1984 as the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.[9] In 2000, the organization merged with the Wireless Data Forum and became the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.[1][10] Its name was changed to CTIA—The Wireless Association in 2004.[1]

Tom Wheeler served as chief executive officer (CEO) of CTIA from 1992 to 2004.[11] He was appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in November 2013.[11]

Steve Largent became president and CEO in November 2003, serving until 2014.[12][13] Meredith Attwell Baker became CTIA's president and CEO in June 2014.[14][15]

Issue advocacy

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Spectrum

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When Baker was named president and CEO, she identified spectrum as a policy priority.[16] She has testified before United States Congress on the issue.[17] In a March 2016 media call, Baker said the industry is ready to invest billions of dollars to fund spectrum and new infrastructure. She suggested the "spectrum pipeline should become a national priority" because "100 MHz of spectrum is equal to $30 billion to the economy and 1 million jobs."[18]

In 2016, CTIA released reports outlining the importance of U.S. leadership in the 5G and high band spectrum.[19][20] CTIA praised the FCC's unanimous vote in July 2016 to allow wireless operations above 24 GHz.[21]

Broadband and net neutrality

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CTIA supported the FCC retaining "the 2010 open Internet order's 'mobile specific' approach to [regulations] given the 'unique engineering, competitive and legal conditions' of 4G LTE, rather than a one-size-fits both wired and wireless approach" in a letter from Baker to Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), chairman of the House Energy Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, in September 2014.[22]

In January 2015, Baker testified on the importance of an open Internet but against the reclassification of mobile broadband as a Title II (common carrier) service under the Communications Act of 1934 at a hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.[23] Two months later, CTIA, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA), and USTelecom, filed legal challenges against the FCC's net neutrality order reclassifying broadband under Title II.[24]

Wireless infrastructure

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CTIA has helped lead efforts to remove regulatory barriers,[weasel words] at all levels of government to the deployment of wireless infrastructure, particularly small cells and distributed antenna systems (DAS).[25]

Industry trade shows

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CTIA has organized trade shows for the wireless industry, including the CTIA Wireless Show and MobileCON. In January 2013, it was announced that both events would be replaced by a new event known as CTIA Super Mobility, first held in September 2014. The following year's conference featured 1,000 exhibitors and attracted 30,000 visitors.[26]

In June 2016, CTIA announced a partnership with the GSM Association, under which Super Mobility Week would be re-launched as Mobile World Congress Americas beginning in 2017.[26][27]

CTIA Wireless Foundation

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CTIA's nonprofit organization, CTIA Wireless Foundation, supports initiatives that use wireless technology to assist communities. The foundation partnered with American Red Cross to create the "Text2HELP" program to help aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The program enabled wireless customers to send text messages to make donations to American Red Cross' relief efforts.[28][29][30][31]

The foundation is a significant sponsor of PulsePoint, a no-cost app that alerts users of nearby cardiac arrest emergencies so they can offer first aid before first responders arrive.[32][33] The foundation also supports "text4baby", a no-cost mobile texting program that provides information to parents and caregivers on prenatal care and baby health and parenting.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "In the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Case No. 15-1211 (and consolidated cases): ACA International, et al., Petitioners, v. Federal Communications Commission and United States of America, Respondents. On Petitions for Review of an Order of the Federal Communications Commission: Brief for Amicus Curiae CTIA – The Wireless Association in Support of Petitioners" (PDF). Electronic Privacy Information Center. December 2, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "Mobilizing Accessibility: A Conversation with CTIA – The Wireless Association's Matthew Gerst". Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT). Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Zeman, Eric (January 2, 2013). "CTIA To Merge U.S. Trade Shows in 2014". Information Week. UBM plc. ISSN 8750-6874. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "No. 12-815: In the Supreme Court of the United States: Sprint Communications Company, L.P., Petitioner, Elizabeth S. Jacobs, et al., Respondents.: On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit: Brief of CTIA – The Wireless Association, as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner" (PDF). American Bar Association. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "About Us". CTIA – The Wireless Association. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "CTIA – The Wireless Association". DigitalLiteracy.gov. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), United States Department of Commerce (DOC). Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Reisinger, Don (October 12, 2011). "U.S. has more mobile subscribers than people, study finds". CNET. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  8. ^ "Background on CTIA's Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey" (PDF). CTIA – The Wireless Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "Wireless History Timeline – 1980s". Wireless History Foundation. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554: In the Matter of: Request by Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association to Commence Rulemaking to Establish Fair Location Information Practices: WT Docket No. 01-72" (PDF). Electronic Privacy Information Center. July 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 5, 2003. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Brodkin, Jon (March 16, 2016). "How a former lobbyist became the broadband industry's worst nightmare". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  12. ^ Richtel, Matt (March 22, 2004). "In the Hall as a Lobbyist After Time in the House". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  13. ^ Hines, Kelly (February 5, 2016). "Familiar face around town: Steve Largent moves back to Tulsa, is serving on TU's board". Tulsa World. ISSN 2330-7234. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  14. ^ Bachman, Katy (April 23, 2014). "Meredith Baker Exits Comcast for Wireless Lobby: Wants CTIA to be the 'go to' organization on communication issues". Adweek. Prometheus Global Media. ISSN 0199-2864. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  15. ^ Kang, Cecilia (April 23, 2014). "Wireless lobby group names former FCC member Baker as president". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  16. ^ Barbagallo, Paul (April 24, 2014). "In Baker, CTIA Gets a Spectrum Czar—And at a Crucial Time". BNA.com. Bloomberg BNA. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  17. ^ Eggerton, John (July 29, 2015). "CTIA Plugs Need for Licensed Wireless Spectrum". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  18. ^ Goovaerts, Diana (October 31, 2016). "CTIA, Verizon Renew Calls for Swift Gov't Action on 5G Spectrum". Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  19. ^ Stott, Rob (February 10, 2016). "5G Is Coming: CTIA Discusses the Next Wireless Network in a New Report". Dealerscope. Archived from the original on September 9, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  20. ^ Gibbs, Colin (June 16, 2016). "CTIA lobbies FCC to release high-band spectrum for 5G". FierceWireless. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  21. ^ McGrath, Dylan (July 17, 2016). "U.S. takes the lead in 5G after FCC nod". EE Times Asia. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  22. ^ Eggerton, John (September 18, 2014). "CTIA: Don't Apply Wired Net Rules to Us". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  23. ^ "Testimony of Meredith Attwell Baker President and CEO CTIA – The Wireless Association on "Protecting the Internet and Consumers Through Congressional Action" Before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology" (PDF). U.S. House of Representatives Document Repository. January 21, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  24. ^ Bode, Karl (March 19, 2015). "Verizon Will Let CTIA, NCTA Sue FCC Over Neutrality". DSLReports. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  25. ^ Dano, Mike (August 9, 2016). "CTIA, Mobilitie, Wireless Infrastructure Association, others cheer loosened FCC rules on small cell and DAS deployments". Fierce Wireless. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  26. ^ a b Segan, Sascha (June 22, 2016). "CTIA, the US Mobile Show, Becomes MWC Americas". PC Magazine. ISSN 0888-8507. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  27. ^ Gibbs, Colin (June 22, 2016). "GSMA to partner with CTIA on new U.S. wireless trade show". Fierce Wireless. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  28. ^ Hardiman, Jean Tarbett (August 17, 2008). "Texting goes beyond a fad". The Herald-Dispatch. Huntington, West Virginia. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  29. ^ Travers, Karen (January 14, 2010). "Haiti Relief: Text Messages Speed Donations". ABC News. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  30. ^ Oberman, Justin (September 19, 2006). "CTIA Wireless Foundation Launches Text2Help for the American Red Cross". Tech President. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  31. ^ Hamblen, Matt (January 14, 2010). "Text-to-donate collects millions for Haiti relief". Computerworld. ISSN 0010-4841. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  32. ^ "City Partners With PulsePoint to Improve Cardiac Arrest Response in RVA". Journal of Emergency Medical Services. April 7, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  33. ^ Heaton, Brian (July 12, 2011). "Life-Saving 'Fire Department CPR' App Going National". Government Technology. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  34. ^ "Founding Partner: The CIA Wireless Foundation". text4baby. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
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