Introduction
The Custom Electronic Design & Installation
Association (CEDIA) is the professional trade association
representing the residential custom installation industry.
CEDIA represents over 3,500 member companies
in 35 countries. CEDIA members are established, insured businesses
with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized
field. Member classifications include Residential Electronic
Systems Contractors, manufacturers, sales representatives,
distributors, professional services, and affiliates.
Public Policy Issues
CEDIA’s public policy efforts are designed
to support our members and ensure that their abilities to
own and operate their businesses are not impeded upon by
special interest groups. CEDIA has increased its government
relations efforts as a result of the many special interests
that continue to attempt to legislate our members out of
business.
By extension, CEDIA members provision our customers’ means
of accessing information and entertainment. CEDIA thus represents
the consumer, as well as the residential systems contractor,
as the products and services they offer are a significant
investment on our customers’ part. CEDIA makes certain
that residential systems contractor are able to deliver,
on a going-forward basis, equipment that is compatible with
new technology so that systems do not needlessly become obsolete.
CEDIA and its members must support and educate
elected officials in the local, state, and federal arenas
who support the industry. CEDIA will educate officials in
understanding the industry and the need to keep professional
CEDIA companies in business. CEDIA will collaborate with
other associations to formulate a cooperated political agenda,
and will support its members in their respective states to
assure the survival of our industry.
State Licensing
CEDIA members work in the electronic system
integration industry, running wires in walls and ceilings,
terminating at wall plates and at device locations, and installing
speakers, control points and other systems control devices
in walls, ceilings, furniture and other built-in and free-standing
applications. Regulation of licenses and contractor permits
is a state-level function. Few states have regulations that
directly license the work CEDIA members perform. In 36 states,
burglar and fire alarm work is the only low-voltage regulation
in place. Some states require contractor licenses; however,
these only apply to their business requirements, not technical
skills.
The popularity of low-voltage contracts, along
with their increasing size and scope of work, are now attracting
professionals formerly uninterested and/or untrained in our
field of expertise. However, many states have begun initiatives
to regulate, licenses and in many cases restrict who can
perform the work our members have been doing for over 25
years. CEDIA does not oppose licensing, but does believe
that any standards for licensing and safety should be required
by all electronic practitioners. There should be consistency
in the establishment of standards as well as the enforcement
of those standards.
It is in the CEDIA members’ best interests
for their association to stay in the forefront of the regulation
issue. CEDIA must be proactive in those states considering
legislative initiatives that will regulate the work we perform
by getting involved in the actual process as these bills
are in the draft stages. CEDIA must rally grassroots support
of CEDIA’s mission in each state, which has licensing
intent. It is the individual CEDIA members who will band
together to insure fair and equitable licensing is implemented
where those initiatives are under way, that consumer interests
and safety are in fact addressed, that fairness in standards
and implementation is encouraged, and that restrictions to
company growth are not intentionally put in place to serve
special interests.
Digital Television/HDTV
CEDIA believes that it is in the best interests
of the public that the digital television transition proceed
rapidly, provided that due consideration is given to equal
access to programming, without the intervention of unnecessary
controls on recording for home use. Included in the equal
access should be the right to view all programs transmitted
in high definition in their full resolution without any degradation
by cable or satellite services. CEDIA also encourages legislation
to accelerate the number of programs available in HD, the
number of stations broadcasting it, the number of cable systems
and satellite services carrying it and the number of products
available to receive it.
CEDIA urges any legislation concerning the
elimination of analog outputs to recognize the large existence
of sets with no digital inputs and the investment consumers
have in those sets. CEDIA members have installed digital-capable
video systems in customers’ homes for many years, well
before the current digital television transition began. They
represent, and continue to service, a large number of sets
that are currently capable of accepting digital signals but
that are not capable of upgrading to directly accept digital
inputs.
CEDIA supports any effort that will increase
availability of tuner products to consumers, but they urge
that any proposed legislation recognize that there are many
products now in use that receive a feed from an external
tuner, satellite receiver, cable box or other source. It
would be a duplication of efforts, a waste of natural resources
and a financial burden to consumers to require built-in tuners
to certain classes of display devices.
Copyright Protection
CEDIA supports legislation that will continue
to allow free and unrestricted rights to record programs
for in-home, non-commercial use, such as delay and time shift.
CEDIA opposes any legislation or private action that limits
recording rights, or which causes the quality of recorded
programs to be degraded or altered with respect to video
resolution or audio quality.
New technology is being made available to consumers
that allows them to not only listen to or view digital (and
other) programs as they are transmitted, but to record, delay/time
shift, store, manage and playback sound and images so that
programs may be enjoyed at the convenience of the consumer’s
schedule, not that of the broadcaster. CEDIA members are
actively involved in the sales and installation of these
products, but face a potential problem in the future as program
owners seek to protect their legitimate intellectual property
rights. CEDIA respects the rights of copyright holders to
protect their property. However, we urge that “fair
use” rights be respected so consumers may share programs
inside their home without artificially created barriers to
legitimate use.
Other Issues
CEDIA members are in the forefront of providing
advanced video displays such as high-resolution flat panel
displays and projection systems to consumers. It should be
noted that many of these products, such as CRT based projectors
and direct view sets and plasma display panels (PDP) are
emissive systems that use excited phosphors to create an
image.
CEDIA supports voluntary limits on the intensity
of logo bugs or streaming news tickers to prevent burn-in
on consumer displays, and also supports other measures such
as rotating logos and positioning, which reduces or eliminates
the problem. Barring voluntary compliance with measures to
limit the possibility of burn-in, CEDIA supports regulation
to assure that forces outside of their control will not harm
consumers’ investments in display products.
About CEDIA
CEDIA professionals create high quality, home
electronic systems for the discerning consumer. The association
provides education, certification, develops the industry
and creates demand and profitability within the marketplace.
CEDIA also works in conjunction with other associations to
establish industry standards.
CEDIA is a not-for-profit association based
in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is controlled by its members,
who annually elect officers and board members. An executive
committee consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer,
secretary and past president oversee the operation of the
CEDIA office and staff. The Board of Directors elects the
Executive Committee at the annual CEDIA EXPO.
CEDIA members abide by the CEDIA Bylaws and
subscribe to CEDIA's Principles of Conduct and Ethics, including
the following:
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Maintain
the highest standards of safety and any other responsibilities. |
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Make
a commitment to increase professional growth and knowledge
by attending educational programs recommended, but not
limited to, those prescribed by CEDIA. |
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Recognize
and discharge by responsibility, to uphold all laws and
regulations relating to CEDIA policies and activities. |
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Protect
the public against fraud and unfair practices and attempt
to eliminate from CEDIA all practices which bring discredit
to the profession. |
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When
providing services or products, maintain in full force
adequate or appropriate insurance. |
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Use
only legal and ethical means in all industry activities. |
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Promote
and encourage the highest level of ethics within the
profession. |
Custom Electronic Design and Installation
Association (CEDIA)
7150 Winton Dr., Ste. 200
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone: 317-328-4336
Toll Free: 800-669-5329
Fax: 317-735-4012
E-mail: publicpolicy@cedia.org
Web: www.cedia.org
Public Policy Leadership
Action Team Members
Gerry Demple - Team Chair
Merchandising Technologies, Inc.
Pat Colwell
Custom Electronics
Larry Dashiell
Hometech Systems, Inc.
Jeremy Glowacki
Residential Systems
Mark Hull
Hull Productions
Mitchell Klein
StayTuned
Ray Lepper
Home Media Richmond
Bill Skaer
Eric Grundelman, Inc.
Don St. Peters
St. Peters Sales Agency
Randy Vaughan
AE Systems Home Automation & Entertainment
John White
Amblesidelogic
CEDIA Public Policy Manager
Darren Reaman
dreaman@cedia.org
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