EIA Board Approves Realignment Plan

The Board of Governors of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today approved a plan to bolster the advocacy efforts and member services provided by EIA's four member associations so that they can better serve the U.S. technology industry.

"Change is the only constant in today's high-tech business," said Mike Kennedy, EIA's chairman of the board and Motorola senior vice president. "We believe these changes will dramatically enhance the ability of these four groups to meet their objectives, be they improved advocacy in Washington or enhanced services for member companies. The tech sector will only benefit as a result of these changes."

EIA is an alliance of four trade associations: The Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA); the Government Electronics and Information Technology Association (GEIA); the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association (JEDEC); and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Prior to 1998, EIA was the Electronic Industries Association and the group dates back to 1924.

"The resultant new structure will allow each sector to have a stronger focus on its core interest area, while maintaining cross-industry connections," said Jim Shiring, Microsemi Corporation executive vice president who also serves as EIA's secretary/treasurer and on JEDEC's board of directors.

"ECA supports this new structure, which will expand our ability to deliver innovative international conferences and symposiums," said James R. Kaplan, Sr., ECA's chairman of the board and Cornell Dubilier Electronics chairman & CEO. "These changes will also enhance ECA's standing as a leader in the development and implementation of international standards."

"These changes will provide our members with the ability under GEIA auspices to address public policy issues on Capitol Hill and throughout the executive agencies," said Dan Heinemeier, president of GEIA. "We are excited at the prospect of building on the strong heritage of the EIA government relations program."

"TIA strongly supports this realignment, which improves the value proposition for TIA members, strengthens the voice of TIA's advocacy and creates new opportunities for all parties," said Rob Pullen, TIA's chairman of the board and Tellabs senior vice president, global services. "The industry will continue to benefit from TIA's experience in standards development and tradeshows in the future. This is a beneficial outcome for everyone involved."

The realignment plan won the required two-thirds support of EIA's board and provides for the following:

• The Telecommunications Industry Association is engaged in a discussion with EIA's Environmental Issues Council (EIC) and has offered to partner with the council and transfer all environmental staff and EIA Track, a subscription service tracking environmental news and regulation worldwide, to TIA. TIA intends to keep intact all services, dues and subscription rates.
• The Government Electronics and Information Technology Association has expressed interest in EIA government relations staff to advance GEIA policy priorities.

• EIA will contribute to the National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP) to advance science and technology education in America's classrooms.
• The alliance will remain a vehicle through which the four associations may pursue future cooperative efforts in service to their member companies.

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