WASHINGTON, D.C.—Earlier today, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA), the public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry, submitted comments to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on behalf of 100 industry organizations urging the agency to preserve longstanding rules that allow new and emerging technologies to be imported, displayed, and demonstrated at U.S. events and tradeshows before receiving final FCC equipment authorization.

The comments respond to the FCC’s proposed rule, Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through the Equipment Authorization Program, which asks whether existing event and tradeshow exceptions should continue to apply to certain equipment as the FCC strengthens protections for the U.S. communications supply chain.

While the industry coalition supports the FCC’s national security objectives, it is urging the agency to preserve the established, carefully controlled rules that allow certain technologies that have not yet received final FCC authorization to be temporarily imported, displayed, and demonstrated at industry events. For decades, these rules have prevented such products from being sold or commercially deployed while allowing U.S. events to serve as important global showcases for new and emerging technologies.

The industry also asked the FCC to immediately clarify that the existing rules remain in effect while the proceeding is pending, amid reports from event and tradeshow organizers that some shippers are already declining freight bound for U.S. events this fall because of uncertainty surrounding the proposal.

“One hundred organizations from across the industry are speaking with one voice because this issue is critical to the future competitiveness of U.S. events and tradeshows,” said Tommy Goodwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of ECA. “The FCC can secure our nation’s communications supply chain without disrupting a longstanding process that allows exhibitors to showcase the next generation of technology here in the U.S.”

As part of its comments, the industry emphasized that U.S. events and tradeshows play an important role in maintaining America’s technology leadership and global competitiveness. These events bring the world’s newest technologies, innovators, and buyers to the U.S., where manufacturers and technology developers demonstrate new products, gather customer feedback, evaluate performance and interoperability, meet potential business partners, and introduce emerging technologies to customers from across the U.S. and around the world.

“America should be where the world comes to see what’s next,” Goodwin said. “We believe that the FCC can protect national security while preserving the ability to showcase emerging technologies at U.S. events and tradeshows, helping ensure that the U.S. remains the leading global marketplace for innovation, investment, and commercialization. These objectives are not mutually exclusive, and the agency’s longstanding rules demonstrate that we can achieve both.”

The organizations joining the comments represent stakeholders from across the U.S. business and professional events industry, including event organizers, associations, exhibitors, venues, service providers, destinations, technology companies, and other businesses that support events nationwide. More than 99% of U.S. business events companies are small businesses, and the industry employs 2.6 million Americans and will drive more than $400 billion in domestic spending this year.

The full industry comment letter and list of signatories can be viewed here.

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About the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance:

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading associations comprising the public policy voice of the U.S. business and professional events industry.

ECA’s member associations include:

• Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
• Experiential Designers & Producers Association (EDPA)
• Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)
• International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE)
• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
• International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
• PCMA
• Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO)
• UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry

For media inquiries, please contact Tommy Goodwin: +1 (703) 672-0780 | tommy.goodwin@exhibitionsconferencesalliance.org.