December 6, 2017
Volume LXIII, Issue 9

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In This Issue

TIA to Steward DCIA Mission and Membership

Visit the Telecommunications Industry Association

Move Reflects Strategy to Broaden Services and Improve Security for High-Value Content Distribution

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech connectivity networks, and the Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA), the international trade organization “dedicated to connecting companies, content, and consumers to the cloud,” today announced their agreement for TIA to continue and extend the DCIA’s mission of bringing together content providers, service providers, and technology companies.

The move is part of a strategic effort to expand TIA’s services that address the full range of needs facing the connectivity industry today, and with respect to DCIA members’ involvement, emerging opportunities in the media and entertainment sector for content delivery by means of distributed computing technologies.

DCIA members will be afforded the opportunity to join TIA on attractive terms in its drive to accelerate modern connectivity and address the business, technology, and industry transformation needs of its members.

New Joint Initiative

The new joint initiative will focus on end-to-end reliability and security for high-value content delivered directly from rights holders to Internet-connected devices, which is essential to the industry transformation envisioned by media and entertainment industry leaders.

“This future focused, industry led effort expands our ability to deliver member value across the full spectrum of business, technology, and policy needs,” commented Wesley Johnston, TIA CEO. “TIA is an established leader when it comes to technology and business acceleration, global standards development, and business advocacy. The DCIA brings new valuable relationships and experience in mobile cloud, big data, cybersecurity, social networking, Internet of Things, fog and edge computing.”

The new organization constitutes a global community of more than 500 members, engineering committee and partner organizations across the Americas, Europe-Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The merger is expected to create access to a wider market for the combined portfolio and position the organization for long-term growth.

Marty Lafferty, CEO of DCIA, said, “This strategic alliance will not only provide more value to our member companies, it will also allow us to meet new challenges and opportunities involving the media industries as a result of ongoing technological advancements. TIA has relationships with additional participants in the high-value content distribution chain and relevant experience in managing integrity of components within the international connected device marketplace.”

The change is effective immediately, with all services provided to DCIA members upon joining TIA, such as standards development and advocacy, to be headquartered at the TIA’s state-of-the-art offices in Arlington, VA. Lafferty will serve as a senior executive consultant to TIA, directly reporting to CEO Johnston, in developing the TIA’s new media and technology program. More information on the merger can be found at www.tiaonline.org and www.dcia.info.

Additional Background

Since the DCIA’s inception in 2003, the distributed computing industry has advanced from decentralized file sharing to centralized data center storage and processing for cloud computing and more recently to such manifestations as mobile cloud and internet of things now bringing the cycle back to more decentralized architectures with fog and edge computing.

At the same time, widespread advancements including for critical life-supporting applications ranging from energy infrastructure to autonomous vehicles to personal healthcare have made cybersecurity even more important than preserving privacy and protecting copyright, which remain of great concern.

Recent announcements by major media and entertainment industry leaders reflect the kind of disruptions already experienced in the travel, retail, and transportation sectors. Going direct to connected devices of all kinds with streaming media video, audio, games, virtual reality, and mixed reality is the future. In doing so, established distribution channels with established content security mechanisms will be bypassed.

Securing the distribution chain end-to-end for delivery of millions of high-value and interactive content properties to billions of connected consumer display devices poses unprecedented challenges to the industry.

The needs and opportunities associated with this enormous change motivated the DCIA to seek a strategic alliance with a larger established trade association that has relationships with additional participants in the high-value content distribution chain – and importantly – with relevant experience in managing integrity of the international mobile connected device marketplace.

TIA, with member companies representing manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech connectivity networks and – of critical importance – current experience in a related endeavor managing a global database of mobile phone numbers, represented the best possible choice for this next phase of industry development.

About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members’ products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details. TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign.

About the DCIA

The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA), established in 2003, is an international non-profit trade organization with the mission to commercially advance cloud computing and related technologies.

Its member companies are industry-leading software and solutions developers, broadband network operators, content rights-holders, and service-and-support firms.

The DCIA conducts such activities as business development, market research, conferences and expos, industry communications, working groups, advocacy initiatives, standards setting, and also publishes the weekly online newsletter DCINFO. To learn more, please visit www.dcia.info.

Coming Events of Interest

CES — January 9th through 12th in Las Vegas, NV. Organized by the Consumer Technology Association, this large annual event typically hosts presentations of new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry.

Industry of Things World USA 2018 — March 7th through 9th in San Diego, CA will bring together the entire industrial internet of things (IIoT) ecosystem for this third annual event featuring three days of high level networking and learning.

IIoT USA — April 18th and 19th in Chicago, IL. This will be the third annual event in a global series highlighting the digital transformation taking place across industry. Attendees will learn from pioneering leaders in the field, showcase best practices, and benchmark their approaches with peers.

Delivery of Things World 2018 — April 23rd and 24th in Berlin, Germany. Meet the most influential DevOps practitioners and experts and discuss what DevOps means for your business.

Japan IT Week — May 9th through 12th in Tokyo, Japan 13 shows focusing on different themes, including 1st AI & Business Automation Expo Spring, the newly launching show that has been drawing a lot of attention.