Timeline of Events for EST Legislation

December 2002 — InfoComm requests a meeting with CEDIA and NSCA where InfoComm first proposes a joint European trade show (ISE) and agrees to actively work with CEDIA and NSCA in the Electronic Systems Industries Consortium (ESIC).

January 2004 — InfoComm protests in ESIC meetings that NSCA should not use the consortium’s programs and materials to create the C-EST and compete against the certification programs of the other ESIC members. February 2004 the ESIC consortium votes to ask NSCA to remedy the competitive problems created by the C-EST.

April 2004 — InfoComm resigns from the C-EST citing the continued problem of NSCA’s use of the EST to compete against other consortium members. The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), BICSI, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), and other associations also leave the consortium, leaving CEDIA, NSCA, CEA, the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), and the Security Industry Association (SIA) as members.

September 2005 — InfoComm President-Elect and Executive Director meet at CEDIA Expo with officers and staff of CEDIA and NSCA to discuss the EST program and the CEDIA and NSCA legislative agenda.

November 2005 — CEDIA President invited by InfoComm to address the InfoComm Executive Committee and staff on the EST, CEDIA’s idea of a 4th trade, and the CEDIA and NSCA legislative agenda.  The invitation is accepted but then InfoComm is informed that the CEDIA President cannot attend because CEDIA is not ready to discuss their plans with InfoComm.

December 20, 2005 — CEDIA retains lobbyist to pre-file a bill for the 2006 legislative session creating a New Hampshire state-sponsored EST Certification Program. CEDIA and NSCA include bill language forming an advisory oversight group that gives multiple seats at the table for each of their associations, two seats to labor unions and two seats to the New Hampshire Retail Federation. Various impacted industry groups, such as InfoComm, BICSI and the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) are not notified or contacted about the bill.

January 4, 2006 — New Hampshire HB 1595, the EST certification bill is introduced. Various impacted industry groups, such as InfoComm, BICSI and the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association are not notified or contacted about the bill. Bill referred to House Committee on Executive Departments and Administration.

January 2006 — At the CES tradeshow InfoComm’s President and Executive Director meet with CEDIA’s President and Executive Director and among other topics ask that CEDIA’s Executive Committee meet with InfoComm’s Executive Committee to hear the plans for a 4th trade, the CEDIA legislative agenda, and other ways the two associations could work more closely together including working on legislation.

February 23, 2006 — New Hampshire House Committee on Executive Departments and Administration passes HB 1595. Committee recommends amendments to legislation, removing legislative language that references the certification as being voluntary.

March 7, 2006 — New Hampshire approves HB 1595 on voice vote, without a public reading of the bill. The bill is amended by the House to remove legislative language calling the certification voluntary. The bill is referred to the Senate.

March 16, 2006 — HB 1595 is referred to the New Hampshire Senate Committee on Executive Departments and Administration.

March 17, 2006 — The Executive Committees of CEDIA and InfoComm meet over dinner at the NSCA show to hear about the CEDIA plans for the 4th trade and the CEDIA legislative agenda. The elected officials and staff of InfoComm leave the dinner with hope that the organizations can work together. No mention is made by CEDIA of any legislation introduced in New Hampshire.

March 24, 2006 — CEDIA lobbyist introduces LR 344 in the Nebraska Unicameral, calling for a study of an EST licensing program for workers operating in the limited energy environment. Various impacted industry groups, such as InfoComm, BICSI and NBFAA are not notified or contacted about the legislation.

April 12, 2006 — New Hampshire Senate Committee on Executive Departments and Administration holds a hearing on HB 1595. So many impacted NH businesses attend in opposition to the bill that Fire Marshall has to ask people to leave the hearing room.  Only one NH business testifies in favor of the legislation. At the hearing an amended bill is presented for the HB 1595 which reduces the negative effects of the house bill supported by CEDIA and NSCA. The Committee recommends that the bill be further studied. Following the hearing, CEDIA’s President-Elect and InfoComm’s Executive Director discuss the importance of not being on opposite sides in future legislative endeavors.

April 20, 2006 — The New Hampshire Senate rejects HB 1595, deems it "Legislatively Inexpedient."

June 6, 2006 — Executive Director of CEDIA and President and Executive Director of InfoComm meet. CEDIA acknowledges the Nebraska legislation and states that they cannot walk away from it.

August 28, 2006 — Date for Nebraska General Affairs Committee Meeting on LR 344 set for October 20, 2006.

October 16, 2006 — InfoComm receives letters from CEDIA, dated October 11, asking us to “work together on LR 344."

October 20, 2006 — Nebraska General Affairs Committee Meeting takes place. CEDIA’s lobbyist and staff member leave immediately after making their statements. The meeting continues for several hours with interests opposed to the legislation speaking and answering committee questions. The head of the Nebraska state licensing board testifies in opposition to the legislation, mentioning that Nebraska never had any other proposals or intention of regulating limited energy workers in Nebraska.

October 23, 2006 — All members of the Nebraska Government Affairs Committee, including the sponsor of the legislation vote to reject studying an EST license.

November 1, 2006 — Responding to an inquiry from InfoComm, the HB 139 Idaho Telecommunications Coalition informs InfoComm that CEDIA was trying to inject EST into a several months-long local negotiation on low-voltage licensing concerning telecommunications workers. Various impacted industry groups, such as InfoComm, BICSI and NBFAA were not notified or contacted about their efforts.

November 8, 2006 — Idaho Licensing Board announces that while it will determine the ultimate solution for licensing limited energy workers, it is rejecting attempts to make this an “EST license."