FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 03, 2008

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Applauds EPA for Exempting Telephony Products From Inapplicable Rules

EPA Affirms TIA Position That ENERGY STAR® Standby Usage Requirements Do Not Apply to Devices That Are Never in Standby Mode

Washington, D.C.. –The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, lauded the EPA’s finding that its ENERGY STAR® Telephony “No-Load” rules do not apply to telephony products such as cordless telephones, answering machines, and combination cordless phones and answering machines.

On September 11, 2008, TIA called upon the EPA to ensure that an external power supply (EPS), used in conjunction with ENERGY STAR® qualified telephony products, would not be required to meet ENERGY STAR® energy consumption requirements of 0.3 or 0.5 watts when in standby or “No-Load” mode (No-Load requirements).

TIA noted that the new EPA requirements did not take into account the fact that cordless telephones, answering systems, and combination units are never in standby/No-Load mode and were thus inapplicable. 

“In embracing our position, the EPA has eliminated regulations that are inapplicable to and irrelevant for cordless phones, answering machines, and combination cordless phones and answering machines.” said Danielle Coffey, TIA Vice President of Government Affairs. “Our members’ efforts to employ environmentally sound practices will be enhanced by eliminating regulations that would not, in application to many of their products, be of benefit.  As we hoped, the EPA has understood this concern and risen to the occasion.  We look forward to working with EPA on this matter,” Coffey added.

For more information, please contact Patrick Sullivan at psullivan@tiaonline.org. 

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About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. With roots dating back to 1924, 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. TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.

TIA’s Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, ArrayComm, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cam Communications, Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, OneChip Photonics Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Verari Systems, Westell Technologies, Inc. and Zebra Technologies Corporation. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.

 

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