Our History
For over 100 years, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® has played a leading role as an advocate for the technology industry and a catalyst for innovation.
100 Years of Igniting Innovation
Celebrating the last century of innovation, as we look forward to what's to come.
From radio, color TVs, and the first computer to digital health and AI, CTA has been at the center of advancing tech for a century, evolving to meet the industry’s needs and solving the world’s biggest challenges to benefit society.
In 1924, CTA began as the Radio Manufacturers Association bringing together a group of Chicago radio manufacturers in response to patent fights and looming legislation. Today, our membership represents 1300+ companies of every size and sector, all working to move technology forward, together.
In 2024, CTA celebrated 100 years of igniting innovation, and we now set our sights on what the next century will bring.
Featured Content
-
Article
The Radio Era
Since CTA’s start in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturers Association, U.S. technology companies have had an advocate on Capitol Hill and across the country for innovation and free enterprise. As the competitive and regulatory climate has changed, so has our association. Find out in this five-part series how CTA has led industry growth and supported technology innovations that are solving big global challenges. This article, the series first, tells the CTA story from 1924 to 1949.
-
Article
The Television Era
Since CTA’s start in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturers Association, U.S. technology companies have had an advocate on Capitol Hill and across the country for innovation and free enterprise. As the competitive and regulatory climate has changed, so has our association. Find out in this five-part series how CTA has led industry growth and supported technology innovations that are solving big global challenges. This article, the second in a series, tells the CTA story from 1950 to 1979.
-
Article
Consumer Tech Takes Off
Since CTA’s start in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturers Association, U.S. technology companies have had an advocate on Capitol Hill and across the country for innovation and free enterprise. As the competitive and regulatory climate has changed, so has our association. Find out in this five-part series how CTA has led industry growth and supported technology innovations that are solving big global challenges. This article, the series third, recaps the CTA story from 1980 to 1994.
-
Article
Digital Transformation
Since CTA’s start in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturers Association, U.S. technology companies have had an advocate on Capitol Hill and across the country for innovation and free enterprise. As the competitive and regulatory climate has changed, so has our association. Find out how CTA has led industry growth and supported technology innovations that are solving big global challenges. This article, the series fourth, summarizes how CTA navigated the digital-tech tide.
-
Article
Present and Future Era
Since CTA’s start in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturers Association, U.S. technology companies have had an advocate on Capitol Hill and across the country for innovation and free enterprise. As the competitive and regulatory climate has changed, so has our association. Find out how CTA has led industry growth and supported technology innovations that are solving big global challenges. This article concludes the series summarizing CTA milestones from 2015 to 2023 and beyond.
