May 23, 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the inception of CTIA, originally incorporated under the name Cellular Communications Industry Association. Its purpose was to encourage public acceptance of cellular mobile communication, improve mobile service to the public, gather industry statistics, work with government agencies by providing non-proprietary information on the industry, keep its members informed on government legislation and developments in the industry, and participate in trade association activities as directed by its board.
The initial board members in 1984 were: Dale Nicholson – GTE Mobilnet George Perrin – Cellular Network, Inc. Richard Callahan – Newvector Communications John T. Dunbar – ALLTEL Communications, Inc. Roger Linquist – Communications Industries, Inc. Joseph T. Ambrozy – Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems, Inc. A. Thomas Kelly – Southern New England Telephone Company Dennis F. Strigl – Ameritech Mobile Communications Inc. C. F. Wright – Centel Cellular Company Robert Tonsfeldt – BellSouth Mobility, Inc. John Atterbury – Southwestern Bell Mobile System, Inc. James Dwyer – American Cellular Telephone Corp. John Palmer – Mobile Communications Corp. of America Philip Quigley – Pactel Mobile Access Robert Marino – United TeleSpectrum, Inc. Myles Berkman – Associated Communications Morgan Kennedy – NYNEX Mobile Communications Company Rudy Hornesek – Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. Barry L. Kratz – The Western Union Telegraph Co.
Starting out as a small trade association with only 2 employees, CTIA has now grown to over 40 on the leadership team alone, with more than 200 association members including wireless carriers and their suppliers, manufacturers and providers of wireless data services and products. The organization now helps guide companies through the vast and ever changing wireless industry via education, public service and trade shows, and continues to advocate for its members through all levels of government. Happy birthday CTIA!