bnetTV speaks with Steve Berry ( President & CEO of CCA ) and Athtena Paulino ( Director, Wireless Internet Development of CTIA ) at the 2012 mHealth Summit held in Washington DC and discuss" What are the industry organizations doing for the mHealth industry and why is it important to be involved".

About CCA:

CCA was founded in 1992 by nine rural and regional wireless carriers as a carrier centric organization.  Since its founding, CCA has grown to become the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers serving all areas of the United States. Today, the licensed service area of CCA’s over 100 carrier members covers more than 95 percent of the nation.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, CCA advocates on behalf of our members’ interests and works to educate policymakers on the key issues that impact our members’ ability to compete, survive, and thrive.  Currently these issues include automatic data roaming, interoperability throughout the 700 MHz spectrum, Universal Service Fund reform, spectrum policy and licensing issues and handset exclusivity, among others.

Advocating before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the White House and Congress, CCA works to ensure that our members’ voices and views are heard not only by policymakers but also by the media, third parties and throughout the entire wireless industry.

The CCA membership consists of three types of members:

1. Carrier Member – A carrier member must be the operator of a CMRS license providing “two-way” wireless communications service, and together with its affiliates, not have more than 80 million subscribers.
2. Associate Member – An associate member is a company that provides goods or services to the wireless telecommunications industry.
3. Affiliate Member – An affiliate member includes those companies that operate or own an interest in a CMRS license but do not qualify as a carrier member.  This may be because they exceed the subscriber limit in their markets or because they are a limited partner.

To date, the CCA membership is comprised of approximately 100 carrier members,150 associate members and a ten affiliate members.  The Association is led by a Board of Directors comprised of 27 carrier and associate members and CEOs.

About CTIA:

CTIA-The Wireless Association® is an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.

The association advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. CTIA also coordinates the industry's voluntary efforts to provide consumers with a variety of choices and information regarding their wireless products and services. This includes the voluntary industry guidelines; programs that promote mobile device recycling and reusing; and wireless accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

CTIA also supports numerous important industry initiatives, such as GrowingWireless.com to provide parents with tools and information to educate themselves so they may teach their kids how to use wireless technology responsibly; "go wireless, go green" campaign to educate consumers and policymakers about the industry's numerous eco-friendly initiatives and activities; "On the Road, Off the Phone," a teen-focused safe driving public service announcement campaign; AccessWireless.org, a resource for consumers to research and find information on accessible wireless products and services; and text4baby, a free mobile educational service to promote the birth of healthy babies

The association also operates the industry's leading trade shows, as well as equipment testing and certification programs to ensure a high standard of quality for consumers.