CE Pro Podcast #172: CEDIA’s Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Summary

CEDIA is continuing to expand its advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., as the organization pushes for greater recognition of the custom integration industry and increased workforce development support.

During a recent CE Pro podcast interview, CEDIA Global CEO Daryl Friedman and ADI Senior Vice President Greg Simmons discussed the association’s third annual Capitol Hill advocacy trip and its growing engagement with lawmakers and federal agencies.

According to Friedman, one of the primary goals is securing formal recognition for “technology integrator” as an occupational classification through the U.S. Department of Labor. CEDIA representatives met with Labor Department officials in March to discuss workforce development, apprenticeships, and the increasing role integrators play in modern construction and smart home projects.

“We want this industry to have apprenticeships and to have the industry recognized through an actual occupational code,” Friedman said during the interview.

Simmons added that the industry has become increasingly essential to residential construction over the last decade as homeowners adopt more connected technologies.

The discussions also centered on workforce initiatives, including apprenticeship programs and legislation designed to support veterans entering the technology workforce. Friedman highlighted the Veterans Energy Transition Act, which would provide grants to companies hiring veterans and their spouses for energy- and low-voltage-related roles.

The interview also touched on ongoing federal scrutiny around routers and network security. Friedman said CEDIA had planned to support the ROUTERS Act, legislation intended to study potential security risks tied to foreign-made routers, before the FCC separately moved forward with broader restrictions affecting networking hardware.

Friedman noted that the issue has drawn increased attention to cybersecurity and professionally installed networking systems, while Simmons emphasized that existing products already installed in homes or currently in inventory are not affected.

In addition to meetings with lawmakers, CEDIA hosted a smart home technology demonstration on Capitol Hill featuring products and platforms from several manufacturers, including AI-driven security and automation scenarios designed to showcase the role of professional integration in connected homes.

Looking ahead, Friedman said CEDIA plans to expand the initiative in 2027 by inviting association members to participate directly in Capitol Hill meetings and advocacy efforts.

Summary

CEDIA is continuing to expand its advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., as the organization pushes for greater recognition of the custom integration industry and increased workforce development support.

During a recent CE Pro podcast interview, CEDIA Global CEO Daryl Friedman and ADI Senior Vice President Greg Simmons discussed the association’s third annual Capitol Hill advocacy trip and its growing engagement with lawmakers and federal agencies.

According to Friedman, one of the primary goals is securing formal recognition for “technology integrator” as an occupational classification through the U.S. Department of Labor. CEDIA representatives met with Labor Department officials in March to discuss workforce development, apprenticeships, and the increasing role integrators play in modern construction and smart home projects.

“We want this industry to have apprenticeships and to have the industry recognized through an actual occupational code,” Friedman said during the interview.

Simmons added that the industry has become increasingly essential to residential construction over the last decade as homeowners adopt more connected technologies.

The discussions also centered on workforce initiatives, including apprenticeship programs and legislation designed to support veterans entering the technology workforce. Friedman highlighted the Veterans Energy Transition Act, which would provide grants to companies hiring veterans and their spouses for energy- and low-voltage-related roles.

The interview also touched on ongoing federal scrutiny around routers and network security. Friedman said CEDIA had planned to support the ROUTERS Act, legislation intended to study potential security risks tied to foreign-made routers, before the FCC separately moved forward with broader restrictions affecting networking hardware.

Friedman noted that the issue has drawn increased attention to cybersecurity and professionally installed networking systems, while Simmons emphasized that existing products already installed in homes or currently in inventory are not affected.

In addition to meetings with lawmakers, CEDIA hosted a smart home technology demonstration on Capitol Hill featuring products and platforms from several manufacturers, including AI-driven security and automation scenarios designed to showcase the role of professional integration in connected homes.

Looking ahead, Friedman said CEDIA plans to expand the initiative in 2027 by inviting association members to participate directly in Capitol Hill meetings and advocacy efforts.