Technical Standards Committee
In 1994, the ESTA Board of Directors moved ESTA to a new level in its development as a professional trade association by establishing the ESTA Technical Standards Program. An increasing number of ESTA members were encountering situations where the lack of standards, or the imposition of standards developed outside the entertainment industry, were making it increasingly difficult to conduct business safely, efficiently, and profitably. As a trade association in a technology-based industry, it was the obvious duty of ESTA to serve its membership by establishing a program to deal with issues of technology and standards. In 1996, ESTA'S Technical Standards Program was accredited by the American National Standards Institute as Accredited Standards Committee E1, Safety and Compatibility of Entertainment Technology Equipment and Practices.

The Technical Standards Committee (TSC), which was created to oversee the Technical Standards Program, is comprised of individuals appointed to the committee by the ESTA Board of Directors because of their extensive experience in standards making activities, or their financial and management backgrounds. ASTC, PLASA, USITT and VPLT retain permanent seats on the Committee.

Vision:

The Technical Standards program (TSP) will serve the needs of the ESTA membership and contribute to the Entertainment Industry through the creation and publication of Recommended Practices and Standards. This effort will facilitate the use of new and existing equipment, improve communications and promote safe working conditions. Through the establishment of Working Groups, the TSP will concentrate its efforts in the areas of performance technology, safety, and loss prevention. As the composition of the ESTA membership evolves those areas may be expanded, either directly through the establishment of new Working Groups, or indirectly through liaisons with other organizations and associations.

The TSP will also serve the needs of the ESTA membership by monitoring the work of other relevant standards-making bodies and regulatory agencies throughout the world. The TSP will support said technical standards efforts through information dispersal or by direct participation. Pertinent information will be disseminated to the membership through general communications and in response to individual requests.

The TSP will support the goals and objectives of ESTA and will significantly contribute to its important role as a trade association.

Mission:
The Technical Standards Committee (TSC) was created to oversee the Technical Standards Program with the charge to:

• Develop and implement an ESTA Technical Standards Policy.
• Approve technical standards projects and appoint working group chairs.
• Publish recommended practices and application notes.
• Appoint liaisons to monitor, participate in and support technical standards efforts by other organizations.
• Disseminate information to the ESTA membership on internal and external technical standards projects via a regularly published newsletter.
• Ensure that the ESTA membership is kept fully informed of all technical standards and regulations on a national and international level that might have an effect on the Entertainment Industry.

Upcoming Meetings:
(Note: meeting schedules are subject to change)

    LDI 2008
      Harrah's Las Vegas
          Technical Standards Committee:
          Wednesday, October 22; 1pm - 5pm