June 19, 2008 -- The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) announced that it is investing in a number of green initiatives for the electronics industry worldwide.
The initiatives include: EIATRACK, a global benchmark for environmental intelligence and product-oriented regulatory tracking and analysis; and the TIA's E-cycling Central Web site (www.eiae.org/), which features a state-by-state database of more than 2,000 electronics recycling locations in the United States.
TIA says it is also engaged in rallying communications companies around issues relating to "the greening of technology."
The association announced the green initiatives at NXTcomm 08 in Las Vegas, at a news conference with its chairman of the board, Tellabs president and CEO Rob Pullen, and TIA president Grant Seiffert.
"TIA's investment in green initiatives provides vision and adds value for our members as the ICT [information and communications technology] industry continues to respond to worldwide environmental and regulatory issues affecting business," said Seiffert.
The legal expertise provided by EIATRACK "is worth millions," contends TIA. The cost of compliance with European regulations alone is estimated to be nearly a trillion dollars; fines that the EU assesses to noncompliant companies can be upwards of $50 million. Features of EIATRACK benchmark include: over 110 international jurisdictions covered; analysis from world renowned analysts and legal experts; and content value of over $1 million.
The E-cycling Central site connects both businesses and consumers with programs that accept electronics at the end of their product life cycle, through a free, searchable database sorted by state, zip code or national program.
In its effort to lead the ICT industry in the greening of technology, TIA says it is also exploring the issues of standardization of data centers to reduce their carbon footprints.
