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While CES has become a household name over the past few years, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is less known. The CTA is the organization that owns and puts on CES every year, but they are a lot more than that. They work on consumer advocacy projects, help to write and maintain standards, and work to improve the state of the industry.

The most visible aspect of the CTA is CES. The show is the largest and most influential tech show in the world. While the numbers are not officially released, the show floor expanded to its largest-ever footprint and likely attracted the most people in the show's history. And, our favorite part of the show - Eureka Park - had the most number of exhibitors. All of this is in preparation for CES 2021, which should be the inaugural event in the new expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

In addition to CES, the CTA is working hard to make the industry better for everyone. The organization continues to work within state capitals and Washington DC to prevent laws being passed to inhibit the innovation that the country is known for. They also in sectors of the industry to encourage improvements for consumers. This ranges from privacy protections to improved product specs.

Of the major outreach programs of the organization, the standards group is the most important. Many companies (we're looking at you Apple and Sony) have been known for avoiding standards at the expense of their customers. In the past, this behavior was far more common. The cables you used for surround sound varied from brand to brand. To use a Sony receiver and TV, you had to have a special cable. Today, that behavior is mostly limited to just Apple, and even they are coming around. That is, in large part, because of the work done by the CTA.

Check out the organization's websites to learn more about CES or the CTA.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology and Christopher Jordan of The Talking Sound.