InfoComm International
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| InfoComm International | |
|---|---|
| Name | InfoComm International |
| Type | Trade association |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Dissolved | 2018 (merged into AVIXA) |
| Area served | Global |
| Focus | Audio-visual industry, professional audiovisual |
InfoComm International InfoComm International was a trade association for the professional audiovisual and information communications industry that provided standards, certification, advocacy, events, and education. Founded in 1939, the organization served manufacturers, systems integrators, consultants, and end users across markets including corporate, education, healthcare, government, and entertainment. Over its history InfoComm engaged with international bodies, technology companies, and standards organizations to advance interoperability, workforce development, and industry visibility.
History
InfoComm International traced roots to pre‑World War II industry groups and evolved through postwar expansion, Cold War communications needs, and late 20th‑century audiovisual innovation. The association participated alongside organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American National Standards Institute, International Electrotechnical Commission, National Association of Broadcasters, and Electronic Industries Alliance in cross‑industry dialogues. During the rise of digital signal processing and networking in the 1990s and 2000s, InfoComm engaged with Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Apple Inc., Sony, Panasonic, and Barco on interoperability and professional practice. In the 2010s the organization expanded global reach with chapters and partnerships in regions represented by entities such as European Broadcasting Union, Asia‑Pacific Broadcasting Union, Latin American Association of Broadcasters, and national associations including British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association. In 2018 InfoComm merged identities within the evolving professional audiovisual ecosystem, connecting to legacy initiatives linked to organizations like SMPTE, IETF, ITU, and TIA.
Organization and Membership
InfoComm's governance included a board of directors, standards committees, and volunteer working groups drawing members from manufacturers, integrators, consultants, dealers, and institutional buyers. Membership profiles paralleled firms and institutions such as Harman International Industries, Rohde & Schwarz, Shure Incorporated, Crestron Electronics, Extron Electronics, Honeywell, IBM, Google, and higher‑education campuses like Harvard University and University of California, Los Angeles. Regional chapters coordinated with trade bodies including Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Australian Communications and Media Authority, and Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (as an example of cross‑sector facilities stakeholders). Committees interfaced with certification entities such as CompTIA and training organizations including Coursera and LinkedIn Learning for workforce development alignment.
Standards and Certification
InfoComm developed technical recommendations and professional credentialing to promote interoperability and quality in audiovisual systems. Standards work intersected with AES (Audio Engineering Society), SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), IEC, and ISO to harmonize signal formats, cabling, and measurement methods. Certification programs were comparable in intent to credentials from BICSI, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) code training, and occupational frameworks used by Project Management Institute and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‑Conditioning Engineers. InfoComm's certifications addressed competencies in areas analogous to Cisco Certified Network Professional and Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals—tailored for audiovisual design, installation, operation, and maintenance. Technical committees collaborated with standards stakeholders including Underwriters Laboratories, ETSI, and national test laboratories to validate safety and performance criteria.
Events and Trade Shows
InfoComm organized major industry events that served as marketplaces for audiovisual technology, product launches, and professional networking. These events were analogous in scale and trade function to exhibitions such as Consumer Electronics Show, Integrated Systems Europe, IBC Amsterdam, National Hardware Show, and NAB Show; participants included manufacturers like LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, NEC Corporation, and systems firms such as AVI‑SYS and Diversified. Conferences featured sessions with speakers drawn from firms like Deloitte, Accenture, McKinsey & Company, and public institutions including Smithsonian Institution and Royal Opera House to address market strategy, user experience, and venue design. Satellite events and regional shows coordinated with chambers of commerce, export councils, and national trade promotion agencies.
Publications and Educational Programs
InfoComm produced technical documentation, white papers, recommended practices, and educational curricula used by trainers, consultants, and university programs. Publications paralleled works from IEEE Spectrum, Wired (magazine), Communications of the ACM, and professional journals such as Journal of the Audio Engineering Society. Educational programs spanned instructor‑led courses, online modules, and partnerships with academic institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University for research and practicum. Continuing education units and professional development offerings were tracked in systems similar to CEUs and credential registries used by American Institute of Architects and Royal Institute of British Architects.
Industry Impact and Partnerships
InfoComm influenced procurement practices, technical interoperability, and workforce pipelines by partnering with government agencies, venue operators, and corporate facility managers. Its collaborations mirrored alliances between NASA, Department of Defense (United States), United Nations, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in projects requiring specialized audiovisual systems. Strategic partnerships with technology vendors, standards bodies, and training organizations helped shape product roadmaps at companies like Intel Corporation, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and AMD. The association's legacy affected procurement guidelines, classroom AV deployments, event production, and broadcast‑to‑IT convergence across professional sectors represented by organizations such as World Health Organization, UNESCO, and multinational corporations operating in markets regulated by agencies like Federal Communications Commission and European Commission.