CES: Legislators Still Plan In-Person CES Appearances

By John Eggerton
last updated

Record Senator attendance would come despite rising COVID-19 numbers

The CES 2020 show opening arch.
CES plans to open its show floor to attendees in January. (Image credit: CES)

A spokesperson for the Consumer Technology Association said Thursday that a quartet of legislators still plan in-person appearances at CES in Las Vegas.

A number of exhibitors have canceled in-person attendance due to the dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks.

Scheduled to appear on a panel are Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.).

Asked Thursday if that was still the case, the CTA spokesperson said yes, citing the association's earlier announcement of a record number of senators making the trip.

Also scheduled to speak at the show is House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), father of former acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and whose endorsement was a key to then-candidate Joe Biden's successful presidential run.

Asked if he still planned to make the trip, press secretary Derrick Hope would only say: "Check back after the holidays." ■

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.