History



1974 - A group of state telecommunications professionals from the midwestern states meets and formalizes the first of many state telecommunications directories. The need to establish a national telecommunications organization of federal and state telecommunications professionals emerges. 

State telecommunications professionals meet in Atlanta in 1978 and create the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD).  Two years later, NASTD becomes affiliated with the Council of State Governments and hosts its first national conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. The association elects officers and begins regularly scheduled meetings. 

1985 - NASTD creates four regions that each host a yearly meeting. NASTD holds its first trade show in conjunction with the annual conference in 1986, welcoming the corporate world to showcase their products and services to the states. 

Recognizing the value of its corporate partners, NASTD creates the corporate affiliate program in 1987, connecting the vendors directly to decision makers in state government telecommunications and technology. 

In 1989 an electronic bulletin board provides NASTD members with a method of sharing computer files and holding electronic discussions. Also, NASTD, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and a number of federal, county and city agencies come together in a cooperative effort known as Project 25 to develop digital radio standards by and for public safety wireless users. 

NASTD goes live with its first web site, www.nastd.org in 1995.

In 1996 the Corporate Affiliate Advisory Council (CAAC) is formed to provide the affiliates an organized voice in the association. 

Recognizing the role that NASTD members played in state infrastructure and operation issues, the Schools and Library Division of the FCC begins communicating with the Regulatory Action Committee on E-rate. This results in NASTD establishing an E-rate standing committee. 

In 1998 NASTD expands its membership to include other governmental departments or agencies with a responsibility for, or interest in, telecommunications, transforming itself from an association of 50 state telecommunications directors to an association for telecommunications and technology professionals in state government. 

Regional meetings officially open to the corporate affiliates in 1999 with the Southern Region winter meeting in Tampa. 

With further inclusion for the vendor community, CAAC chair attends the 2001 executive board meetings and participates in discussions concerning association issues. 

In November of 2003, the association created the public safety wireless special interest group. 

Beginning in 2004, NASTD established formal relationships with SAFECOM in the Department of Homeland Security and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), a federation of organizations with public safety telecommunications responsibilities. 

The association approved a leadership model for its four regions in 2005 to provide structure, continuity and experience for primary state members in the regions and for their staff. 

To reflect the wider range of its members’ operational responsibilities, in 2007 the association changed its name to the National Association of State Technology Directors.