Radio Club of America

What Radio Club of America does

Radio Club of America (RCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization founded on January 2, 1909 in New York City (originally as the Junior Wireless Club by E. Lillian Todd and renamed in 1911) and currently headquartered at 13570 Grove Drive #302 in Maple Grove, Minnesota. It markets itself as the world's oldest society of wireless communications professionals and serves individuals, students, and corporate organizations working across antennas, broadband, broadcasting, cellular, public safety, satellites, semiconductors, transportation, military, and other wireless subsegments. Membership is structured in five tiers — Student ($20/year), Senior ($80/year), Regular ($95/year), Corporate ($1,100/year for ten employees), and Life (15-25x annual dues) — with applications routed through a Membership Committee.

RCA's product surface is built around membership access, recognition, events, and education rather than technology commercialization. Core offerings include the annual Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet (held at venues such as the Westin Times Square), the Fellows distinction and award programs (Armstrong Medal, Lifetime Achievement, Sarnoff Citation, Fred Link Award, Vivian Carr Award), a college scholarship program distributed across universities including Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, NYU, and Penn State, bi-annual Aerogram and Proceedings publications, the RCA Interview Series and YouTube video archive, a Youth Activities program (30+ years old), a Women in Wireless initiative, a Mentorship Program, an RCA Career Center, and a December 2022 "Introduction to Wireless" online training module. RCA maintains a small e-commerce store for branded merchandise, including $100 Life Member Certificate Plaques.

Revenue is diversified across five streams: recurring membership dues (subscription), event fees (Fellows Dinners at $130/person, Symposium/Banquet registration), donations and corporate sponsorships (with legacy-giving and Tom Sorley Memorial Fund programs), merchandise, and advertising in the Aerogram and Proceedings. Marketing is conducted through the website, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, a bi-annual newsletter, conference booths at APCO/IWCE/NATE, and reciprocal membership partnerships with nine industry bodies including IEEE Communications Society, APCO International, IWCE, WIA, and SMPTE. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, has no parent company, and reports operations as an actively running 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Name

Radio Club of America

Legal name

Radio Club of America

Website

https://radioclubofamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1909 that serves wireless communications professionals worldwide through multi-tier memberships, technical events, awards, scholarships, publications, and industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association - Wireless Communications

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Wireless industry membership
• Industry awards recognition
• Professional networking events
• Scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Maple Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and multi-year membership dues from individual and corporate members. Individual memberships range from $20/year (student) to $95/year (regular), with corporate memberships at $1100/year or $2600 for 3 years (includes 10 employee memberships). Life membership available through one-time payments of 15-25 times annual dues.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature member engagement events including the annual Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet, Fellows Dinners ($130 per person), and networking receptions at industry conferences.
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and legacy giving support RCA operations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, making donations potentially tax-deductible.
4. Merchandise Store: The RCA Store sells merchandise including mounted Life Member Certificate Plaques for $100.
5. Advertising Revenue: Advertising opportunities in RCA publications (Aerogram, Proceedings) targeting wireless product buyers in a highly targeted niche environment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization that delivers tiered memberships, networking events, technical publications, industry awards, scholarships, and educational programs to wireless communications professionals worldwide. Its core deliverables include the Annual Technical Symposium, Awards Banquet, Aerogram newsletter, Proceedings publications, the Fellows and Awards recognition program, and a multi-university Scholarship Program.

Product overview

The Radio Club of America is a professional membership organization (501(c)(3) non-profit) founded in 1909, serving as the oldest society of wireless communications professionals. The organization offers a unified platform of services including membership at multiple tiers (Regular, 65+, Student, Life, Fellows, Honorary, Corporate), RCA Publications (Aerogram newsletter and Proceedings), the Awards and Fellows recognition program, Scholarship Program with named funds, Technical Symposium, Interview Series, Video Archives, Women in Wireless initiatives, Youth Activities, Mentorship Program, Career Center, and event programming. The RCA Store offers branded merchandise. These services work together to advance wireless professionals across all career stages through networking, education, recognition, and industry leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RCA Professional Membership Tiered professional membership organization offering Regular ($95/year), Senior 65+ ($80/year), Student ($20/year), Family ($135/year), Corporate ($1,100/year for 10 employee memberships), and Life Membership tiers. Membership provides voting rights, eligibility to hold elected office, access to publications, networking events, and the Career Center.
• Annual Technical Symposium Annual day-long technical conference showcasing innovative presentations across every wireless segment from antennas to satellite communications and public safety. Open call for papers invites innovators, engineers, researchers, and students to submit proposals. Held at venues such as Westin Times Square.
• RCA Awards and Fellows Program Industry recognition program honoring major contributors to wireless communications through award categories including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fred Link Award, Sarnoff Citation, Armstrong Medal, Vivian Carr Award, Frank A. Gunther Award, Wireless Innovation Award, and elevation to Fellow status. Includes annual Awards Banquet and nomination process.
• RCA Scholarship Program College scholarship program supporting students in wireless engineering and related fields, including named scholarships (Ted Rappaport, Vivian Carr, Marty Cooper) distributed to participating universities including Capitol Technology University, Cooper Union, Georgia Tech, Michigan Technological University, Montclair State University, North Dakota State University, SUNY, Virginia Tech, and University of Texas.
• RCA Interview Series Quarterly virtual interview series featuring conversations with industry professionals and wireless leaders. Free and open to the public with registration required, recordings published on the RCA YouTube channel.
• RCA Video Archives YouTube-based archive of past Technical Symposium presentations, Awards Programs, Interview Series, Women in Wireless sessions, and Supply Chain Panel content.
• RCA Publications (Aerogram and Proceedings) Bi-annual Proceedings containing scholarly papers on wireless breakthroughs and the Aerogram e-newsletter for club news and events. Members have access to the full library of past issues, and the publications accept advertising targeting wireless product buyers.
• Women in Wireless Program Initiative supporting women in the wireless industry through networking events, the Vivian Carr Award for substantial contributions by a woman in wireless communications, professional resources, and Women in Wireless lunch events hosted at industry conferences.
• RCA Career Center and Mentorship Program

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2025New strategic relationship announced July 2025 between RCA and SMPTE for collaboration in the intersection of wireless communications and broadcast/motion picture technology.
• Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2022WIA represents companies developing, building, owning and operating wireless infrastructure. Partnership announced November 2022 for RCA participation in WIA's Connect(X) trade show and utilization of Telecommunications Education Center (TEC).
• Utilities Technology Council (UTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2021UTC is a global association focused on telecommunications and utility infrastructure intersection. Partnership announced May 2021 to further goals of both organizations in supporting utility communications networks.
• APCO International (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPCO is a member-driven association of communications professionals providing leadership, influencing public safety communications decisions, promoting professional development, and fostering technology development. RCA maintains liaison relationship with APCO.
• Antique Wireless Association (AWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWA is an educational non-profit operating the Antique Wireless Museum in Bloomfield, NY, dedicated to preserving wireless technology history. RCA has reciprocal membership discounts of 5%. RCA historical documents archived at AWA museum.
• Electronic Technicians Association International (ETA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerETA provides industry-recognized certifications aligning with ISO-17024 standard. Reciprocal 5% membership discount with RCA.
• Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWTCA focuses on public transit and public service wireless technology users. Alan Tilles is RCA Fellow and Co-Founder/Counsel of GWTCA. Reciprocal 5% membership.
• IEEE Communications SocietycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIEEE ComSoc has 24,000+ members in 140 countries. RCA provides 5% membership discount for ComSoc members. RCA members may join ComSoc at Affiliate level.
• IWCE (International Wireless Communications Expo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWCE is the authoritative event for communications technology. RCA co-sponsors the Young Professionals program with IWCE, recognizing high performance in people under 30. Joint Young Professional Awards given annually.
• NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATE is a non-profit trade association providing unified voice for tower erection, maintenance and service companies. RCA participates in NATE events including rebranding announcement at NATE Unite.
• U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSNCVA comprises active, retired, and honorably discharged U.S. Navy Cryptologists focused on preserving cryptologic history. Carroll Hollingsworth served as RCA liaison.
• Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQCWA is a world-wide association of radio amateurs licensed for 25+ years. Promotes friendship, cooperation, and advancement of Amateur Radio. Carole Perry serves as director of QCWA.
• SSPI (Space & Satellite Professionals International)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSPI is the industry's largest, most international and cross-disciplinary network of space and satellite professionals and companies.
• Warriors4Wireless (W4W)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW4W bridges the gap between demand for trained wireless technicians and military veterans. Provides training, certification, and transitional support for veterans entering telecommunications careers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): The largest trade association for U.S. broadcasters. Adjacent to RCA through the broadcasting segment of wireless and via the new SMPTE relationship; much larger and corporate-focused.
• TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association): Trade association representing global ICT manufacturers and vendors. Overlaps with RCA on the telecom equipment/infrastructure side but is standards-focused and corporate-membership oriented.
• CTIA: The major U.S. wireless industry trade association representing carriers and the broader mobile ecosystem. Comparable as the dominant commercial voice for the wireless industry but operates on a corporate-membership model rather than individual-professional membership.

Direct peers

• APCO International (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials): Member-driven association of public-safety communications professionals. RCA has a mutual partnership with APCO and overlaps significantly on the public-safety wireless segment, including leadership crossover (e.g., Jeff Bratcher of FirstNet).
• Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA): Trade association representing companies that build, own, and operate wireless infrastructure. RCA has a strategic partnership with WIA (announced 2022) and shares overlapping membership in the tower/infrastructure segment.
• ARRL (American Radio Relay League): National association for amateur (ham) radio operators in the U.S. Directly comparable as the dominant amateur-radio membership organization; overlaps with RCA's youth amateur-radio outreach and historical radio heritage.
• Utilities Technology Council (UTC): Global trade association for telecommunications and technology in utilities. RCA established a partnership with UTC in 2021 to advance utility communications — comparable membership-organization model serving a wireless-using vertical.
• SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers): Professional society for media and entertainment technology engineers. RCA established a strategic relationship with SMPTE in July 2025, with overlap at the broadcast/wireless intersection.
• IEEE Communications Society: The largest professional society for communications engineers worldwide (~24,000 members in 140 countries). Directly comparable as a professional membership organization for the same wireless/telecom audience, with reciprocal membership discounts already in place with RCA.
• AFCEA International (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association): Professional association for communications, IT, and intelligence professionals with strong military/government overlap. Directly comparable membership-organization model serving similar federal/military wireless segments that RCA also reaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7I8K_ISdFCFfZPL17BcJ6g
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radio-club-of-america-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Radio Club of America