As President & CEO of Livewire, the premier Technology Integrator in Central Virginia, thank you for the opportunity to submit written comments to encourage an amendment for the Electronic / communication service contracting” (ESC) definition within 18VAC50-22-30. Definitions of specialty services.

On October 21, 2024, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation posted proposed changes to regulations by the Board for Contractors. These proposed regulation changes included proposed changes to the “Electronic / communication service contracting” definition.

As President & CEO of Livewire it is very important to my business, my employees, and the technology services we support for our clients that the ESC license also supports the many technologies we design, install, integrate and support for our customers.

At Livewire, we provide a wide range of state -of-the-art technology integration services and through our services provide quality products and quality installations throughout Central Virginia. My firm employs over 25 employees and together we have been making technology simple for our clients for over 20 years.

Importance of Class 2 and Class 3 Circuits and Systems

Livewire designs, installs, integrates, and supports limited-energy systems using Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits in its residential and commercial projects. As technology has evolved, more technology systems, limited-energy systems, and applications depend on Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits for solutions used in residential and commercial projects.

Livewire wants to continue to grow and provide our clients the best technology solutions to meet their unique and growing technology needs and in doing so meet our mission as a company.  As a small business owner it is critical the ESC license has a scope of work that meets the diverse technology systems my team works on in both residential and commercial projects.

It is critical Virginia has forward-looking licensing language to support current and future technology solutions and encourage technology adoption throughout the state. For these many reasons it is important the ESC license scope of work references Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits as defined by the National Electrical Code®.

An important step to support current and future technology innovation and encourage technology adoption throughout Virginia is to update the definition for “Electronic / communication service contracting.”

The proper way to support Technology Integrators using an ESC license is to reference Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits as defined by the National Electrical Code® in the scope of work for the ESC license.

Important Licensing Language Supporting Technology Integrators

The proposed amendment below supports Technology Integrators while not restricting the small businesses of Virginia-based Technology Integrators. The proposed amendment also supports the numerous technology solutions utilizing limited-energy systems on projects throughout the state.

Proposed Amendment updating the “Electronic/communication service contracting” (ESC) definition 

18VAC50-22-30. Definitions of specialty services.

“Electronic / communication service contracting” (Abbr. ESC) means the service that provides for the design, installation, repair, improvement, alteration, or removal of Class 2 and Class 3 power-limited circuits and systems as defined by the National Electrical Code. electronic or communications systems annexed to real property including telephone wiring, computer cabling, sound systems, data links, data and network installation, television and cable TV wiring, and fiber optics installation, all of which or other systems that operate at 50 volts or less. A firm holding an ESC license is responsible for meeting all applicable tradesman licensure standards. The ELE classification also provides for the function.

Adopting the proposed amendment for the “Electronic / communication service contracting” (ESC) definition will support the critical work of Technology Integrators throughout Virginia now and in the future.

Technology Integrators and our businesses are critical to supporting Virginians growing technology needs.  Thank you for your consideration for an amendment that supports Virginia’s position as a technology leader.

Respectfully submitted,

Henry Clifford

President & CEO

Livewire