As the recently announced Rice-Chertoff vision for developing new solutions that ensure the best use of new technologies and more efficient processes to improve security and facilitate travel across U.S. borders moves forward, TSA will work with the private sector providers of Registered Traveler programs to harmonize technologies and business processes with government-sponsored travel facilitation programs. Moving forward, the program will be harmonized with the DHS-State Department PASS System (People, Access, Security, Service), the credentialing effort announced earlier this week by Secretaries Rice and Chertoff.
"Security is and will continue to be TSA's number one priority. We are receptive to innovative private sector ideas to develop a market-based nationwide program that enhances security and offers a more appealing travel experience to program participants," said TSA Administrator Kip Hawley.
In order to give industry the opportunity to begin offering Registered Traveler programs later this year, TSA is directing RT program providers to collect 10 fingerprint images from each applicant. This biometric information will be used to verify participant identity at RT checkpoints. These biometrics, which are in widespread use today, provide exceptionally high levels of accuracy. With 10 fingerprints on the participant's smart card, the likelihood that identity can be accurately confirmed is improved.
To store biometric data for identity confirmation, RT programs will utilize Smart Card technology that conforms to current Federal Technical Implementation Guidance (seehttp://smart.gov), and biometrics will be stored consistent with biometric standards established by the American National Standards Institute/InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (ANSI/INCITS). All Registered Traveler data will be handled in compliance with the Federal Privacy Act.
We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the Registered Traveler program, and the program must be designed to thwart those efforts. Therefore, program benefits will change from time to time in order to make it more difficult for terrorists to anticipate our security activities. Further, TSA will not exempt Registered Traveler participants from random additional screening.
If the RT businesses wish to make investments in approved screening equipment, fund additional screeners, and/or obtain space for separate RT screening, then TSA is prepared to authorize the use of dedicated screening lanes or alternative screening locations for RT participants.
Today's announcement is the latest progress point in a plan announced by Hawley last fall that is expected to lead to TSA approval of qualified RT programs by June of this year.
