U.S. Government’s Smart Card Project Managers Meeting highlights contactless focus at major agencies
01 May, 2003
category: Contactless, Library
The Smart Card Project Managers Meeting brings together those responsible for smart card and ID-related functions within the U.S. Federal Government. At the recent meeting, a number of interesting announcements related tot he use of contactless technology in U.S. government agencies were made.
- The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued 2.6 million Common Access Cards, with an additional 10,000 being issued daily. The DoD plans a pilot for contactless technology for use in physical access environments in the coming months.
- Jack Finberg of the General Services Administration (GSA) noted that the GSA card program, which will include 12,000 GSA employees and an additional 35,000 contractors and other individuals, will incorporate a contactless component in the final iteration.
- Paul Hunter of the Transportation Security Administration noted that the Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) is currently in the technical evaluation process and that the agency intends to include contactless technology on the TWICs that are to be used in high traffic access points.
- Joe Broghamer of the Department of Homeland Security noted that their card specifications would include compliance with the DoD’s Common Access Card and that the initial specification would include contactless technology.
The next meeting of the Smart Card Project Managers will be held in conjunction with the Smart Card Alliance’s “Smart Cards in Government 2003” meeting and exposition, July 15 – 17, 2003. The location is the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA.
