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January 2008 • Volume 13 Number 1
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Executive Director's Letter
Welcome everyone to 2008 – a new year and a fresh start to an exciting next few months for the Smart Card Alliance. Last month, I briefly summarized several of the big issues we faced in 2007. Namely, the accelerating momentum of the HSPD-12 federal employee ID card issuance, the advancement of several border security and credentialing initiatives led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and lastly the convergence of contactless, transit, and mobile payments applications. This month, I have some important developments to share with you and news about how the Smart Card Alliance will be doing its part to stay on top of these programs and help shape the discussion around the real and potential value that smart card technology adds to each one. Literally, in the final hours of 2007 (the announcement was made on December 31st), we learned the fate of our intensive efforts to alter the course of the proposed Passport Card. The technology decision had been kept secret within DHS and the State Department for more than 6 months since the original notice of public rule-making had been released in May, 2007. The State Department's December 31st announcement of the “final rule-making” defended the choice of long range RFID technology, instead of contactless smart cards, for the border crossing card that is meant to provide citizens with a low cost alternative to the full ePassport at land and sea borders between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. To their many critics, like the Smart Card Alliance and other security and privacy groups, they acknowledged our concerns about security and privacy and countered that critics lacked an understanding of their business model. Within weeks, contracts were signed with government integrators to begin the costly build-out of the new border reader infrastructure and the new RFID card manufacturing process. Washington State will be the first place this technology will be deployed as it gears up in January to start issuing enhanced driver’s licenses with RFID technology for border crossing as an optional feature. Unfortunately, all that is left to do at this point is to watch things unfold and see how this business model takes shape – and hold our breath. I hope our neighbors in Canada will not be so easily misled by the promises of an expedited border crossing at the expense of citizen privacy and security. Stay tuned for more reporting on this issue. The second major issue from 2007, the convergence of payments technology and applications within retail, transit, and mobile devices takes center stage on February 27-29th, when the Smart Card Alliance will hold a 2-day Payments Councils Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Alliance Council members-only event brings together the working volunteers from the Contactless Payments Council and the Transportation Council for the first time. The 2 councils will hold face-to-face meetings within their own industry groups, as well as meeting together in joint sessions to share news and information about advances in the retail adoption of contactless payments, new payments models for transportation and parking systems, and the rapidly emerging NFC and mobile payments solutions that interface with both segments. Utah Transit Authority will be acting as official “city hosts” for the event and will be offering a tour of its operations center and bus and light rail system on February 29th. Bringing stakeholders together from different markets and different areas within the payments ecosystem is what makes the Smart Card Alliance unique from many of its fellow industry organizations. Such high-level participation from suppliers, integrators, and end users gathering in one place is another example of how Smart Card Alliance members benefit from active membership in the organization. In the months ahead you will hear more about ways the Smart Card Alliance brings industry together to inform, educate, and debate key smart card industry issues. A quick look at the Event Calendar in this month’s newsletter reveals we have a full schedule of organized meetings and events planned for the next few months. In addition to the Payments Council Summit, we are also holding a healthcare industry roundtable discussion at the HIMSS Conference in Orlando, FL on February 25th, plus three Smart Card Pavilions in April 2008 to showcase smart card technology – at ISC West (Las Vegas), RSA Conference 2008 (San Francisco), and Cards 2008 Brazil (Sao Paulo). There is still space for additional attendees and exhibitors to join in these smart card demonstrations and meetings – just contact me at rvanderhoof@smartcardalliance.org for details. I will conclude with a brief update on the big change for the Smart Card Alliance in 2008 – that is the joining of the Smart Card Alliance Annual Conference with the CTST 2008 Conference and Exhibition taking place in Orlando, FL May 12- 15th. The Smart Card Alliance has been working hard on organizing the program agenda and pre-conference workshops and the conference is already ahead of last year’s pace for registrations. If you are starting to plan your calendar for 2008, this is one event you cannot miss. Good exhibit spaces and sponsorships are still available. During the next few months, you will be receiving more information in the mail and via email, so don’t wait too long to decide to sign up for this conference. Members receive complimentary full 3-day passes (depending on membership level) and CTST is offering early registration discounts to Alliance members until February 15th. Visit the Next Meeting web site often for updated information on CTST 2008, and don’t forget about the 7th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference, moved to October 21-24, 2008 this year but still in Washington, DC.
Randy Vanderhoof
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