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January 2008 • Volume 13 Number 1 |
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Executive Director's Letter Dear members and friends of the Alliance, 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.
Member Profile: TI
Shawn joined TI in 1982 as a semiconductor product test engineer. Over the next 23 years, Shawn has held management positions in marketing, product development and engineering in a variety of businesses, predominantly developing communications products. Shawn earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, a master’s of electrical engineering from Rice University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University. Shawn and his wife, Brenda, live in Rockwall, Texas with their daughter and two sons. Shawn enjoys family activities, sailing and kayaking. Feature of the Month
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its final rule regarding minimum technology requirements for REAL ID driver's licenses on January 11, 2008. In this rule, DHS left the door open for states to decide for themselves if they want to set higher standards for secure REAL ID driver’s licenses and e-government services. The Smart Card Alliance Identity Council developed the following briefing to describe the benefits to states for incorporating smart card technology into their REAL ID plans. States Benefit from Security and Cost Efficiency The Only Secure Identity Solution
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This month, Smart Card Talk spoke with Shawn Rogers, Director, RF Secure Products, with Texas Instruments, serving markets including contactless payment and secure identification. 
Smart Card Technology: The Right Choice for REAL ID
Executive Director's Letter
