Executive Director’s Letter

Dear members and friends of the Alliance,

A recent blog post on a Federal Reserve Bank web site by a senior Federal Reserve Bank official stated what the Smart Card Alliance and many payments security experts have been saying for years–that the U.S. risks becoming a global center for card fraud as a result of its reliance on magstripe cards while the rest of the world moves to more secure EMV-based chip and PIN payment technology. Richard Oliver, executive vice president at the Retail Risk and Fraud Forum at the Federal Reserve Bank, of Atlanta posted his comments on the Portals and Rails blog on July 19th. Does this renewed focus on payments technology and fraud by the Federal Reserve Bank signal that government regulators are growing tired of waiting for financial issuers to sort out the real costs of fraud in the U.S. and the messy cost redistribution that comes with migrating to EMV chip payment technology?

Member Profile

This month, Smart Card Talk spoke with Brian Stein of Accenture. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with companies as well as governmental entities to help them achieve high performance. Accenture’s infrastructure and transportation services practices serve public transit entities across the globe, helping them improve their strategic positioning, operational efficiency, and technological capability in the areas of fare management, open payment aand mobility.

Feature of the Month

Planning for New Fare Payment and Collection Systems

The procurement or system acquisition stage of a new fare system project presents unique challenges to public agencies unfamiliar with acquiring information technology (IT) systems or intelligent transportation systems (ITS). On the one hand, system procurement requires flexibility, to manage the uncertainties of acquiring a complex system, while on the other, it requires a structure, to define responsibilities and ensure that all participants are protected. Ultimately, the agency must strike a balance between the two requirements and design the procurement to ensure that the most qualified contractors and suppliers are selected.

This article is the second of two on planning for new fare payment and collection systems, discussing the major steps involved in the procurement process. It is important to note that the process may vary considerably from agency to agency due to the many factors that govern the approach and execution of the process.

New CSCIP Accreditations

Congratulations to the LEAP members who have successfully completed the requirements for professional accreditation as Certified Smart Card Industry Professionals. Most recent additions to CSCIP certifications listed in bold type.

Click here for more information about LEAP and CSCIP certification program.

New CSCIP/G Accreditations

Congratulations to the LEAP members who have successfully completed the requirements for professional accreditation as Certified Smart Card Industry Professionals / Government. Most recent additions to CSCIP/G certifications listed in bold type.

Click here for more information about LEAP and CSCIP/G certification program.