DHS Expands Vicinity RFID Usage in Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

October 27, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in conjunction with the state department's proposed rulemaking on the PASSport card, is expanding the use of vicinity radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at U.S. ports of entry.

The vicinity RFID technology, to be compatible with the PASSport card, would allow a travel document to be read from several feet as a vehicle approaches inspection, said the DHS.

The PASSport card, part of the People, Access Security Service (PASS) System, is designed to meet the specific requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) for U.S. citizens crossing U.S. borders by land or sea.

WHTI is the government's plan to implement a provision of the Intelligence Reform Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that requires citizens of the U.S., Canada, the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda and Mexico to have a passport or other designated document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or reenter the U.S.

The proposal to expand the use of vicinity RFID technology is another step in the U.S. government's plan to enhance security, ensure the integrity of the immigration system, facilitate the flow of legitimate travel and trade and protect the privacy of citizens and visitors, said the DHS.

"Vicinity RFID technology will be a force multiplier for our U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers by providing them with up front information they need to quickly make critical decisions about travelers entering or reentering the United States," said CBP Commissioner Ralph Basham.

"The deployment of this advanced technological solution will improve public safety, national security and the integrity of the immigration process."

To protect the privacy of Americans who opt to use the PASSport card, no personal information will be stored or transmitted on the RFID chip on the card, according to the DHS. The technology will transmit only a number between the card and the reader that will be matched against a DHS database.

While no personally identifiable information will be transmitted, the DHS is taking steps to help ensure that this number cannot be intercepted during transmission to an authorized reader at a port of entry.

Vicinity RFID, which is also used in highway toll systems across the U.S., demands little of the traveler and can read multiple cards simultaneously inside a vehicle, said the DHS. The vicinity RFID technology will increase the security of the border while facilitating commerce at the port of entry.

The proposed regulations of the PASSport card, a card-format passport compatible with the RFID technology, were published by the department of state in the Federal Register. The proposed PASSport card will be credit-card sized and valid for use only at land and sea borders.

The proposed PASSport card would serve as an alternative to a traditional passport book for use by U.S. citizens who cross the land borders and travel on cruises to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Frequent border crossers would benefit from this new limited-use PASSport card, said the DHS. It would provide evidence of identity and citizenship, would be convenient to carry and would cost less than the traditional passport book. U.S. citizens would be able to apply for the PASSport card using the same forms and procedures that exist for the passport book.

The proposed regulations on the PASSport card are available for public viewing and comment at www.regulations.gov for a 60 day comment period. For more information, visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov.

Source: Department of Homeland Security (DHS).