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ACTE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ACTE President: Dismantling TSA Raises Big Questions For Business Travel Industry
Alexandria, VA (Apr. 8) -- "Published reports of the Transportation Security
Administration's dismantling in November raise a number of critical
questions for the business travel industry," said ACTE President Greeley
Koch. "Such as what agency or agencies will replace it? What will become of
projects in development, like the Registered Traveler program? And what
steps will be taken to assure a uniform standard of airport and airline
security?"
ACTE's president added that while some highly controversial programs
initiated by the TSA, like the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening
System II, gave the business travel industry cause for concern, the agency
was able to bring a critical new focus to security issues that will require
long term resolution.
"Some of these issues were procedural in nature, like pat-downs at the
airport, screening processess, and luggage searches. Others were more
philosophical, and spanned the privacy question," said Koch. "The depth of
these issues revealed that any agency, or group of agencies, assigned the
tasks of the TSA must work closer with the business travel industry to
increase program effectiveness, reduce costly and redundant efforts, and
build public confidence."
Koch pointed out that in the last three years, the federal government has
independently introduced four different electronic means of traveler
identity checks. These included CAPPSII, Registered Traveler, Secure Flight
and the Radio Frequency Identification tag passport proposal. Of the four,
only one has made it to the working prototype phase. And none of the
Registered Traveler pilot programs share the same database.
"Each of these programs generated reams of public commentary, and debate"
said Koch. "This track record is the best argument for one standardized
approach to traveler security, developed through a closer relationship with
system users."
ACTE is concerned that reassigning various programs to different government
agencies will result in developing multiple electronic travel devices (RFID
passports, Registered Traveler Cards, and Border Control Cards) with
multiple layers of cost for travelers -- without significantly improving
traveler security.
The association has maintained a monthly briefing with the TSA and
emphasizes that this level of communication will be essential with any
agency -- or agencies -- that assume its functions.
Jack Riepe
ACTE Global Communications Director
t: 610-719-8396
c: 610-256-0124
e: [email protected]
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ACTE US and Canada
515 King St, Suite 340
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: 1-703-683-5322
Fax: 1-703-683-2720
[email protected]
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