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Transportation sector lags behind in forming DHS "sector council"
National Infrastructure Protection Plan asks industry groups to form councils to advise DHS on critical assets, risk assessments, and an agreed security approach; so far, diverse nature of transportation has been a major road block; TSA now encouraging the development of smaller subsector councils, but still hopes for an industry-wide group
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EU considers "deep background checks" for Registered Traveler program
Responding to concerns about racial profiling, EU may instead develop a large-scale network linking criminal and civil data bases; a final report is not due until June, but in the meantime EU planners will move ahead with plans; privacy concerns remain an unsurmounted obstacle
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State Department issues RFI for WHTI PASS card system
Agency provides detail on benefits of RFID cards; 17 November meeting with industry to be followed by request for proposals; fixed price contract desired
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ACE electronic manifest program exanded to Arizona, Washington, and North Dakota
Trucking companies will have to comply starting in 2007, but meanwhile CBP is opening up more ports of entry to the program; shippers provide advance manifests for CBP review; expedited inspection is the main benefit
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GD to implement Safefreight's hazardous tracking solution
There are more than 800,000 hazardous materials and dangerous waste shipments in the United States per day; if even one of these shipments were to be seized by terrorists and used as a weapon, results could be catastrophic; GD selects a fleet-tracking solution from a Canadian company for implementation and demonstration as part of a TSA project to improve the safety of hauling dangerous materials
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NJ Transit tests DriveCam bus surveillance system
Windshield-mounted cameras record data inside and outside the vehicle; at a cost of $25,000 per unit, the cost is steep, but agency hopes to make up the difference by reducing driver error and lowering liability exposure
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DHS plan to use RFID for PASS program sparks controversy
Decision allows border guards to screen travelers while they wait in line, but critics say privacy is at risk from digital pick-pocketers; DHS will issue protective sleeves, and no private information will be stored on the cards; Smart Card Alliance says the decision to store data on government computers magnifies, not mitigates, the risk
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Saflink downsizes and refocuses on Registered Traveler program
Following losses, the company will lay off half of its employees and attempt to grab Registered Traveler market share; competition will be stiff, but Saflink is playing to its strengths
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GAO hammers TWIC program management
TSA officials said to be unaware of own progress; when biometric readers are installed, sometimes no electricity is available to power them; maritime reliability remains a glaring problem; cost overruns and delays are expected
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LoJack enters the cargo security market
Licensing deal with SC-Integrity allows the latter to market products under the LoJack in Transit brand name
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Homeland Integrated Security Systems's Cyber Tracker to monitor NY school buses
GPS-plus devices include sensors that monitor everything from internal temperature to vehicle speed; school districts want to avoid another Chowchilla while keeping eyes on their drivers
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Smiths Detection, RedXDefense partner to create mass transit EDS
In Congress they debate whether or not to mandatory 100 percent inspection of U.S.-bound cargo containers; two explosive detection leaders are joining hands to produce a system which will make sure that 100 percent of subway passengers in the U.S. are screened for explosives
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Smiths Detection to deploy chemical detectors at New York's Penn Station
$4 million deal follows 2004 installation at Grand Central; planners say reliability problems concerning dust and cleaning chemicals have been overcome; MTA considers further deployment at other heavily-trafficked stations
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NYC trains test laser system
Train and subway tunnels are long, dark, and empty — all conditions which make it easier for a terrorist to plant a bomb or otherwise do damage to passenger trains; one way to guard against this is to install detection systems at tunnel entrances to monitor the comings and goings there; the New York City subway is already testing a laser0base system, and this week said it would install a second one
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