Fly Faster with Digital Trust
Frequent flyers in the US have known for awhile that the Registered Traveler (RT) program, operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is one good way to capture value in digital trust and “spend it” for convenience and speed. (The Registered Traveler program, and its ability to put a “price” on the value of individual identity carried in digital trust technology, is described in Volume 2, Identity Management, of the Digital Trust report series, p. 19). Personal identifying information needed to accelerate flyers through security lines at selected airports has been valued at about $100 per year by RT program vendors (plus a few dollars for government fees), and about 70,000 users have agreed.

Judging by the number of travelers signing up for the program, the trial phases of the program seem to be successful, and expansion is “in the air.” (No pun intended.) The key to success with the RT program is the ability for individual flyers to volunteer personal background data for background checking (including certain biometric data), and then present unambiguous evidence of their identity in special security screening lines established by security vendors at certain airports.  That evidence is carried in digital credentials, and depends on digital trust technology to deliver the payoff (i.e., speedy and reliable passage through security screening lines).

Competition with Digital Trust
The digital trust payoff for this business has spawned greater and greater competition among vendors who are approved to offer the RT service.  Through 2007, five vendors met TSA’s minimum criteria to offer RT services.  Four of those five were operating services using their selected digital trust mechanisms.  Unfortunately for individual flyers, each vendor has its own digital trust technology for identity evidence and credentials, although all digital trust technology used must meet certain TSA standards (compliance strikes again).  So, flyers enrolled in one approved vendor’s program (at certain airports) cannot participate in another approved vendor’s program (at other airports being serviced).  The specific technologies used to satisfy applicable standards can and do vary.  On the other hand, this is the stuff of competition.

Broadening the Business of Digital Trust in Identity
So far, Verified Identity Pass, with its program called “Clear,” is the top provider.  The others are continuing to operate their programs, but “Clear” remains the leading service.  The digital trust technology used in Clear is a smart ID card.

Yesterday, a new entrant won TSA approval to operate an RT service. Priva Technologies is entering the market with its “ClearedKey” (or just “Cleared”) service.  Priva supplies their digital trust using its Cleared Security Platform that combines a token with a fingerprint reader.  Moreover, Priva intends for “Cleared” to compete with more than just better prices.  In fact, Priva intends to offer storage for an electronic ticket, an option for electronic “coupons” for free beverages or other items that fliers may want, and perhaps even a combination with its broader retail shopping and payment solution.  Who knows?!  The same digital trust technology used to speed you through a security line at an airport might also help you to buy clothes or lunch!

“Tense” Matters
Flyers now must pay attention to the “tense” of their RT program!  Both “Clear” and “Cleared” (as well as rtGO and FlyBy) provide digital trust to deliver a payoff of convenience and speed for travelers who value such convenience enough to pay for it.  Users of any of those vendor services move quickly through a security line at an airport.  But, read the signs carefully.  Being in the “Clear” to board is not the same as being “Cleared” for takeoff, at least not as far as the digital trust technology is concerned!