TSA Loosens Registered Traveler Reins, Eliminates Security Fee

The Transportation Security Administration today said it would abandon its 20-airport cap on the number of Registered Traveler national programs and shed its $28 fee for conducting enrollee threat assessments, saying the program will shift from "pilot" mode next week.

TSA today also said Registered Traveler providers have the authority to develop their own interoperability relationships within the next 12 months, though technical interoperability standards must be maintained. That means Registered Traveler vendors—including Verified Identity Pass' Clear program and Flo Corp.'s RTgo program—can choose to not accept rival program members at their lanes.

"RT members will be able to use any service provider's card at any RT location for a minimum of 12 months," TSA said in a statement. "After this 12-month period, service providers will be responsible for negotiating arrangements for the reciprocal use of one another's cards."

"It mandates technical interoperability," Clear founder and CEO Steve Brill said. "The cards have to work at the kiosk, but vendors don't have to recognize each other's cards unless they have worked out an equitable, reciprocal deal. It eliminates the possibility that someone can just enroll people without the expense of putting up lanes at the airports."

TSA said it would leave it up to private industry providers to verify the identity of potential program members. Brill said the industry would work with the American Association of Airport Executives to develop an enhanced background check for members of the program, using AAAE's Transportation Security Clearinghouse.

Flo Corp. and Clear praised TSA's move. Flo CEO Glenn Argenbright in a statement said the lifting of the "artificial" airport cap means "the number of airports that can offer RT services can expand significantly," while the "elimination of the fee will make the program more affordable for travelers."

"We have determined that Registered Traveler holds promise as a biometrically enhanced, private sector identity verification program," said TSA administrator Kip Hawley in a statement. "RT works best when tailored to the individual needs of each location, as determined by the airports and airlines that sponsor these programs and their local Federal Security Directors."

TSA today said there are 135,000 members of the Registered Traveler program hosted by 19 airports in the United States. "Current participants in the program should not see any change in their benefits for the immediate future," TSA said in a statement.