*Verified Identity Pass on Monday notified its members enrolled in the Clear Registered Traveler (RT) program that it was ceasing operations as of 11 p.m. Pacific Time because it has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations. That means Clear lanes, which were the most prolific in the troubled RT program, are no longer available. The RT program has suffered, at least in part, because of the Transportation Security Administration’s unwillingness to grant RT members any screening conveniences at the security checkpoint because of the threat of “clean skin terrorists” obtaining membership in an RT program. Investors in Clear include Spark Capital, Syncom Venture Partners, General Electric [GE], Lockheed Martin [LMT] LMT, Baker Capital, RRE Ventures and Lehman Brothers.
*American Science and Engineering [ASEI] says a federal district court has ruled that an X-Ray inspection system made by AutoClear, LLC, Control Screening, LLC, and Scan-Tech Security, L.P., infringes on an AS&E patent for X-Ray inspection systems that employ both backscatter and transmission detection to screen luggage, parcels, baggage and other items. Terms of the settlement include AS&E granting the defendants a limited license under the patent beginning later this year. Other settlement terms were not disclosed.
*Federated IT, Inc., a Native American-owned small business, has received a potential $26 million contract from the Transportation Security Administration for help with Adjudication Services and Security Threat Assessments for individuals applying for credentials or access to the nation’s transportation system. A TSA Security Threat Assessment consists of an automated biographic and biometric background check of criminal records, immigration records and intelligence-related information.