The Transportation Security Administration is preparing to launch its registered traveler program in 2006 and is seeking comment from the public and industry, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.

TSA ran a trial of the program at five airports in 2005 and a related program is ongoing at Orlando International Airport.

The Registered Traveler program will allow people to provide biometric data and proof of identity and receive expedited screening at airport security checkpoints.

“TSA plans to conduct a domestic Registered Traveler (RT) program nationwide in 2006. This program is designed to positively identify individuals participating in the program as registered travelers via advanced identification technologies, for the purposes of expediting those passengers’ travel experience at the airport security checkpoints, and thereby enabling TSA to improve the allocation of security resources at TSA security checkpoints in the Nation’s airports,” the notice said.

“TSA will use the results of the biographic and biometric data collection to verify an applicant’s claimed identity and to perform a security threat assessment on the individual volunteering for the program and check immigration status to ensure eligibility for the program. The security threat assessment is essential for TSA to determine whether the applicant presents, or is suspected of resenting, a threat to transportation security. Individuals who do not pose, or are not suspected of posing, a threat to transportation security, and otherwise meet all other eligibility requirements for the RT program, will be afforded enhanced benefits at the TSA security checkpoints,” the notice said.

The program is expected to cost travelers about $50 annually.

As I’ve written before, this program is a bad idea for a couple of reasons. First, terrorists on whom nothing is known or suspected will be able to enroll in the program and gain expedited screening at airports. They’ve undoubtedly been waiting for this day, having people ready to sign up for the program from day one.

“The basic security intuition is that when you create two paths through security — an easy path and a hard path — you invite the bad guys to take the easy path,” said security expert Bruce Schneier, who served on a Secure Flight oversight group.

Second, even if they are not approved for the program, terrorists can determine whether the government has reason to suspect them by applying for the program. If they are rejected, they can then discern that the government is suspicious of them and alter their activities accordingly.

Comments may be delivered to Kurt Zobrist, Director, Registered Traveler Program, Office of Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing, TSA Headquarters, TSA-19, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220; or by e-mail at kurt.zobrist@dhs.gov. Comments should be received by February 14, 2006.