All federal government departments and agencies are to begin using smart-card-based identification to enter federal facilities and systems, in accordance with President Bush’s call for a government-wide personal identification standard in August 2004.
Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez recently approved a new standard for a card that will be used to comply with the new Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201 and Personal Identification Verification (PIV) system of federal employees and contractors. The new PIV card will contain integrated circuit chips to store electronic information, a personal identification number, and biometric data, including a printed photograph and two electronically stored fingerprints.
For more information visit www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/federal_ID.htm
