The Security Industry Association (SIA) is urging the U.S. government to help develop voluntary standards for electronic security equipment.
The association made the request via a written correspondence to the Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren—both are senior advisors to President Obama.
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 directed federal agencies to use voluntary consensus standards developed by private sector organizations where legal and practicable. Agencies are expected to participate in the development of those standards when appropriate.
According to SIA CEO Richard Chace, the association is very concerned about the lack of agency compliance with the Act’s requirements as they relate to the interoperability of disparate electronic and physical security system components.
“Increased government participation in this area would be consistent with the administration’s science and technology and homeland security goals and would be a prudent use of taxpayer dollars,” he wrote in the letter to the advisors. “Such action would be consistent with existing law, would produce significant savings for taxpayers and would speed the development of innovative products that will protect critical infrastructure.”
