New Chair of Homeland Security, Representative Martin Walsh In First Speech At Massachusetts’ Systems Contractors Association Lobby Day Will Test Electronic Systems On Display That “Connect And Protect the Commonwealth…”

May 7, 2003, Wednesday
Great Hall - State House
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
CONTACT: Stacey Ober, Policy Strategists, LLC
Dave Wescott
For Immediate Release: BOSTON, MA (May 7, 2003)

The Massachusetts System Contractors Association Lobby Day titled: Electronic Systems Professionals…Connecting the Commonwealth will be held in the Great Hall on Wednesday May 7, 2003 from 10:30am – 12:00pm. Featured speakers include Representative Martin Walsh, the first Chair of the newly formed House Committee on Homeland Security and Paul Frisoli, President of MSCA. Advanced technologies effecting homeland security, personal, business and school security, fire warning and the quality of American life through automated systems are the focus of this educational program.

Showcasing some of the newest appliances installed by licensed systems contractors and systems technicians, displays will include: LCD screens and home integration products; biometrics facial recognition systems; card access appliances utilized for school and municipal security; intercom, telephone, door entry, and environmental management systems. Products locally manufactured include:

Viisage is a high-end face recognition product manufactured in Middleton, MA. This company has been highlighted in demonstrations of this type of technology since 9/11 and the system is currently used at major sports stadiums, the Super Bowl, and Logan Airport.

IEI is a company based in Canton. They will be showing fingerprint/card reader combinations. They also have a Smart Card technology that is popular in Europe and has recognized growing interest here in the US.

Recognition Systems has on display a hand geometry reader. It scans the whole hand for identification.

The goal of the lobby day is to inform legislators that Systems Contractors and Systems Technicians are licensed to install, maintain and repair all types of power limited systems that transmit intelligence by way of sound, video, and data. These products are present in homes, businesses, schools, municipalities and airports. Networked systems integrate communications between electronic devices, the internet, telephones, emergency signals, and other data transmissions.

The Massachusetts Systems Contractors Association, founded in 1978, is the trade association for professionals licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Electrical Examiners to install power-limited systems. Licensure has been required since 1987.

Lastly, passage of the law guaranteed at least $2 million new dollars in federal highway funds, while avoiding severe penalties that would have been levied on Massachusetts; the withholding of more than $54 million dollars during the next four years.