[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53978-53979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21147]



[[Page 53978]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Transportation Security Administration

RIN 1652-ZA18


TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program Fees

AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administers 
the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program, in which members of the 
public may apply to be eligible for expedited airport security 
screening. To apply for TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program 
eligibility, individuals voluntarily provide biometric and biographic 
information that TSA uses to conduct a security threat assessment and 
those applicants pay a fee to cover the cost to operate the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] Application Program. In this Notice, TSA announces a 
change to the overall structure of the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application 
Program Fee, establishes the fee amount of the TSA fee component within 
that structure, and identifies the fee for initial applications, in-
person renewals, and online renewals for individuals enrolling through 
the Universal Enrollment Services enrollment provider. These updates 
are necessary to respond to recent changes in both cost and revenue 
streams that have occurred as a result of the global pandemic. These 
updates will enable investments to improve the TSA PreCheck[supreg] 
airport experience and will help to ensure that the program remains 
fully funded through the imposition and collection of fees from program 
applicants. TSA will publish and maintain a current listing of the 
overall fees for all TSA PreCheck[supreg] enrollment options at 
tsa.gov/precheck.

DATES: This notice is effective October 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Walbridge, Transportation 
Security Administration, 6595 Springfield Center Drive, Springfield, VA 
20598-6047; or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of Notice Document

    (1) Searching the electronic Federal Docket Management System web 
page at http://www.regulations.gov;
    (2) Accessing the Government Printing Office's web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR to view 
the daily published Federal Register edition; or accessing the ``Search 
the Federal Register by Citation'' in the ``Related Resources'' column 
on the left, if you need to do a Simple or Advanced search for 
information, such as a type of document that crosses multiple agencies 
or dates; or
    (3) Visiting TSA's Security Regulations web page at http://www.tsa.gov and accessing the link for ``Stakeholders'' at the top of 
the page, then the link ``Research Center'' in the left column.
    In addition, copies are available by writing or calling the 
individual in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

I. Summary

    The TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program is a voluntary, 
expedited security screening program connecting low-risk travelers 
departing from the United States with smarter security and a better air 
travel experience.\1\ There are approximately 10 million members in the 
TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program. Individuals enrolled in the 
TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program are eligible to receive 
expedited screening at U.S. airports. As explained in a December 2013 
Notice in the Federal Register,\2\ membership in the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] Application Program is within the sole discretion of 
TSA. Individuals may also receive TSA PreCheck[supreg] expedited 
screening via membership in other programs such as certain U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection Trusted Traveler Programs. These individuals do 
not pay a fee to TSA for membership in such other programs.
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    \1\ For purpose of this document, the ``TSA PreCheck Application 
Program'' refers to the DHS Trusted Traveler Program that TSA 
operates to determine if individuals are low-risk and may receive 
expedited screening. ``TSA PreCheck'' refers to expedited screening 
provided by TSA.
    \2\ See Notice, 78 FR 72922 (December 4, 2013).
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    TSA established the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program in 
December 2013 to expand access to expedited screening to individuals 
who voluntarily provide information that TSA uses to determine whether 
the traveler is low risk.\3\ TSA uses biographic and biometric 
information the applicant provides to conduct a Security Threat 
Assessment (STA) that includes review of criminal history, immigration, 
intelligence, and regulatory violation records. As part of the 
enrollment process, TSA requires that applicants present government-
issued identity documents with a photo to prove their identity. To 
prepare for REAL ID enforcement, in advance of the REAL ID card-based 
enforcement deadline,\4\ TSA will require new TSA PreCheck[supreg] 
Application Program applicants as well as renewal applicants to provide 
a REAL ID-compliant document if enrolling with a state-issued identity 
document. Applicants must also prove they are a U.S. person.
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    \3\ Id.
    \4\ Information regarding REAL ID requirements and enforcement 
deadlines is available at www.dhs.gov/real-id.
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    Following enrollment, TSA evaluates the information generated by 
the vetting process to determine whether the individual poses a low 
risk to transportation and national security. Once completed, the STA 
remains valid for five years, provided the individual continues to meet 
the eligibility standards. At the end of the five-year term, 
individuals wishing to maintain their TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application 
Program eligibility must renew their membership in the program which 
includes a new STA.
    If TSA determines that the applicant is low risk, TSA issues a 
Known Traveler Number (KTN) \5\ that the individual can use when making 
flight reservations. Enrollment in the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application 
Program and use of the associated KTN do not guarantee that an 
individual will receive expedited screening at airport security 
checkpoints. TSA retains an element of randomness to maintain 
unpredictability for security purposes, and travelers with valid KTNs 
may be selected for standard or enhanced physical screening on 
occasion.
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    \5\ The Known Traveler Number is a component of Secure Flight 
Passenger Data, which is defined in TSA Secure Flight regulations at 
49 CFR 1560.3. See also the Secure Flight regulations at 49 CFR part 
1560.
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    An individual is ineligible for a KTN and thus access to TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] expedited screening if TSA determines that the 
individual poses a risk to transportation or national security; has 
committed certain criminal acts; \6\ does not meet the immigration 
status standards; \7\ has committed regulatory violations; \8\ or is 
otherwise not a low-risk traveler. TSA notifies individuals who it 
determines are ineligible for a KTN through the TSA PreCheck 
Application Program, or whose enrollment in the program is revoked, in 
writing, and they continue to undergo

[[Page 53979]]

standard screening at airport security checkpoints.
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    \6\ See 49 CFR 1572.103 for the criminal standards that apply to 
TSA PreCheck applicants.
    \7\ Individuals who apply for membership in the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] Application Program must be U.S. citizens, U.S. 
Nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents.
    \8\ For instance, an individual who interferes with security 
screening or brings a weapon to the security checkpoint would be 
deemed ineligible for TSA PreCheck[supreg] expedited screening and 
their membership in the program may be revoked.
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    TSA is required by law to charge a non-refundable fee to cover the 
costs of operating the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program.\9\ 
Collecting biographic and biometric information from applicants, 
conducting the STA, adjudicating the results of the STA, and managing 
the program \10\ generate costs for TSA and for the enrollment 
providers who TSA has selected to help facilitate enrollment into the 
program. In the December 2013 Notice, TSA established a fee structure 
with a total fee of $85.\11\ That total fee was comprised of a TSA Fee 
of $70.50 and an Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Fee of $14.50. 
The TSA Fee included costs incurred by TSA as well as costs incurred by 
the enrollment provider. The FBI Fee was the cost set to conduct a 
fingerprint-based criminal history records check.
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    \9\ See 49 U.S.C. 114; Sec.  540 of the DHS appropriations act 
of 2006, Public Law 109-90 (119 Stat. 2064, 2088-89, Oct. 18, 2005).
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ See supra n. 2 at 72925 et seq.
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    In July 2021, TSA published a notice announcing the anticipated 
launch of additional enrollment providers who will be able to establish 
additional price points for the TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application 
Program.\12\ TSA expects additional enrollment options through these 
providers to become available in 2021 to increase opportunities to 
apply for membership in the program. The new fee structure reflects 
this change in the program and will now consist of a TSA Component and 
Enrollment Provider Component that together, will be the Total Fee. The 
Enrollment Provider Component will take into account the cost of the 
criminal history records check conducted by the FBI. TSA will continue 
to publish the total fee amounts for all enrollment options via the 
agency's website at www.tsa.gov/precheck.
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    \12\ See Notice, 86 FR 36293 (July 9, 2021).
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II. Discussion of TSA Fee Change

    TSA will impose the TSA Component of the fee for all individuals 
who apply for and renew membership. The TSA Component of the fee will 
be collected by the enrollment providers and remitted to TSA to cover 
the TSA costs to operate this successful traveler program for 
approximately 10 million travelers. Consistent with the statutory 
mandate,\13\ the TSA Component of the fee recovers TSA's costs to 
analyze the immigration, terrorism, criminal, and regulatory violation 
information generated in the checks of the various databases; determine 
whether applicants have a disqualifying factor or are eligible for the 
TSA PreCheck[supreg] Application Program; notify applicants of TSA's 
determination; issue KTNs to eligible individuals; conduct research and 
development for innovative enhancements to improve the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] Application Program enrollment and the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] expedited screening experience; and continue to 
monitor databases and information to confirm that the members remain 
low risk.
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    \13\ See infra n. 9.
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    The STA conducted by TSA will cover a term of five years from the 
date of approval and must be renewed with TSA at the end of that term 
if an individual wishes to maintain their TSA PreCheck[supreg] 
eligibility. Enrollment providers will be permitted to offer shorter 
duration memberships (e.g., one-year memberships) but must still remit 
the full TSA Component fee at initial enrollment to TSA to cover TSA's 
five-year costs. If a member allows the membership to lapse for any 
period of time and subsequently applies for renewal, the enrollment 
provider must remit the full TSA Component fee again.
    TSA has determined that the TSA Component must be $42.75 in order 
to cover TSA-costs associated with STAs and operating the TSA 
PreCheck[supreg] Application Program. While TSA was able to achieve a 
small reduction in operating costs during the global pandemic 
(approximately $20 million), TSA experienced a significant reduction in 
revenue as a direct result of the measurable decline in air travel, 
program enrollments, and program renewals. TSA estimates that from 
April 2020 through March 2021 TSA experienced a $65 million reduction 
in anticipated revenue. While TSA PreCheck[supreg] enrollment recovered 
significantly as of the summer of 2021, TSA must account for lost 
revenue and unknown future enrollment volumes given unknown long term 
travel recovery. By separating the TSA Component and the Enrollment 
Provider Component, TSA can ensure that future revenue covers TSA's 
costs while promoting pricing transparency as new enrollment providers 
compete for applicants. See Table 1 for a summary of the changes to the 
fee components.

          Table 1--Comparison of Current and New Fee Structures
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           Current fee structure                  New fee structure
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TSA Costs & Provider Costs................  FBI Fee & Provider Costs
FBI Fee...................................  TSA Costs
Total Fee = $85.00........................  UES Fee = $85.00
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    While the new enrollment providers will offer varying price points, 
TSA and its current enrollment provider will maintain the $85.00 price 
currently set for new enrollments and in-person renewals. TSA offers an 
option for online renewal of TSA PreCheck Application[supreg] Program 
membership and over 95% of individuals choose the online renewal 
option. With this notice, TSA is announcing that the fee for online 
renewal will be $70.00 for enrollments through the Universal Enrollment 
Services enrollment provider. Future changes to this enrollment product 
and fees will be published on the TSA website at www.tsa.gov/precheck.
    TSA estimates that the new TSA Component fee, will result in 
collections of an additional $44 million between Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 
and FY 2025. This increased revenue will ensure that the TSA PreCheck 
Application[supreg] Program will remain solvent in future years. The 
increased revenue will also allow TSA to invest in improvements to the 
TSA PreCheck[supreg] airport experience. TSA will continue to monitor 
its costs and enrollments to ensure the program remains viable and the 
revenue aligns with cost.
    The cost estimates used to determine the fee have been developed in 
accordance with the applicable statutory language, section 540 of the 
DHS Appropriations Act, 2006, and Office of Management and Budget 
Circular A-25. Further cost information is provided in the TSA PreCheck 
Application Program Fee Development Report at www.tsa.gov/precheck.
    TSA will continue to publish the most up to date fee and product 
information for all enrollment options at www.tsa.gov/precheck.

    Dated: September 23, 2021.
David Pekoske,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-21147 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-05-P