EPC Group Forms Policy Board for RFID
Lawrenceville, N.J.–based EPCglobal, the organization responsible for setting standards for the electronic product codes used in radio frequency identification technology, has appointed Elizabeth Board to lead an industry group in charge of establishing RFID policy guidelines.
RFID is an emerging wireless technology that retailers including the Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have been using to track merchandise. The use of RFID tracking devices has several consumer privacy groups concerned about how retailers will use the technology.
EPCglobal is a nonprofit group in charge of setting protocols and standards for the industry. The group recently brought together representatives of trade organizations, retailers and other industry professionals to form a steering committee.
Board will lead the group and act as the organization’s spokesperson. She has an extensive background in media relations, having served as the deputy assistant of media relations for President Ronald Reagan. She also held media positions with polling agency ACNielsen and Reader’s Digest magazine.
Board said the goal of the steering committee is to ensure that EPC technology is deployed responsibly. She said the organization is educating consumer privacy groups and EPCglobal subscribers about the process of establishing standards and policies.
—Robert McAllister
