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February 1, 1999 9:00 AM, EST

A national standard for transponders and other short-range radio communications moved a step closer to reality last week when the Department of Transportation announced it would promote a “sandwich protocol” for guiding the design of the technology, despite objections from some equipment makers.

Transponders use dedicated short-range communications for such functions as weighing vehicles in motion, collecting tolls electronically and crossing international boarders. A national standard is considered essential to creating equipment that the trucking, travel and toll industries can share.

DOT officials announced their proposal Jan. 28 in Washington, D.C., at a meeting of ITS America’s Electronic Commerce Blue Ribbon Panel.

The sandwich protocol includes three standards that together would dictate transponder design.

For the full story, see the Feb. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.