MCC Goes Fourth!

As you listen to the dulcet sounds of the Boston Pops and its stirring rendition of the 1812 Overture at the Boston Fourth of July concert on Friday, behind the scenes in a carefully protected command post, Middlesex Community College personnel will be on hand to help provide high tech security measures for the entire shindig!

MCC has entered into a novel partnership with Boston 4 Celebrations Inc., the non-profit foundation responsible for Boston's Fourth of July concert and fireworks celebration.  MCC, in conjunction with RFID Global Solution Inc., and the Mitre Corporation, has designed and is implementing an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology system aimed at increasing the security of the event's Unified Command Center (UCC).

"Maintaining UCC security is important to the safety, security, and success of the overall July 4th weekend celebration.  Devising and deploying RFID technology in this context is new territory for everyone involved," said Terrence Downes, MCC's Director of Homeland Security.

The UCC coordinates all public safety aspects of the event.  It's located away from the Hatch Shell for safety and access purposes and will be staffed throughout the event.  The MCC team will supply electronic identifying badges for the nearly 350 people authorized to have UCC access during the event as well as use of a portable RFID unit and necessary computers.  Other specialized equipment is being lent to Boston 4 by RFID Global Solution, Inc.

"This is an experiment both in adapting novel technology for practical purposes and in building interagency teamwork," said Downes.  "The introduction of this level of electronic security will constitute a distinct upgrade in UCC security.  The seriousness of current day security challenges and the emergency of both new technology and new levels of interagency cooperation make this an exciting experiment."

Middlesex launched the first comprehensive college-based RFID Technician Training Program in New England in 2006 and offers both certificate and associate degree programs.  RFID is capable of automatically identifying and tracking items, inventories and people.  This emerging wireless technology uses radio waves to activate, recognize, and respond to an RFID tag, which has a unique code and is attached to the item or person.  Hands-on training at MCC is provided in a new RFID laboratory, located on the Bedford campus.