Congress worried by virtual fence failings

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is urging the department not to pay for the first section of the tech-heavy virtual border until it works.

Project 28 is the first stage of the Department of Homeland Security's plan to erect a "virtual fence" on the border consisting of motion sensors, cameras and other electronic detection equipment.

But the plan, known as SBI.net, for Secure Border Initiative, has faced technical difficulties, and the department has yet to sign off on Project 28, certifying that it works. Until they do, the contractor, Boeing Corp., will not be paid.

"We have received recent reports from the field that strongly suggest that the 'final' Project 28 product will provide the Border Patrol with little, if any, functionality it did not already possess," wrote committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in a letter released Thursday.

"Before the government accepts Project 28, Congress needs to be assured that the well-publicized technological problems plaguing the system have been fully addressed," Thompson went on.

He accused the department of not being fully forthcoming about issues with the project. "Frankly I am as disturbed by this apparent lack of candor and the attempt to 'spin' Project 28's troubles as I am by the technical difficulties you have encountered."