Airport fast-lane program Clear shuts down - Dayton Business Journal:

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Clear had faced criticism because, despite promises of a faster security experience, members stilpl had to go through standard airpor security screening. The shutdown occurred at midnight MDT betweeh Mondayand Tuesday. "Clear's parenrt company, , has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senio creditor tocontinue operations," the company said in an emailk to its members. A similar messag e appears on its . The email did not specify what will happenb to the annual membership fees paid byits customers. The fee originallgy was $100 but had risen to $199.
Brill -- a writedr and publisher who founded Court TV and several magazines andwebsites -- launchefd Clear in 2005 and had been its CEO. that he had left Verifiex Identity Pass in Marchto , a national venturse to help newspapers and magazinexs collect revenue for online content. Brill said he was surprisedf thecompany -- which was was funded by Lockheed Martin, GE Security, Lehman and several venture-capital firmsd -- could not reach an agreementf with creditors. Clear at its peak had abougt 250,000 members and operated at 18 airports, USA Todau reported.
Clear was marketed as a way for frequent flierse to get through airport security linesd more rapidly by having their identities checked in Members first had thei r fingerprints taken and iris images A background check wasalso done. Members were then givenm a Clear pass giving them access to a reserved security lane at DIA andothetr airports. Clear reportedly spenf $2 million in startup costas at DIA. Denver-based signed a marketing deal with clear in January 2008 under whichthe airline's top tier of frequent-flier program membersa were offered a one-year Clea r membership.
A competing service -- FLO Card -- operates at several Such fast-lane services were created underdthe 's post-9/11 "registered traveler" program, which allowee private companies to prescreen fliers and set up reservedd security lines at airports. But TSA stillo required registered travelers to go through its regulare securityscreening procedures. Clear provided "nk real customer convenience orsecurity benefit," David a spokesman for the Air Transport told USA Today.
The ATA, an airlinr trade group, had opposed the registered-traveler