Methods, systems, and apparatuses for a radio frequency identification
(RFID) tag tester/programmer and marker are described. A surface is in
contact with a web of RFID tags. The surface has a first portion and a
second portion. The first portion of the surface is grounded to ground
tags of the web that are in contact with the first portion. A radio
frequency (RF) source transmits a RF signal to interact with a tag
adjacent to the second portion of the surface. The RF signal may be a
signal for testing the tag and/or a signal for programming the tag.