Nov. 6, 1995
Contact:  Anne Enright Shepherd                                           
(301) 975-4858
anne.shepherd@nist.gov
 
                         MEDIA ADVISORY
          
            U.S. GOVERNMENT SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON
                                
        DRAFT EXPORT CRITERIA FOR KEY ESCROW ENCRYPTION
 
      Revised proposed export criteria for software encryption products
using a key escrow mechanism are now available for public review.
Public comment will be solicited at a Dec. 5 meeting to be held at the
Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology.
 
     Key escrow encryption is part of the Clinton Administration's
initiative to promote the use of strong techniques to protect the
privacy of data and voice transmissions by companies, government
agencies and others without compromising the government's ability to
carry out lawful electronic surveillance and to execute search warrants
for electronically stored communications. The exportability criteria
being proposed are for an expedited licensing review process for
software key escrow encryption products with keys up to 64 bits long.
 
     The U.S. Interagency Working Group on Encryption and
Telecommunications, a body that develops recommendations on
Administration encryption policies, solicits additional public comment
on the revised criteria.
 
     Since the Clinton Administration's Aug. 17, 1995, announcement of
proposed liberalization of export control procedures for key escrow
software products with key lengths up to 64 bits, the working group has
met with representatives of computer hardware and software
manufacturers, industry trade associations and others interested in
providing strong security for electronic data and transmissions. Based
on comments received to date from industry, the criteria have been
revised to better reflect commercial interests while balancing the
needs of law enforcement and national security.
 
     These criteria do not replace or supersede any other licensing
processes or criteria. Export applications for other types of products
will use the existing licensing process.
 
     The Dec. 5 meeting, to be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at NIST in
Gaithersburg, Md., is free and open to the public. Representatives from
the interagency encryption working group will discuss the draft
criteria and answer related questions.
 
     Those interested in attending the workshop can register before
Nov. 30 by sending their name, organization, postal address, phone, fax
number and e-mail address to Elaine Frye of NIST by fax:  (301)
948-1784 or e-mail: elaine.frye@nist.gov.  For additional information,
call (301) 975-2819.
 
     Once public comments are received and the export criteria are
given any necessary clarifications, the Department of State is expected
to issue guidance incorporating the criteria in early 1996.  Products
will be reviewed by the State Department to verify that they satisfy
the final criteria. Products meeting the criteria will be transferred
to the Commodity Control List administered by the Commerce Department's
Bureau of Export Administration, where they can be exported under a
general license.
 
The revised proposed export criteria are available on the World Wide
Web at http://csrc.ncsl.nist.gov/keyescrow/. Reporters may also request
a copy from Anne Enright Shepherd at NIST, (301) 975-2762, fax: (301)
926-1630, or e-mail:  anne.shepherd@nist.gov.
 

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