96-11768. Addition of Commercial Espionage to Mail Cover Regulations  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 92 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Page 21404]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-11768]
    
    
    
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    POSTAL SERVICE
    
    39 CFR Part 233
    
    
    Addition of Commercial Espionage to Mail Cover Regulations
    
    AGENCY: Postal Service.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: This proposed rule will amend the United States Postal 
    Service's mail cover regulations to add commercial espionage by foreign 
    sources as a criminal activity for which national security mail covers 
    may be authorized. This change is effected by expanding the definition 
    of ``protection of the national security'' found at 39 CFR 233.3(c)(9) 
    to include commercial espionage.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Counsel, 
    Postal Inspection Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3411, 
    Washington, DC 20260-2181.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry J. Bauman, Counsel, Postal 
    Inspection Service, (202) 268-4415.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Postal Service regulations on mail covers 
    are published in Title 39 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 
    Sec. 233. Paragraph (c)(9) of Sec. 233.3 currently defines ``protection 
    of the national security'' as ``actual or potential threats to the 
    security of the United States of America by a foreign power or its 
    agents.'' This definition will be expanded to include commercial 
    espionage.
        Commercial espionage by foreign sources has become an increasing 
    threat to the economic well-being and ability of the United States to 
    compete in the international market. For the purposes of this proposed 
    revision, ``commercial espionage'' is defined as either ``economic 
    espionage'' or ``industrial espionage.'' According to the Federal 
    Bureau of Investigation (FBI) white paper, FBI Strategy to Address the 
    Problem of Economic Espionage and Industrial Espionage (Washington, DC: 
    FBI Headquarters, undated), ``economic espionage'' is ``government-
    directed, sponsored, or coordinated intelligence activity, which may or 
    may not constitute violation of the law, conducted for the purpose of 
    enhancing that country's or another country's economic competitiveness 
    by the use of the information by the foreign government or by providing 
    it to a foreign business entity thereby giving that entity a 
    competitive advantage in the marketplace.'' ``Industrial espionage'' is 
    defined by the FBI as ``individual or private business entity 
    sponsorship or coordination of intelligence activity conducted for the 
    purpose of enhancing a private business and its competitive advantage 
    in the marketplace, which is a violation of law.''
        Revising the Postal Service's national security mail cover 
    regulations to include commercial espionage will enhance the ability of 
    law enforcement to protect national security.
    
    List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233
    
        Administrative practice and procedures, Banks and banking, Credit, 
    Crime, Law Enforcement, Postal Service, Privacy, Seizure and 
    forfeiture.
    
        Accordingly, 39 CFR 233 is proposed to be amended as set forth 
    below.
    
    PART 233--INSPECTION SERVICE/INSPECTOR GENERAL AUTHORITY
    
        1. The authority citation for part 233 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 402, 403, 404, 406, 410, 411, 
    3005(e)(1); 12 U.S.C. 3401-3422; 18 U.S.C. 981, 1956, 1957, 2254, 
    3061; 21 U.S.C. 881; Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. 
    L. No. 95-452, as amended), 5 U.S.C. App.3.
    
        2. Paragraph (c)(9) of Sec. 233.3 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 233.3  Mail covers.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
        (9) Protection of the national security means to protect the United 
    States from any of the following actual or potential threats to its 
    security by a foreign power or its agents:
        (i) An attack or other grave, hostile act;
        (ii) Sabotage, or international terrorism; or
        (iii) Clandestine intelligence activities, including commercial 
    espionage.
    * * * * *
    Stanley F. Mires,
    Chief Counsel, Legislative.
    [FR Doc. 96-11768 Filed 5-9-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/10/1996
Department:
Postal Service
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
96-11768
Dates:
Comments must be received on or before June 10, 1996.
Pages:
21404-21404 (1 pages)
PDF File:
96-11768.pdf
CFR: (2)
39 CFR 233
39 CFR 233.3