[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 45143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21486]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Announcing a Meeting of Key Escrow Issues
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
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SUMMARY: NIST announces a meeting to discuss issues regarding key
escrow encryption, specifically to include export criteria for software
and the desirable characteristics for U.S. key escrow agents.
DATES: The meeting will be held at NIST on September 6 and 7, 1995,
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: To register to attend the meeting, interested parties may
contact Key Escrow Issues Meeting, Arlene Carlton, Technology Building,
Room B-154, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899; 301-975-3240, fax: 301-948-
1784, or e-mail at carlton@micf.nist.gov''.
Individuals interested in speaking are asked to contact Ed Roback
at NIST on 301-975-3696, fax: 301-948-1784, or e-mail at
roback@enh.nist.gov''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Arlene Carlton, Technology Building, Room B-154, NIST, Gaithersburg,
MD, 20899; 301-975-3240, fax: 301-948-1784, or e-mail at
carlton@micf.nist.gov''.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commerce Department's National Institute
of Standards and Technology invites industry representatives and other
interested parties to a meeting on September 6 and 7, to discuss issues
related to key escrow encryption. While not limited, two principal
agenda items for discussion will be: (1) Developing the criteria for
software key escrow encryption exportability and (2) the desirable
characteristics for U.S. key escrow agents.
Industry has asked the government for criteria for the export of
software key escrow encryption. Rather than simply publishing criteria,
however, the Administration desires consultations with industry in
preparing final criteria for publication. This session of the meeting
will begin with a presentation of the government's perspective of the
desirable criteria, followed by a chance for other participants to
offer their thoughts on this issue as well as reaction to the federal
perspective. Under acceptable criteria, the government is willing to
allow for the export of strong cryptography (e.g., DES) when coupled
with a key escrow mechanism. It is anticipated that this would be
coupled with a one-time product review (e.g., as is the case for RC2/
RC4 products) by the Department of State. Following such approval, the
Department of Commerce would administer export regulations.
The second session of the meeting will address the desirable
characteristics of acceptable U.S. escrow agents. Clearly, if export of
key escrow encryption products will be allowed, the cryptographic keys
must be stored with some entity. This session will address the criteria
for the approval of such organizations. It may also discuss what sort
of legal protections, if any, may be necessary to provide, for example,
against unauthorized release of encryption keys. Follow-up meetings to
both issues may be necessary.
Other related topics may be included, time permitting. Note that a
separate meeting has been scheduled for 9/15/95 to discuss the
development of federal standards for key escrow encryption.
Government representatives will attend from the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, the Department of State, the Department of
Justice, the Department of Commerce, the National Security Agency, and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
If you would like to make a presentation with your recommendations
on either topic, or propose an additional topic, please contact Ed
Roback at NIST on 301-975-3696. Presentations may be limited in length
to accommodate all speakers. The meeting will be open to the public,
although seating is limited.
No detailed agenda has been set yet. NIST reserves the right to
cancel any part of the meeting.
Dated: August 23, 1995.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 95-21486 Filed 8-29-95; 8:45 am]
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