[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 ``[email protected]''.
    Individuals interested in speaking are asked to contact Ed Roback 
at NIST on 301-975-3696, fax: 301-948-1784, or e-mail at 
``[email protected]''.

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 
``[email protected]''.

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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