[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45143-45144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21487]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Announcing a Meeting of Developing Federal Information Processing 
Standards for Key Escrow Encryption

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NIST announces an exploratory workshop to develop federal 
standards for key escrow encryption, specifically to include software 
implementations.

DATES: The meeting will be held September 15, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m..

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Gaithersburg Hilton Hotel, 620 
Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
    To register to attend the meeting, interested parties may contact 
Key Escrow Standards Workshop, 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-

[[Page 45144]]
1784, or e-mail at ``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 15, 1995, the Commerce 
Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology will hold 
an exploratory workshop on developing Federal Information Processing 
Standards (FIPS) for key escrow encryption, specifically to include 
software implementations. This effort is being initiated to further the 
Administration's commitment to federal use of key escrow encryption.
    Industry representatives and other interested parties are invited 
to the workshop to provide their perspectives on the desirable 
characteristics of key escrow encryption standards to NIST and other 
federal officials. Government representatives also will present their 
objectives and preliminary approach to this standards development 
process. Discussion will also include proposals for follow-on 
activities.
    For discussion purposes, one initial option for this standards 
activity may be to create a generic key escrow encryption standard 
containing criteria for federal use of key escrow techniques 
implemented in either software or hardware. This high-level standard 
could then be supplemented with lists of validated key escrow 
techniques. (Currently FIPS 185, ``Escrowed Encryption Standard,'' a 
hardware-based standard, is the only FIPS-approved key escrow 
technique.) Guidance would also be needed to guide selection of 
appropriate key escrow techniques for particular applications. Key 
escrowing will be used by federal agencies (and others, if they so 
choose) in conjunction with FIPS-approved encryption techniques. 
Development and implementation of such standards are necessary to guide 
federal agencies in effectively and securely implementing key escrow 
encryption.
    The meeting is open to the public, although seating is limited to 
approximately 100 individuals. Presentations may be limited in length 
to accommodate all speakers. 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. 95-21487 Filed 8-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-CN-M