[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31411-31412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14991]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Public Forum on Certificate Authorities and Digital Signatures: 
Enhancing Global Electronic Commerce

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public forum and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce requests public comments on various 
aspects of the public key infrastructure related to certificate 
authorities and digital signatures. This request for public comment 
will enable the Department, and other Executive Branch agencies, to 
benefit from the expertise and views of the private sector, states, 
localities, non-profits, industry associations and other national and 
international entities. Specific questions that the Department seeks 
public comments on are listed in ``Supplementary Information''. A 
``Public Forum on Certificate Authorities and Digital Signatures: 
Enhancing Global Electronic Commerce'' is being sponsored by the 
Department on this topic. The comments received by the Department will 
aid in effectively supporting Administration initiatives on electronic 
commerce issues.

DATES: The ``Public Forum on Certificate Authorities and Digital 
Signatures: Enhancing Global Electronic Commerce'' will be held on July 
24, 1997, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    Advanced registration for the ``Public Forum'' is due by July 16, 
1997.
    Written comments are due by July 16, 1997.
    Requests to participate as a panelist in the ``Public Forum'' are 
due by July 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The ``Public Forum on Certificate Authorities and Digital 
Signatures: Enhancing Global Electronic Commerce'' will take place at 
the Green Auditorium, Administration Building, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
    Written comments should be sent to: Director, Information 
Technology Laboratory, ATTN: ``Public Forum on Certificate Authorities 
and Digital Signatures'', Technology Building, Room A231, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.
    Electronic comments may be sent to [email protected]. Electronic 
comments should be in ASCII, MS word or WordPerfect formats. No 
comments will be accepted by voice phone or by fax.

PUBLIC INFORMATION: The Department, based on comments received and 
expressions of interest, will organize the Public Forum as a series of 
panels, with short presentations and then a period for questions from 
the audience. Not all issues included in this notice may be covered in 
the public forum, and the Department may organize the program along 
lines different than the questions are presented. Members of the public 
who are interested in serving on a panel are asked to contact the 
individual listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below. Due to time 
and physical constraints, and in order to develop an effective program, 
not all requests can be honored.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Edward Roback, Information 
Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Building 820, Room 426, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001. (301) 975-3696.
    For planning purposes, advanced registration is requested by July 
16, 1997. To register, please fax your name, postal address, telephone 
and e-mail address to: 301-948-1233, ATTN: ``July 24 Public Forum''. 
Space permitting, registration will also be available at the door. The 
July 24th meeting is open to the public. There is no registration fee 
for the Public Forum.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ``Public Forum'' on Certificate 
Authorities and Digital Signatures:

[[Page 31412]]

Enhancing Global Electronic Commerce'' will be held on July 24, 1997 at 
the Green Auditorium, Administration Building, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.
    Copies of written submissions received by July 16, 1997, will be 
made available at the Public Forum.

Issues for Public Comment and Themes of the Public Forum

    The emergence of a public key infrastructure, and the demands of 
global electronic commerce, have generated significant private sector 
and governmental efforts to develop a reliable system of certificate 
authorities that enable use of trustworthy digital signatures.
    The Department of Commerce, and other Executive Branch agencies, 
seek public comment on and are planning a Public Forum that encompasses 
the following issues. By seeking comment from the varied parties and 
interests, reflecting the many initiatives that are underway, the 
Executive Branch will be better able to assess emerging initiatives on 
digital signatures and certificate authorities; ensure that the federal 
government's PKI activities take advantage of the latest developments 
and directions in the private sector; and aid federal government 
officials and industry representatives participating in domestic and 
international fora on these issues.
    1. State government initiatives through ``digital signature laws.'' 
Some two dozen states have passed some form of ``digital signature 
laws'' in the last two years. The Department encourages comments from 
relevant state government agencies on the experiences and issues that 
have arisen during the process of implementing these laws, including 
the status of any registration of certificate authorities. Comments 
that reflect the systematic aspects of digital signature laws are 
especially encouraged. Comments are also encouraged by users and 
stakeholders in the systems that result from passage of these ``digital 
signature laws.''
    2. The evolving legal framework of certificate authorities and 
digital signatures. A number of private sector efforts are underway to 
examine and recommend changes to the legal and regulatory framework 
that could contribute to a reliable system of certificate authorities. 
The Department notes the efforts, among others, of the American Bar 
Association (``Digital Signature Guidelines'') and the National 
Commission on Uniform State Laws. The Department encourages comments 
from all private sector efforts which are undertaking efforts in this 
area.
    3. The technology and business challenges of certificate 
authorities and digital signatures. In response to user demands, an 
industry of certificate authorities is emerging. The Department seeks 
comments from those entities that are offering services and 
technologies that relate to issuing certificates and digital 
signatures.
    4. User requirements and expectations. A multitude of sectors can 
be expected to utilize a reliable system of certificate authorities and 
digital signatures. The Department seeks comments from any and all 
sectors that are developing performance requirements and user 
expectations in this area. Comments are encouraged from non-profits and 
governmental entities, as well as for-profit enterprises.
    5. An international perspective. A number of countries and 
international fora are examining the issues of a reliable system of 
certificate authorities and use of digital signatures. The Department 
notes the activities of UNCITRAL, the OECD, as well as recent 
developments in Germany, Japan, the European Union, etc. The Department 
invites comments from international representatives on the issues 
outlined in this notice and participation in the Public Forum.
    Comments received in response to this notice will be made part of 
the public record and will be available for inspection and copying in 
the Central Reference and Records Inspection Facility, Room 6020, 
Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th Street between Pennsylvania and 
Constitution Avenues, NW, Washington, DC 20230. The Department intends 
to publish the proceedings of the Public Forum, and all public 
comments, as soon as possible after the July 24th meeting.

    Dated: June 3, 1997.
Mary L. Good,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology.
[FR Doc. 97-14991 Filed 6-6-97; 8:45 am]
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