[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10204-10205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4936]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 021127288-2288-01]


Proposed Withdrawal Of Seventeen (17) Federal Information 
Processing Standards (FIPS)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
proposes to withdraw seventeen (17) Federal Information Processing 
Standards (FIPS) from the FIPS series. Some of these FIPS adopt 
voluntary industry standards for Federal government use, but the FIPS 
documents have not been updated to reference current or revised 
voluntary industry standards. Other FIPS adopt data standards that are 
developed and used by other Federal government agencies. These FIPS 
have not been updated to reflect changes and modifications in the data 
representations. The remaining FIPS provide advisory guidance to 
Federal agencies on computer security issues. This advisory guidance, 
which has no requirements for compulsory and binding use, has been 
updated by NIST and issued in more recent recommendations and 
publications.
    Prior to the submission of this proposed withdrawal to the 
Secretary of Commerce for review and approval, it is essential to 
assure that consideration is

[[Page 10205]]

given to the needs and views of manufacturers, the public, and State 
and local governments. The purpose of this notice is to solicit such 
views.

DATES: Comments on the proposed withdrawal of these FIPS must be 
received on or before June 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the withdrawal of these FIPS 
should be sent to: Information Technology Laboratory, ATTN: Proposed 
Withdrawal of 17 FIPS, Mail Stop 8930, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Electronic 
comments should be sent to: [email protected].
    Information about the FIPS is available on the NIST web pages: 
http://www.itl.nist.gov/fipspubs/index.htm.
    Comments received in response to this notice will be published 
electronically at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Shirley M. Radack, telephone (301) 
975-2833, MS 8930, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899 or via e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal agencies and departments are 
directed by the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-113, to use technical standards that are developed 
in voluntary consensus standards bodies. Consequently, there no longer 
is a need for FIPS that duplicate voluntary industry standards.
    The following Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 
Publications are proposed for withdrawal from the FIPS series:

FIPS 8-6, Metropolitan Areas (Including MSAs, CMSAs, PMSAs, and NECMAs)
FIPS 9-1, Congressional Districts of the U.S.
FIPS 31, Guidelines for Automatic Data Processing Physical Security and 
Risk Management
FIPS 48, Guidelines on Evaluation of Techniques for Automated Personal 
Identification
FIPS 55-3, Codes for Named Populated Places, Primary County Divisions, 
and Other Locational Entities of the United States, Puerto Rico, and 
the Outlying Areas
FIPS 66, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes
FIPS 73, Guidelines for Security of Computer Applications
FIPS 83, Guideline on User Authentication Techniques for Computer 
Network Access Control
FIPS 87, Guidelines for ADP Contingency Planning
FIPS 92, Guideline for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes
FIPS 95-2, Codes for the Identification of Federal and Federally 
Assisted Organizations
FIPS 102, Guideline for Computer Security Certification and 
Accreditation
FIPS 112, Password Usage
FIPS 127-2, Database Language SQL (ANSI X3.135-1992)
FIPS 159, Detail Specification for 62.5-um Core Diameter/125-um 
Cladding Diameter Class 1A Multimode, Graded-index Optical Waveguide 
Fibers
FIPS 171, Key Management Using ANSI X9.17
FIPS 173-1, Spatial Data Transfer Standard.

    The FIPS are being proposed for withdrawal because they are 
obsolete, or have not been updated to adopt current voluntary industry 
standards, current federal data standards, or current good practices 
for computer security. Withdrawal of these FIPS does not lessen agency 
responsibilities to use current voluntary industry standards and 
available good practices in their acquisition and management 
activities. The Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 
(Division E of Public Law 104-106) and Executive Order 13011 emphasize 
agency management of information technology and Government-wide 
interagency support activities to improve productivity, security, 
interoperability, and coordination of Government resources.
    Withdrawal means that these FIPS would no longer be part of a 
subscription service that is provided by the National Technical 
Information Service. NIST will continue to provide relevant information 
on standards and guidelines by means of electronic dissemination 
methods, and will keep references to the withdrawn FIPS on its FIPS Web 
pages.
    Authority: Federal Information Processing Standards Publications 
(FIPS PUBS) are issued by the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology after approval by the Secretary of Commerce, pursuant to 
Section 5131 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 
1996 (Pub. L. 104-106), the Computer Security Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-
235), and Appendix III to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
130.
    Classification: Executive Order 12866: This notice has been 
determined not to be significant for the purposes of Executive Order 
12866.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Arden L. Bement, Jr.,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-4936 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
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