    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 35 (Monday, September 4, 2000)]
    [Page 1980]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on Actions
    Concerning Digital Computer Exports

    August 30, 2000

    Dear __________:

        In accordance with the provisions of section 1211(d) of the National
    Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85) (the
    ``Act''), I hereby notify you of my decision to establish a new level
    for the notification procedure for digital computers set forth in
    section 1211(a) of the Act. The new level will be 28,000 Millions of
    Theoretical Operations per Second (MTOPS). In accordance with the
    provisions of section 1211(e), I hereby notify you of my decision to
    remove Estonia from the list of countries covered under section 1211(b).
    The attached report provides the rationale supporting these decisions
    and fulfills the requirements of sections 1211(d) and (e) of the Act. I
    have made these changes based on the recommendation of the Departments
    of Defense, Commerce, State, and Energy.
        Section 1211(d) provides that any adjustment to the control level
    described in 1211(a) cannot take effect until 180 days after receipt of
    this report by the Congress. Section 1211(e) provides that the removal
    of a country from the group of countries covered by section 1211(b)
    cannot take effect until 120 days after the Congress is notified. Given
    the rapid pace of technological change in the information technology
    industry, I believe these time periods are too long. I hope that we can
    work together to reduce both notification periods to 30 days.
        I have also directed the Secretary of Commerce to adjust the
    licensing requirements for Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries. The new level
    above which an individual license will be required for exports to Tier 2
    countries is 45,000 MTOPS. In addition, I have decided to implement a
    single licensing level for Tier 3: the new level above which an
    individual license will be required for exports to Tier 3 countries is
    28,000 MTOPS. The aforementioned licensing adjustments will take place
    immediately.
        I look forward to working cooperatively with the Congress on these
    issues.
        Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to John W. Warner, chairman, and Carl
    Levin, ranking member, Senate Committee on Armed Services; Phil Gramm,
    chairman, and Paul S. Sarbanes, ranking member, Senate Committee on
    Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Floyd Spence, chairman, and Ike
    Skelton, ranking member, House Committee on Armed Services; and Benjamin
    A. Gilman, chairman, and Sam Gejdenson, ranking member, House Committee
    on International Relations. This letter was released by the Office of
    the Press Secretary on August 31.