FOR N~,c STAFF CONSIDERATION OULY 

{ Planm.ng Board) 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIREcTIV1 --~ 

on 

COI1MUN lCA '1.'IONS SECUID.'l'Y 

'.!'ht> Pros1de11t&.ct1 direc t.ive of Octol,er 21', 1952• 

August 111 1951 

a~ &tated t.hat the secun.ty of Federal telccoJT1111m.v::a'l J..cm& 

(GUM!":iEC) i_s a national responsibility, and that COMSEC po1ici.f''3 

and procedures mu~t be integrated so as to enable tho VclIJ-:ius 

departJ11ents and agencies of the Government to cooperate effec:t.J vPly 

in such matters and to satisfy le~itimate requ11~ments for ~he 

security of their messages; 

E• DoSJ..p;nated the Secretaries of State and Dofcmse as a 

Spocial Committee o1 the National Security Council for COHS1C Jl'lr\tterE., 

to ostablish buch policies relatmg l.o COMSEC as will acluav13 the 

manmun1 secur1 ty of F'ederal telecolYllllunications, and t.o koep Lhe 

President advi.sed of such policies through the l!.."Cecutjve SPc.1el.ery 

o! the National Sccunty Council*, and 

i"':fiWPre:ndent-J.uapprovmg t.h1sdirectivc also dJ c C'C'ted th,rt thti 

Al..torncy Gene.L '31 shall be a member of the Special Comm11 tee when .. 

ever matters C'f J nterest to the Federal Bureau of Inve'3ti.g.:1.t1'1n 

are before tha. t. cononittee. In accordance with the Pt'e::.J.c"lent'::. 

i.n&truct.Lons rt"gard.Lng the normal operation of the CouncJ.l, l..he 

hea.ds of departments and agencies not represented on the 5poc::i.al 

Conunittef', sha.11 also partici.pate as members of the Special Com11u t tee 

whenever matters of direct interest to their reEipecti ve aeencies a:re 

before that ('.onura.ttee., 

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-CONFIDENTIAL 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 02-05-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
DRAFT 

- CONPI:OEWTttL 

S:EetfRI'fi Hf.FefMAi'ION 

.2• Directed the Special Committee of the" NSC to prepare and 

issue in the OOMSEC field directives which'will: 

(1) Rescind the Executive Order of July 31 1945 entitled 

"Cryptographic Security with Respect to Certain Communications 

o:t the Government"*• 

(2) Establish a United States 'Cb:mmunications Security 

Boa~d (USC.SB) responsible for integrating policies and procedures 

1 • 

affecting th0 security of Federal telecommunications. 

(3) Provide for the establishment of appropriate responsibilities and authorities to assure within the various depart .. 

ments and agencies of the Goverruiient, among other things1 

(a) High and uniform standards of coillllillnications 

security; 

(b) Effective cooperation in COMSEC matters between 

departments and agencies concerned; 

(c) The adequacy of the cryptographic systems used; 

(d) Coordination of COMSEC problems, particularly 

policies with respect to foreign govenunent.s; . , 

(e) Satisfaction of legitimate requirements for the 

security of telecomnunications. 

Pursuant to the f orego~g and to the provisions of Section 101 

' 

~Section 211 of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended,, 

*The Order was classified and was.not published in the Federal 

Register. It was rescinded by tl e President 'on_ (date) • 

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eeMFffiEl'f'f ttL 

SiGJJ'RI.TI'.' 1Ni?9R!4:h~ION 

DRAFT 

the Spacial Committee of the National Security Council for COMSEC hereby 

authorizes and directs as follows: 

1. The United States Communications Security Board (USCSB)t 

!• There is hereby established the United States Comnunications 

Security Boaro (USCSB), hereinafter referred to as the Board.J which 

shall be a body acting for and under the aforesaid Special Q>mmlttee 

and shall operate in accoroance with the provisions of this 

• - I 

Directive and any other directives which nay be issued by the 

Special Committee • 

.£• The Board shall be composed of ·one representative of each 'Of 

the followings 

(1) The Secretary of State 

(2) The Secretary of Defense 

( 3) The Secretary of the Treasury 

(4) The Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (5) The Secretary of the Army 

(6) The Secretary of the Navy / 

(7) The Secretary of· the Air Force 

(8) The Director of Central Intelligence 

(9) The Director of the National Security Agency 

(10) TP,e Atomic Energy Commission 

c. Under the authority of the Special Comntl.ttee it shall be the 

responsibility of the Board: 

(1) To integrate policies and procedures affecting the 

security of Federal teleco:mmunications; 

(2) To establish br.oad policies necessary to: 

(a) Insure high and unifom standards of OOMSEC within 

I . 

the various departments and agencies of the Government. 

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COZ.!r'ffiEMH1H) 

SEG0Tl!'i¥ IHPORt'lt .. 'HOU 

(b) Institute and maintain e~fective cooperation 

in OOMSEC matters ruoon~ the departments and agencies 

concerned. 

(c) Achieve the maximum practicable degr~e of 

security of Federal telecommunications. 

(d) Satisfy legit:ilnate requirements .for.the security 

of teleco:mrm.inications o£ the departments and.agencies. 

(e) Guide the relations of the u. S. Government 

with foreign g~vemments and :lnten.ational organizations 

in CO~.SEC matters. 

(f) Guide the actions to be taken by the Executi~e 

~gent in COMSEC matters. 

( 3) To approve the long-range plans for conmiunJ.cations 

security of the u. s. 

(h) To advise the Special Committee with respect t~ 

OOMSEC policy matters decided by the Board and make 

recommendations as appropriate. 

( S) To study the COMSEC standards ·and practices 0£ any 

department o:i: agency in the field of COMSEC and make" 

recommendations as necessary to insure compliance with the 

directives of the Board in this field. 

S• The Boa:rd shall elect its own Chairman from among its 

membership. 

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G~NFIBEiH'flif; 

sgstJRI'fi INPORHA!P!9N . 

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!• The Board shall have a staff headed by an executive 

secretary who shall be appointed by the Chainna.n with the 

approval or a majority of the Board. 

f. The Board shall meet a-t, the call of the Chairman or at - the request of any member, and shall determine its awn 

procedures subjec·t to the provisions of this Direc·t.ive • 

.S• The Board shall reach its decisions by majo1-:l.ty vote. 

In the event that the Board votes and reaches a decision, any 

dissenting member or the Board may appeal from such decision. 

- d 

Such appeal must be made within lS days to the Special Oomrni ttee. 

In the event that ~he Board votes and fails to reach a decision, 

any member of the Board may appeal to the Special Committee and· 

such appeal must be made within lS days of the inconclusive vote. 

In either event the Special Conunittee shall review the matter, 

and its determination thereon shall be final. Appeals by the 

I 

Director of NSA, or by the representative of any of the Milit817 

Departments shall be filed only with the approval of the 

Secretary of Defense. 

l!• No action shall be taken with respect to any niatter 

fonning the subject of an appeal until the appeal is decided; 

provided that, if the Secretary of Defense dete:nnines, after 

consultation with the Secretary of State (and the Attorney 

General and the heads of other departments and agencies as 

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... 

DUA FT 

I 

eomnnEM't':.EAt 

-ili:Q1RI'fY Itftr(J!MJCTION 

appropriat.e), that the subject matter presents a problem ot' an 

emergency nature and· requires imnediate action, hi.s decision 

shall govern, pending the result of the appeal. In such an 

e.met•gency situation the appeal may be ta.ken direc·tly to tho 

President by the Special Conm1ittee. 

!• The Board shall invite the head or any department or 

ager.cy not represented on the Board to designate a representative 

to participate with the Board in consideration eJf matters of 

direc·I; interest to such a department or agency, to the end that 

the comnn.mications security needs or such departments and agencie, 

may be considered; and heads or departments and agencies not 

represente~ on the Board may present, through the Executive 

t Secretary of the Board, conununications security matters for 

consideration by the Board. 

1 • Departments or agencies not represented on the Board may 

appeal from decisions of the Board in the manner prescribed .1'1.>r 

departments and agencies represented on the Board. 

2. filrectivo to the Secretary of Defense 

!~ '.J.he Department of Defense is hereby designated as 

Executive Agent of the Government for all COMSEG ma1~tera. 

Ji.• As Executive Agent, the Department of Defense is charged 

with the mission oft 

(1) Providing centralized, overall cognizance of l:.he 

measures necessary to provide and assure the adequacy of the 

CONSEC techniqu~s and materials used by the Govel•rm11:mt; 

eot&IBEH'i'IhJ, 
. ~ 

DRAFT 

CONl"In!lrt·mt 

s:seara: 'iY I Mf'elif'Jti'!!ON 

(2) Formulating for the Board integrated technical 

and operatir1g policies, programs,··and long-range plans 

required to maintain high and uniform standards to ensure 

the security of Federal telecommunicationo; and 

(3) Providing advice and recommendations on any aspect 

of the field of COMSEC • 

.£• As Executive Agent the Department of Defense is empowered 

to take action 'Within policies and procedures established by the 

Board, in all OJMSEC matters affecting the departments and 

agencies of the Government provided, however, that where exception 

to its action is made by the Secretary of a department or bY the 

Head or Director of an agency outside of the Department of 

Defense, such exceptions shall be referred to the Board. Pending 

Board review, if the Department of Defense determines that the 

subject matter presents a problem of an emergency nature and 

requires immediate action it may refer the matter to the Special 

Committee for irmnediate decision • 

.!!• Subj(;lct to the specific prorlsions of this Directive and . subsequent directives issued by competent authority, the Director 

of the National Security Agency shal1 act for the Executive O 

Agent in all co:.ISEC matters set forth in subparagraphs (1) thru. 

(~3) below and any others which may be specified by the Special 

Committee or the Board. With respect to the Hilitacy Dopa~ent,s,, 

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... 

DRAFT 

GQHf IBJ .i!'Pf'iAl, 

8&6(:JR! n· Hff!'C,.ItMd. lON 

the Director, NSA will perfonn his functions under the il11mcdiato 

dit~ction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Thus, in the fields of 

cryptosecurity, transmission security, physical security, and 

cover and deception it shall be the responsibility of t.he Director, 

- N&: 

or 1D the absence at approved proposals, then to 

(1) Toft»"8Q8~i&e -ew review and approve,/the Cl'J'pto- prescribe 

principles incorporated or to be incorporated in any telecommunications equipments and systems and in any O)MSEC 

equipments and systems used by the depar"bnents and agencios 

of the Government. 

or in the absence at approved proposals 1 then to prescribe 

(2) To p11eeePi~e -eP review and approve, /c:r"Jptosec11rity 

rLtles, regulations, ,and instructions applicable to the 

operation and use of any crypto-equipments and systems and of 

any Q1HSEC equipments and systems. 

(J) To perfonn technical analysis of Federal teleco1runurd.-

cations for the purpose of determining the degree of COMSEC 

being provided by the cryptoprinciples, materials and procedures 

utilized by the depar~nents and agencies as well as the effect 

on CO¥.aSEC of the communications procedures and practices also 

being utilized; making arrangements as appropriate to obtain 

the material required for such analysis. (See paraeraph 3 ~ (2)). 

(li) To review and evaluate communications prncedur<H:I 

developed by the departments and agencies to dot.erniine 

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CONFIDENTlt'1L 
S'l'Am's comment: 

"Prescribe is 

diff'erent than 

promulgate." 

D'HAli'T 

CONJ.• JDJ.'..N 1 lJ\t 

SESl:JIH'l'Y HlfOhill'cl'ION 

whether such procedures will provide and maintain tr.;lnsm:ission 

security; and to recommend revisions and addittonul rnles and 

procedures as required. To acc.'Omplish th:ts th<: Dircictor, NSA 

may perform technical analyses of Federal telccomnnmicatfons 

and shall make the necessary arrangements with the departments 

and agencies to obtain the material requil-ed f'or analysis. 

(See paragraphs 3 a (1) ·and ,(2)). - \ 

·' (5) In collaboration with the departments and agencies 

i"ormulate and promulgate 

as appropriate,, to/~~195a~J.Mti min:ilnuin standards for the phy,sical 

security of cryptorraterial. 

(6) In collaboration with tho departments and agencies, 

to assist in the preparation of and to review the communications 

portions of a•• ~~~a~Q~~~ cover an~ d~ception plans. To 

fo1mulate and promulrrate tho basic policies used in such portions. 

(7) To obtain from the depar'bnents and agencies their 

requirements for crypto-equipments and.materials and to 

fonriulate, for consideration by the Board, integrated programs 

for the rf·search, development,, production and procurement 

necessary to meet these requirements and adequC1.te to ensure 

the continujng security of 1'"'ederal telecolllllUnications. 

( 6) To review and coordinate the int.egrat.ed cryptosecurity research and development program and to conduct 

research and development necessary to supfiort it. Subject 

coordination with . to prior/t11.e4J!il'4.-ee-W.et1 -toe flM ~M. ~ thc-i Director, BSA, 

(in the case of the Mili ta.ry Departments, approval by the 

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SEi6lJFl!'f'Y IllPOii~A'f'fON 

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Director,, NSA, ~eparbnents and agencies may initiate and pursue ruch 

resea~ch and development projects' as :may be necessary to 

support; their COMSEC activities. 

(9) T~ produce c17ptomaterial necessary to meet the 

legitimate requirements ~r the departments and agencies and 

to insure that there is adequate capac:l.ty to z11eet these 

requirements. In so doing ·l;he Director, NSA by mutual 

will 

agreement JAa)' authorize the departments and agencies to . ' 

engage in the production of cryptoznaterial provided that 

such production is conducted in accordance with technical 

cryptologic criteria prescribed by· the Director, NSA and 

further provided that the Director, NSA is kept info:nncd of 

the production accomplished. 

(10) In meeting operational requirements, to insure the 

necessary compatibility and, insofar as practicable, the 

standardization of crypto-equipments and material in o:rder 

to promote a max:imwn of ei'f iciency and econonw in their procurement, operation, and maintenance. Detemination of the 

acceptability of an equipment in meeting the operational 

requiren1ents is a responsibility of the departments and 

agencies. 

(ll) To furnish services and mattiriuls !or the COMSEC 

program of the departments and agencies under mutually 

agreeable fiscal arrangements. 

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D RAF' T 

O::H&II~ M'tl''f I1ll t 

BEEkJRI!Y Ih'FORHt 'f.ESK 

(12) To conduct. liaison on technical COMSEC and. related 

matters with the cryptologic authorities of foreign 1J£1.t:ions 

and international organizations. 

(13) To proviae technical guidan_ce and support for 

cryptosecurity trainirg conducted by the departrnonts and 

agencies. 

Eh Except on matters which have been voted on by ·t.he Board 

and subject to the direction of the Secretary of Defense (ard in 

the case of the Military Departments,, the Joint Chiefs o:r S'l:.aff) 11 

the Director, NSA shall discharge his responsibilities in 

accordance with his own judgment. In exercising the authorl:t.y. 

over COMSEC matters granted in this Di.rective,, ·the Di1·ector,, NSA 

shall: 

(1) Obtain from the departments and agencies such 

infomation as h.e may require in performing his functions, 

as authorized in this Directive or any other directive 

subsequently issued. 

(2.) Act thl'Ough the department and agency representatives .,,.. 

on the Board or, in the case of departmen-l;s avd agenciet;1 uot 

represented on the Board, through the duly author:tzed 1"'6 presentatives of the heads o! such departments ~.nd agE:mcies. 

en Arrange with the authorized representa·tive of a 

department or agency for required liaison with su.bordiI1ate 

elP.ments of that department or agency. 

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DRAFT 

Gffiff?iB H:f 'fI:A:L 

8EeUft:ETY llfti'OftMJr:'fiON 

(li) Refer violations of' COMSEC instructions to the 

head of the department or agency concer~ed for such action 

as may be deemed necessary and, if appropriate coXTective 

action is not taken, refer the subject to' the Board. 

3. Directive to the Departments and Agencies of the Government 

!• All departments and agencies of the Federal Government' 

shall: 

(1) Organize and conduct their communications secur:lcy 

activities as they see fit subject to the provisions of 

law, th.e directives of the President, the provisions of 

this Directive, and any other directives which may be issued 

by the Special Cownittee. Nothing in this Directive shall 

relieve the individual departments and agencies of their 

responsibilities for executing all measures required to 

assure the security and efficiency of their own telecommunications. 

(2) Not be required to disclose. to the Director, NSA, 

the fuard., or any of its comrrdttees the contents of any 

official communications conc~min3 its activities, if, in 

the opinion of the head of the department or agency, the 

disclosure would be contrary to the National interest. 

Nothing in this Directive shall be construed to give the 

Board or any of its representatives the right to inspect , 

any department or agency without approval by the head thereof. 

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•• 'lt 

<j>N&BE~MTeumrv INFOftMl\TION 

DRAF.! 

CON!' m~n !JtL 

SBOH"RI'i'Y Hf.E10liHJ\:;£lOU 

(3) Brjng to the attention of the Board all rules and , 

regulations in conflict with the provisions of this 

Directive. 

4. Special Tenns Used in this Directive are Defined as Follows: 

!• Telecommunications - Any transmission, emission or 

reception of sign, signals, writing, images and sounds or 

inte11ip,ence of any nature by wire, radio, visual, or other 

electromagnetic system. 

I 

b. Federal Telecommunications - Those telecommunications 

which are of an official character dealing with governmental 

affairs and are originated by or intended for officials of the 

United States Goverrunent. Specifically exempted from this 

definition is that portion of the communication activities conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency in ac9ordance with 

the authorities granted the Director of Central Intelligence 

under NSCID No. 5 • 

.£• Communications Security - '.I'he protection resulting from 

all measures dqsigned. to deny to unauthorized persons infonnation ' . 

of value which might be derived from the possession and study 

of telecommunications, or to mislead unauthorized persons in 

their :interpretation of the results 0£ such a studj'. Communications security includ~s: (1) transmission security, 

(2) cryptosecurity, and (3) .peysical security of communications 

security materials and infonnation. 

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.-"' . " 

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OONPJBFJfi'IAL 

SEGURIH H!li'OHH/,TIOH 

d. Transmission Security - Transmission security is that 

component of comnrunications security which results frorr. all 

measures designed to protect transmissions from unauthorized 

interception1 traffic analysis 1 and imitative deception. 

!• Cryptosecurity - That component of oommunications 

se~urity which results from the provision of technically sound 

cryp"ttlsysterns and their proper use. 

£. .Q.:eyptoprinciple - The chara·cteristics of the elements 

involved in1 and the fundamental rule of operation1 motion, or 

activity inherent in a c~ptosystem. 

!• Cryptosystem (Cryptographic System) - The associated 

items of cryptomaterial which are used as a unit and which 

provide a single means.of encryption and decryption. 

h. C;ryptomaterial - All material,, including documents, 

devices and/or equipment,. or apparatus employed in the encryption 

or decryption of teleconmru.nications. 

i. Cr,ypto-equipment - The crypto-apparatus,, mechanisms1 

machines or devices used in the encryption or decryption of 

telecommunications. 

J.• Physical Security - That component of security which 

results from all physical measures necessa:cy to safeguard 

I 

classified equipment, material and docwnents from access thereto 

r . 

or observation thereof by unauthorized. pez·sons. 

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