.• 

SECURl'l'Y INF'ORW.t'ION 3 Auaust 195.3 

OD 

hrWt to the ~a.a et 81ct1• Jm ml S&atJm m o1 tll• 

. llat1' ei11 ....... .,.., ~ 1'li?1 .. ---. .. *• .... Pretd.delltial 

.41NctiY9 approved 24 OotoMr 1952, -chi 

&e stated that tJ1e eeouritJ' of reclera1 teleaamamd.oatiGIUI 

(COMSm) :I.• a mticaal reapaasibU1:t7. wt \bat CCIBD policies .m PJ"Octiduwe maat be Sntegrated so • to enable the varJ.oaa departmanta and 

ea-cm ot tba Gonrnmmt to cooperate ettectiwq in such mat.ten 

8114 ~ ..Uat.r lagltima:te ~ ,.. t1w wurit7 ot thetr •-aaea; 

b. Dea1gaated tbe Seoretariea ot State and Deteaae aa ~ ~ial 

Canmittee ot tbe Hatiaaal Sllouritr ·eouncu tor ·cCJBm natters, to aatabliab 

~h policiea rela'Uac to comn - wll1 achiew the mu'nun ,..ourit.7 ot .. :. 

r-i.ral teJeoanmiir:d cat:1aa11, and to keep tbe Pl'eaidmt adv:laecl ot ~ . ". · 

po.llciea through tbe Encutiw ~ ot the Rat.1.cnal Secarit7 Council*; 

aD!I 

c. ~ the Specda' Camittee ot tbe RSC to prepare and iasue 

1n tbe OCMSBC t1eld dil'eotiws wtd.cb w1111 

'll'ftle Pre81dmt in appl'O'l1q thie dinctin alllo directed that t!Je Attomey 

a.em Mall be a, mmber '08 the Specda1 CClllJd.ttee ,._.ver •tten ot ~at to the Fedenl Bureau ot Imest1ptim are ~ th&t oamd.ttee. ~ 8.9Q~ w.l.th the President'• 111atractiou reprding the ll01"ID8l operation 

Qt· t• c~u .. the beads ot departments and aceacie• not represented an the 

Sptic:l-21 Ocmnittee, shall also participate aa members ot the Special Ccmmittee 

1iillmnftr mtten ot clbeot interest to their reapectin agencies are bef'OJ'e 

tbat Committee. . 

SECI\ET 

-----Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 02-06-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
SE~~ W~722BB \Jltl!I 1 -

B:BCURf'f'Y INFOftM2\TION 

(l) Rescind. the E:2cutiwi Order of Jul:Jr 3, 1945 

entitled 'iVOr,vptographic Securitj-w:Ltb Respect to 

(2) Establish a United States Communications Security 

Board (tmSB) raspansible f.or integrating policies 

and procedures affecting the aecuritJ' of Ped.eral 

· (3) Prari.de fem the establiehmant of appropriate 

responsibilities and authorities to assure within 

the vario-'18 departments and agencies ot the Gcmtmmenii • among other thirlgs: 

(a) High and unif'Ol'm standards ot ccmnurd.cations 

(b) Ef'fGC.:-~i.ve coopen.tion in COMSm mattei'S between 

~nts and agencies conce~; 

(a) T"1.1e ~lequ307 of the Cl"JP't,opapbic systems used; 

(d) Coord:lll&tiOD of· C~ probl.ems1 part.icularq 

pt>licios wlth resPec:t to foreign g011err:unents; 

( e) Satia..~tion ot legitim.'llie requirements tor tbs 

securit7 of telecammunications. 

*The Order wcs classitiad amt was not published in the Fed.e1'al RegisteP. 

It as resc:tmod b.r the hotd.dent OD {dat~) -~ 

2 

SECRET ······--·······-··-···---··-·---·-··-·-- ---···· ---------· 
• 

sifri~rin.:.~288 un:r; 1 -

SEC UMT i INFOft:Ml\:TIOM 

Pursuant to ·bhB to:~going, the Special Ca::llllittee of the Mationol. 

Securit.J' Council tor C:OMsm herebJ' authorizes and directs that: 

1. pVecti't'e to the Yait!.4 §j;ates Commntcations Secur:ltz Board (USCSBl: 

.e• There is herebJ' established the United States Commmicaticms 

Security Board (lECSB} • hereinafter referred to as the Boa.rd, tmich 

shall be a body acting for and under the aforesaid Special Car.mittee 

and shall operate iA accordance wit.h the provisions ot this Directiw 

and arq other d:i..rectives vld.oh may be :i.ssued by the Special Ccmmitteeo 

ll• '1'J.e Board eba.ll be composed of cme representative of each of the 

f'ollow.i.ng: 

~i~ (3~ 

~;~ (6) 

~~~ ~9) (lO) 

'!be Sec:reta.r.Y cf state 

·The Secret&17 of Detenae 

The SecretmT ot the Tl'easul';f 

The Directors Federal Bureau of Inwstigation 

'!he SecretA17 of the knq 

The Secretary of the Nav 

The Secretar.y or the Air Force 

The Director, Central Iritelligence · 'lhe Director, National Security ~ (NSA) 

The Atomt.o &iera Camm::Lsaicm_. 

£0 Tbs B'°8.rd ehall ban the fol.lowing respcuibilities ?mder the 

autb&rit7 ot the Special Committee: 

(1) To establish bl'3d policies necessarr to: 

(a;) Insure hiah and unitorm standards of COM&~ within 

the various departments and agencies of tm Government. 

(b} Institute and mainta:in et!'ective cooparation in COMSEC 

SECRET ----------------------------------·· 
s~ol~<,PP22BB U .I.'-.l.!.I I -

SECURITY INFORW .. TIOJI 

( c) Aohiem the nw.:Jd.mum p1•aeticable desree o:? security 

of Fed.eral telecommunications. 

{d) S&tis.t7 legitlllate :requiraments for tbe _ser,"Ul'it7 of 

telecoimmm.-iaationa ot the dep&l"tmnta and apncies. 

(e) Guide the Z"Olatians ot the u. s. Govemmetl.t wi'fm 

f'o:reigrl govel"DlHrut-s and :lntematicmsl. organi saticns 

:ln COMSliX: matters. 

(t) Guide tbe e.ct1cm• to be· taken b7 the l!acutive Agent 

in COMSBC natters. 

(2) 'i'o approve the 1012&-ranp plma for camnmd.cations secur1.ty 

ot the U. So 

(J) 'J.'o ad.Tise the Spec1al Camnittee with Nsptct to OOMSm 

poli.e7 mat.ters c1ecided by the Board and make recamnendatiGl'ls 

as appropriate., 

(4) To stud;r the COJ.SP.D standards and practices of ml1' ~t 

or agen07 in the field of COJA.s.m· and make ncomundatioas as 

necesea17' to ium'e compliance with the directives~ the 

Board in thie .field. 

i\@ Tile Board aball elect its otm Chairman f.l'm emcmg its mml•rship. 

e., The Dcia.rd shall have a staf't headed by' en emcutive secretar,r who -

ot the Board. 

!• The F.oard shall meet at the call o£ the Chairman or at the nqueat 

o£ 1JZ17 mamber, and shall determine its om procedures subject to the 

prov.1.eions of this Dirootiw. 

4 

SECRET 
s~ful~:,J\-42 2 BB 

\j ftl!I 1 -

!• Th.e E0<0\J.,1 ~lJRll!Y'~OW I!l!!jorl.ty vote~ !.a the 

e"\Tm"ii thr1t the Board votes and reat:hes a decision, any d.ieaa1t1ng member 

<>=~ the BCla.rd ma;y appeal from mich docisione Such appe:il must be made 

m.W.n 15 ~ to the Special Commit~. In the event that -the Boam 

'tl'Otes a.no; fails to reach a decision!' an:y llU!IJilber of the l3<Jard may appeal 

to the ·Speoial Ccmmi..ttee and s13Ch appeal tm.'lSt be made w:l. thin 15 dayn. of 

the inccm.clusive vote. I."l either eVent the Special Go.:11nttee shall review the ma:t;ter1 and its ~term:i.nat.im thenon shall be :anal. Appoala 

by tJle Director of NSA, or by the representative of any ot the Milit:tar.r 

Lepartmnts shall be fil·ad only with the approval or tho Secretar.v nt' 

I"e.tonse. 

l!.o No action s!-.all 10s taken 111 th respect to &IJ1' matter forming tha 

subject ol an appeal until the nppE!U is decided; providod that. it the 

Secret&ry of Def'anse determ!.nas~ after acmsultatim with the Sec:re'tln7 

of State (.~nd the Attorn.i37 General and the heads of other dapa!"tmento 

and agencies a.s appropria·!ie), tha·t t.he subject matter pmsents a problem 

of M eme~gancy natm'"e a11d requi.ree inmadiate act..im, bi.a decisim ~l:!a.U 

govem, :por,.ding the reau.1t of the appeal.. In such an e;;ie:rgGl'lc;; eit;J<ition 

the appeal may be taken direetly to the Presiden't b,v' the Special Cot..uttea .. 

!• T:'.ie Board shall ~i.nvite the head ot any department. or agency not 

represerrt.<:1d an the Board t..o designate a representative to participate 

wt th the Hoa.rd 1n consideration of m~tters of direct interest. to such a 

department or agency_, to t.be end. that when the communica.t.iona seaurit.J' 

neads of mmh departmentv a11d agoocias may -~ ccmsidered~ and heads of 

d!3partment-s or agencies riot represarited on ·the Board my present, through 

tor consideration by the Board. 

SECRET 
to Departments oiS:qmn&'WiBT~ the Board my appeal 

from decisions of the Board 1n the manner prescribed tor departman.ta amt 

agencies represented m the Boardo 

2. Dtrec\1 ve to tb9 Sect!'!U of De.tense 

a. The Department of Defense 1a hereby designated as Elmcutive A.gent - GE the Govemment; t'or all COUSEO mttera. 

b. AB Executive Agent,. the Department. of De.tense is charged with the - mlasian at1 

( l) Providing oen'tral1zed, ov...U copzance of the maaaurea 

neceesar;r to provide and assura the adeqmcy ot the COJISEC 

techniques and mater:t.ala used ~ the government; 

( 2) Forimlating tar tbe Board integrated technical and operatinc 

policiea. programs, and lang range plans required to maintain 

high and uniform standards to ensure the security of Federal 

teleccammnicatione J and 

(3) Providing aclv1ce and recomendatians on an;r aspect of the 

t.l.eld o.t COUSEOo 

Co Aa Executive A.gent~ Deparlaent of Defense is empowered to take - &OUon within policies and procedures established bJ' the Board,. in all 

OOllSEO uatters affecting the departmmts and agencies or the Govemment 

provided, hmmvar, that where exception to its actim is made by the Becre-

'tartJ ot a department or ~ the ff•d or Director· o1: an agency outside of 

the Department of Defense, such acepticns sba.ll be referred to the Boardo 

Pending Board revlerr, if the Department ot De.tense determines tba1; the 

subject mt.tar presents a problem ot an emergency nature and requiree 

1mmed:t.ate action it may refer the matter to the Special Comm:lttee tar 

immediate decisiono 

SEClt:ET 
sitlf.dJt:; M2 2 BB \...A .1'.. ..c, .I. -

do Subject to 'Gate fliClJBl1Pfalll~ directive and subsequent 

directi vea issued by competent authority, the Director of the lfaticinal 

Secur1Q' Jigenc:y shall act tor tha Executive A.gent in all COl!SEO matters 

aei; forth 1n aubparagraphs ( l) t~ ( 13) belolr and any othel'a whiob 111Q' 

be apec1fied by' the Special Committee or the Board. \ti.th respect 'to the 

Jl:llltal'J' ~ta, the Director, HSA. w.U1 perf'orm his funct1ona under 

the immediate direction of the Joint Chiei"a ot St.aft'. 

e. Included in the specitio respansibilities ot the Director, NSA. - in the fields or cr;vptosecur1t7, tranamlasicn seour1t7, physical aeour1°'1'• 

and cover and deceptim shall be the tollow.i.ng 1 

(1) To preaar1be1 or review and approve, the cryptoprinciplea 

incorporated or to be incorporated 1n an7 telecommunicati. ons 

equipment.a and 8JStem and in any COJISEC equipments and aystused by the depal"tments and agmc1• of the Government. 

(2) To prescribe, or rev.ln and approve, Cl'J'PtosecurJ.t7 rul.ea, 

regulations, and inet.ructions applicable to the operaUcn and 

use ot alJ1' crypto-equipments and systems and ot &IV' OOllSEC 

equipments and SJBtema. 

(3) To per£orm technical ~is of Federal telecmmmmicatims 

for the purpose of determining the deg1'8e of COMSEC being 

provided by the crwtoprinciples, materials, and procedurea 

utilized by the deJBrtmente and agencies u well as the etfeot 

on COf-JSEC of 'b!l8 communications procedures and practices alao 

being utilizedJ making arrangements as appropriate to obtain 

the •terial required tor such analyais. (See paragraph 

3!,(3)) 

7 

SECRET 
---8BfiRE-Af2-2 BB 

(4) 'l'o revln ~ a~~adurea developed 

by the daparUanta and agmcia to da1lerm1ne whether nob 

pl'OOadD.1'98 will provide and maintain traneml.aaian 88Cm'1\7J 

and to reo.....ad 1'8'ria1ana and addiUanal rules and prooaduree 

u raqui:red. To accmapliab th1a the D1reotor. N3A 187 parfm."11 teclm.1cal analp• of Federal teleocma•nioaticma mad. •ball 

make the neceaa1117 arNnpmanta 1111 th 'the clapartmnta and 

agmciea to obW.n the •tarJ.al requ1racl tar ~. 

(See paragraph 3 !. (1)) 

(5) ..... ,. 0R1a ... ta co~tit!l 111th ~ ~-wt apnoi• 

to t;"' v 01-...t. O-N-... • .. ~ .. <::' >-

• •ppJ'OPl"b.te.A ml1i •tandarda tor the p1VB1oa1 seaurl'Q' ot 

Ol'JPtc:llateria1e 

( 6) ID oollabora1;1aa w1 th 1ihe departmnta and agenoi•• to a881ft 

t.n the preparaticm of and to Nri.n the oC11111micaUane portiou 

~ ct all •tfttegio oanr and decepticm pl.ma. To tarmlate and 

)1' 

praamlgate the buia pol1cle8 used in auch port;iana., 

(7) !o obtdn from the depart.mmta and apnoiee \heir requ11"811mte 

tor 017Pto-equipmante and •tm:1.ala and to tormlate, tor canaideratlcm by 1;he Baa:rd• integrated program tor tile 111 •••>s 

1 olr t.,produati~ and procuremnt neoea11a17 to met; 

these requiremm'tiao, ... , '... ~ ' 

(8) Tor= la•• •>e eatabliaJr *-• revin• and coord1nat6n.,.. 

8 

SECRET 
SE~~=+?22BB \:J:R:ro; 1 -

SElCURl':FY INFORMA':FION 

Federal 'teleconmunicatims. Subject to prior notification 

to and appl'OY&l by the Dlrec1ior, NSA.1 departments and agenciea 

111&7 initiate and pursue such research and developmell't projects as m&1' be necessary to support; their OOMSEC activ1.t1es, 

( 9) To produce cryptomaterial necessary to meet the legi Umte 

requiremente ot the departments and agencies and to insure 

that there is adequate capacii;J' to meet these requirements. 

In so doing the Director, NSA Jlll.1' authorize the darartamtll 

and agenc:iea to engage in the productian ot cryptonater:lal 

provided that such producticm. is conducted in accordance with 

teclmical cr.yptologic crJ.ter'i.a prescribed by the Director, 

NSA and .tarther prori.ded that the Director, NSA. is kept. into:rmad ot t.he producticm acaompliahedo 

( 10) In meeting operational requirements, to insure the neeessary 

compatibility and, insofar as practicable. the atandard111&:t;i.on 

ot cr.vpto-equipments and material in order t.o prcmote a 

Dll.ld.mum ot e.tticieno;r and econ01117 in their procurement. operatim,, 

and ~tmance. Determination of the acceptability ~ the 

14'sical embodiments of cryptoprinciples is a function of 

the departments and agencies. 

( 11) To fumiah services and naterials for t.he 001.EEC programs of 

the departments and agencies under mu.tually agreeable fiscal 

arrangements o 

( 12) To conduct liaison an technical OOMSEC and J."elated matters 

with 'the ceyptologlc authorl:t1es of foreign nations and international organiza.tionso 

SECRET 
s~~Py?,22ae -------:n: or.; :1 -

{lJ) To pn>v.i.deSfilOWaIX{ilftaiQWWW'I&Jport tor cryptosacuri:f:\f 

training conducted by the departmen~a and agencies. 

eo Except on matters which have been voted on by the Boal'd am subject - to the direction of the Secretary of Defense (and in the case of the M1l1 tar.r 

Departments, the Joint Chief's of Statf), the Director, NSA shall diacharge 

his reaponsibil1t1es in accordance with his own judgmnt. In ezarcild.ng the 

autboritq over COiiSEC matters granted in this directive, the DirecU>r, NSA 

shall: 

(l) Obtain from the departments and agencies such 1Dtormat1on as be 

1raq require in perto:nn:Lng his llmctions, as autboriZed :ln this 

directive or any other directive subaequen~ isBlledo 

(2) A~t through the department and agen07 representatives on.the 

Board or, in ·the case of departments am agencies not repreaentad 

on the Boam, through the duly authorized representativee of the 

heads of such deparimenta and agencies. 

(3) Conduct liaiacm w1 th subordinate elanents of a department or 

aganq when ne••881'7 after first arranging w1 th the author:tzed 

:represantatiw of the depart.ment or agency concem.ed tor such 

liaison. 

(ls) Rater ~olation1 ot COMSEC instructions to the l'lea4. of the 

department or agency concemed tor such action as ~ be deaned 

necessary and, it appropriate correciive act.ion is not taken• 

shall refer the subject to the Boa:n!o 

.30 Directiw to the Departments and Apnciea o£ the Governnent 

,!o All departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall1 

(1) Organize and conduct their coDl!!!mications eecunty acti'Vitiea 

as th8J' see tit subject to the provisions of' lav• the directives 

of the President, tha provi.sions of t.ld.a directive, ancl &!\\" 
SE¥Fn1%~¥22BB - '--A .L" .L:.ttl i. 

Nothing izSW..~CJ.lall\'l!&lifve ·"ne incli'ridual depart--

manta and agencies of their msponaibilitiea for executlng all 

measures required to assure t.he security and ef'ficienq o£ their 

own telecommml.cationao 

(2) Be bould by all deciaiona ot the Board or the Special Camnittee 

which are not in contl.ict with law. 

(3) Not be required to disclose to the D:1rector8 NSA.1 the Board, o'r 

~ ot its committees the contente ot any ottic1al. aommmicatione 

concerning its activit1as1 if', in the op1nion of the head of the 

depart.mentor agency, the disclosure would be contra17 to the 

National interesto Nothing in this Directive ah.all be comtl'll8d 

to giw the Board or 111>1' of 1ta representatives tbe right to 

inspect aiw department or agenq without approval by the head 

thereof. 

(b) Bring to the attention of the Board all 1Ula11 and regulations 

in conflict with the provisions at this D1rect1Tao 

h. !fec:lal '.l'ems Uaed in this Directive are Def'1necl as Follower 

ao Telecmmmnicatione • Any tmnllD1ss:1on, emission or recept.:l.on of ld.gn1 - signal.a, m1. ting, images and sounds or intelligence ot any nature by vi.re, 

radio 1 visual.:1 or other electromagnetic system. 

bo Federal Telecomnnm1cat1ons • Those teleCOlllllUnications which are of - an official character dealing with govermilental affairs and are originated 

by or 1ntenciecl tor ot.f'iciala of t.he United states Oovemment. Specifi., 

cally aempted from this definition is that port:lon of tbs comm1nication 

activities con:lucted by the central Intelligence Agency in accordance with 

the authorities granted the director ot Central Intelligence umer NSaID 

No. So 

SECtl"ET 
.!• Comrmmicat'-:>!1S §BlfD ftV~~sultinfl trmn all measures 

de81.gned to dcnw to unauthorized persons inf'ormation of value which might be 

deri:ved from the possession am study of teleoommd.cat:lona, or to mislead 

unauthorised persons in their interpretation 0£ the results ot mch a study. 

CoDlllm1oat1ons security includes; {l) transmi.ss:Son securitl'J (2) cryptosaaurlt,v, am (3) pJ\Ysical security of commnications security material&I 

ard informat~Do 

.!l• 'transmission S~rltz - Transmission security ie tbat camponmt ot 

OOllllUD1cat1ons aecurity '1hich maulta from all 111easures deaignad·to im>tect 

transmiasiona trom unau.tborized intereeption, traffic analysis, and :lm:i.tativa 

deeeption • 

.!• Cmtoaecuritz - That component of COlllDUDioat:lDns security vbich 

reeulta ham the pi-ov:lsion ot tachrd.caJ.l1" sound cr'l¢;osystellm mi theiJ" 

J.o Cryptoer1naiel;e • The charactoriatics of the elemants imolwcl in, 

and the f1mdamantal l'Ule of opemtion, motion, or activ.l.qr inherent 1n a 

cryptoeystemo 

Jio 2P'P1'e!f&tem (C17ptogmphic System) • Tbe aasociatad items of 

Cl'J'ptomaterial which are uned as a unit am which provide a single means 

of enc!'ypt;ion and deoryp'tdono 

l!o Orn>tomaterial - .All material• including doCU11Bnts~ devices and/or 

eqniprart; or apparatus employed in the encr.vption or decl')'ption ot 

teleCOllllRUli cations 1 

!•. Q!"Ygto=!guip!l!ll! • The cl')'pto-apparatus1 mechanisms, machines or 

devices used 1n the encryption or dec~ion of telecommmications. · 

~· Pltysical Securitz - That component 0£ eecurity which results .from 

all p}Veical measurea·neoeeea17 to aategaa1'1 claasi.f'ied equipment. aterial. 

am documents tram aOC&ss thereto or observation thereof by unauthorized 

SECl.t:ET ·~-------·····----·-------------------·----