' 

d20N FftJEf~fli~ l SECURH'Y INF'ORMA'l'ION 

DRAFT 

FOR NSC STAli'F OONSIDERATIOM ONLY 

(Planning Board) 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 

on 

The Presidential directive of October 2h,, 19$21 

August 3,, l9S3 

a. Stated that the security of Federal telecomnunications . - (CONSEC) is a national responsibil:tty,, and that COMSEC policies 

and proceduree must be integrated so as to enable the various 

departments and agencies of the Government to cooperate ef.t'ective:q 

in such matters and to satisfy legitimate requirement& for the 

security of their messages; 

,E~ Designated the Sc.::retaries of State and D~.f'ense as a 

Special Cbmnittee of the National Security Council. for OOMSEC matters,, 

to ~stablist such policies relating to COMSEC as will achieve the 

maxl.mwn secnrity of Federal teleco:nmunications, and to keep the 

President advised of such policies through the Executive Secretary 

of the National Security Council*; and 

* The President in approving this directive also directed that thl 

Attorney General shall be a member of the Special Committee l1l:· 11-

ever matters of interest to the Federal Bureau of Investigat.fori 

are before that ('.Ommittee. In acconi:mcc with the President's 

instructions regarding the normal orPration of t.ht::• Council, the 

heads .of departments and agencier , .. ,+ ropresr-mt'·,i::J on tlio Special 

Committee, shall also participat> 'llembf~:r·s of the Special Committee 

whenever matters of diJ:t;.Cf- into1-_• ' Lo the1.r r'<;~r~ctivo .:i.('.oncieG are 

before that Committee. 

- 1 -

CONFfO)!NTIAL 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 02-06-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
· .nI'I I '1 .L 

SECURffY INPORMA'flON 

CONPWENTitL 

$EEUR:E'ff INPeRQHeH 

o. Direct:ed the Special · Contittee of the NSC to prepare and - isau.e in the OOMSEC.· tiald direc'ilt:lrea· 1fhioh 'will• 

(1) Rescind the Executive Older· ot· July 31 1945 entitled 

"Cryptographic Secur1 ty w1 th R'eapeot'"·WlOl'rtain · Ommunioatione · 

01· the Government"*• 

( 2) Establish a ·Uni tad sta'fsee.'Jtl*mnUllistlbn'lr~·Aouri ~ 

Board (USCSB) reaponaible for 1.n'bag'l'lfti!tng ipo!ll'Oit.'98 ·and procedures 

affecting th9 aeoar:Lty ot Federal tet.aomman!cat~ona. 

(3) Provide tor the establiahment ot appropri&te responsibilities and authoritiaa to aasure·within the various departments and agencies ot the .. CJo.&mment, among' other things& 

{a) · High and .umitorm standards of communications 

securityJ 

(b) E.t'fectite cooperation in COMSEO mtters betffeen 

departmen~s and agencies aoncerned.J 

. { c) The adequacy of·· the cryptographic systems uaedJ 

(d) Coordination of :COMSF.c problenia, particular~ 

policies wi.,iht=rreapect to .. ·to~:tgn governments; 

(e)i S&tiafactdoniof'.!legit1mate requirements tor the 

security of telecoDlllUDia'btona•~ .. 

Pur.su.anb ·to' .the :f'oregoing ahlll' ':to the provisionr of' Section 101 

and Sec.tion .211 :of' the National '&Jeurity Act of 19471 as amended, 

il·The Ord or ·was clasoJified and ,-ra e ·not published in the Federal 

Register. It was rescindc, , y the President on {date) 

- 2 - 00lff?H>SH'PIA:t. 

CONFIDENTIAL 
~CONFf'J~tTPAL SEC'ORfTT INPORMA'flON 

D RA ,..~T 

the Special Cmnmittee 0£ the National Security Council for OOMSEC 

hereby" authorizes and directs as followst ' 

l. The United States Conmunications Seci.lrity Board (USCSB)a 

.!• There is hereby established the United States Communicat:lone Security Boan! (USCSB), .hereina1'ter.refe~ to as the 

Board, which ahall be a body acting tor and umer the aforesaid 

Special Cmml ttee and mall operate in accordance with the 

provimons of ttiis Directive and any other directl:vee ·which mq 

be issued by the Special Committee • 

.!?• The Soard lhall be compoeed ot one representative ot 

each of the tollowingt 

(1) 

(2) 

l~ ·S) 

JI 

'l'he Se~ta17 of State 

The ~cretar.r ot Defense 

1'he Secretery ct the Trea8UJ7 

The Director, federal Bureau of Inveat:lgation 

The Aecretaey of the Al'fl'fT 

The Secretaey of _the Nav 

The Secreta17 of the Air Force 

The Director of Central. Intelligence 

The Director ot the National Security Agenq 

The A.tond.c Energy Conniaaion 

c. The :Boan! shall have the following responsibilities - ur..der the &11thorit7 ot the Special Committeer . 

(1) To establish broad policies neoesu17 to• 

(a) InB11rehigh and uniform starxl'Bnls ot COMSEC 

within the various deparbnents and agencies ot' ... the 

Government. 

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CONFIDENTIAL 
l 

DR.AFT 

06fff mmf mtt 

SIWKlR INPQllYcHetf 

(b) Institute and maintain effective cooperation 

1n a>MSEO •ttera a11>ng the depart.menta and agencies 

ooncemed. 

( c) Achieve the maximum practicable degree ot 

seourit7.of Federal teleCODlllUllicatione.· 

(d) Satiaf;y legitimate requiranents for the securiv 

ot telecomnuiications of the departments and agencies. 

(e) Guide the relations or the u. s. Ocnreummt 

With foreign govemments and intemational orgardsat.1.ona 

in OOMBEC matters. 

(f) Guide ihe actions to be taken by the Eacuti ve. 

Agent in OOMSEC matters. 

( i) ~:o approve the long.;.range plans for coimmicat1one 

eecurity of the u. s. 

(3) To advise the Special 1'olmd.ttee With reepect to 

<X>MSEC p0lia;y •ttere decided b.v' the Boan:l and make 

!"800lllllendationa al appropriate. 

(h) To 1tw17 the OOMSEC standards am practices ot &fl7 

department or agency in the field of OOMS!XJ and make 

reoomendations as neoesBa17 to insure compliance with the 

directives of the Board in this field. 

~· '!'he Boan! shall elect its own Chai:nbab f:rt>m among ita 

1'1811lberehip. 

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CONFIDENTIAL 
eeRPIBMW:. 

SIGURI!'! IHPeR.'fAB9N 

DRAFT 

e. The Board shall have a atatf headed by an executive - aecre'tal7 who ahall be appointed by tl\e Qiaiman w.l th the 

approval ot a majority ot the Board. 

! . The Board ahall meet at the call of the Chainnan or at 

the request of ~ manber, and shall determine i ta· own 

procedures subject to :the provisions of this Directive. 

J• The Board shall reach its decisions by majority wte. 

In the event that the Boam votes and reaches a decieion, &111' 

dissenting member ot the Board Jna7 appeal from such decision. 

Such appeal must be made vi t..'lin lS days to ·the Special ·0onsn1 ttee. 

' . In the event that the Board votes and tails to reach a deois1011, 

any manber of the Board may appeal to the Special Committee am 

such appeal must be mada within lS days of the inconclusive wte. 

In either event the Special COmmtttee ahall review the inatter, 

•nd its determination thereon shall be .tJ.nal. Appeals b:y the 

Director ot NSA.1 or by' the representative of an:y ot the M:Uitar,r 

Departments 1h&ll be tiled onlt with tbe approval ot the 

Seo:reta17 of De.ten••• 

h. No action 8hall be taken with respect to ·~ •tter - tonning the subject ot an appeal ·until the appeal ia deoidedJ 

provided that, it the Secreta17 ot Detenae dete:nnlnea, ·after 

consultation with the Secret&J7 of ·state (and the Attome:y 

Oeneral and the heads of "ther departllenta and agencies as 

-sCONFIDEN'f IAL 
~~~~115 

··r-CONF1u:e1~ 11~.L 

DRAFT 

appropriate), that the subject matter presents a problem of an 

emergency nature and requires imned.iate action, his decision 

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

emergency situation the appeal mq be taken directly to the 

President by the Special Co11111itteee 

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

agency not represented on the Board to designate a representative 

to participate with the Bo&rd-in consideration ot matters of 

direct interest to such a department or_ agency, to the end that 

the comnunications security needs of ~uch departments and agencies 

i1aJ be con·aideraclJ and heads of depaz•tments and agencies not 

represented on the Board may .:present, through the Execut1Te 

Secretar.y ot the Board: conmunications security matters tor 

consideration b;y the Board. 

1• Departments or agencies not represented on the Board~ 

appeal from deoiaiona of the Board in the mnner pre,aor.l.bed for 

depsrt.ments and.agencies represented on the Board. 

2. Directive to the Secretary of Defense 

!• 'lhe Department of Defense 18 hereby designated as 

Executive Agent of the Ooverm.nt tor all COMSEC matters • 

.!?• A.a Executive A.gent, the Department ot'D9tenae is charged 

with the mission oft 

(l) ProViding :9ntralized1 overall cognizance of the 

measures neoeaaaey to provide am· assure the adequacy ot the . 

COMSEC techniques and materials used by the Government; 

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CONFIDENT I.AL 
'R:lt"H" Tn · ~722R5 · --·cONF~Y't-..-r ...... ~ L . 11J:C1~ 11~ 4 

DRAFT 

GONF:EBMBli 

&EQU'Hl:TY INi!9itJA'H91 · 

(2) Fo:nnulating tor the Board integrated technical 

and operating policies, programs, and long-range pl&ns 

required to maintain high an:l Uliff'orill 8'inQaros to ensure 

the security ot Federal teleeominuiil61iti6nsJ and 

(.3) Providing advioeail!I reeonmtenilations on ·aey aspect· 

ot the field of COMSF.C • 

.2• Ae Executive Agent ·tile Department of Defense is empowered 

to take action within policin and procedures established by the 

Board, 1n all OOMSEC matters affecting the departments and 

agencies of the Oovemment.· pwvided, however, that where exception 

to its action is made\bj "-Secretary of a department or b)r the 

Head or Director of ian ~· outside of the Department of 

De.tense, such excepti~nA s~ be ref'erred to the Board. Pending, 

Boald review• ·U" :fthe Dep~t-· ot Defense dete:nnines that the 

S12bject matter presents ... pzSoblem of an emergeno;y natve and 

requires immediate· action it mav·Jfe~er the matter to tha Special 

Committee tor immediate deoiel:on. 

d. Subjea\- to the apecifi.c· pz4olf:le1olla ot this Dinctive and - .I • 

ot ~:National Seaurit7 Agenc7 eb&il ict tor'..tbl Executive 

.Apnt 1n all COMSBC matterePset forth :l.n Rbparagnphe (l) thru 

(13) below and &117 others· which my be epec1!1ed by the Special 

Conlld.ttee or the Board. ~·!i'\'h' respect to the Military Departments, 

-7-

CONFIDENTlfiL 

• 
REF ID:A72285 

--coNFIDENTI~:..L 

DRAFT 

the Director, NSA will perto'rm h11 fun~tions ~er the immediate 

direction ot the Joint Chiefs of start. 

e. Included in the specific :reaponaibi'11tiea ot the Director, - NSA 1n the fields. of crrptoaecurit7, transmission security, 

.ph7aical security, and cover and decePtion shall be the follow:Lng1 

(1) To prescribe, or review and approve, the crypto- . . 

principles incorporated. or to be incorporated in any telecommunications equ1pnent49 and systems and in 8n7 OOMSEC 

\ 

equii;>ments am systeJllS ustkl by the.departments a.rd agencies 

of the Government. 

I 

(2) To prescr.lbe, or review and approve, cryptosecuriv 

rules, regulations, and instructions applicable to the 

.:>pe1·c:&-i>ion ¥nd use vf &.ay crypto-equipments and s;ystems and 

. of an;,y COMBEC equipments and eystems. 

(3) To perform technical anal.7aia of Federa~ teleaomnunicationa tor the purpose of detenaining the degree of 

COMSEC being provided by the cryptoprinaiplea, materials, and . procedures ut:U:l.1ed b7 the depa:rtaenta am aganoiea aa well 

as the· effect on COMSEC of ·.the ccmmun1oationa procedures and 

praotioaa also being utili1edJ "'8kinl arrangements aa 

appropriate to obtain the ma~~ required. for such analysis. 

(See paragraph.3 .! (3)). 

(4) To review and evalua"te conmunioations procedures 

developed by the departments and agencies to dete:nnine 

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CONFIDENTIAL 
DRAFT 

WNF IDENTDtL ~GYR:E'n' IMFGmQ'ileH 

whether such procedures will provide and maintain transmission 

security"J and to recoJ1111end revisions and additional rules and 

procedures as reqli.ired. To accomplish this the Director, NSA 

may perfom technical analyses of Federal telecommunications 

and shall make the necessary arrangemen~s with the departments 

and agencies to obtain the material required for analysis. 

(See paragraph 3 .! (1)). 

(~) In collaboration with the departments and agencies 

as appropriate, to prescribe minimum standards for the peysical 

security of cryptomaterial. 

(6) In collaboration with the departments and agencies, . to assist in the preparation of and to review the communications 

p~~tion~ of all RtrPtegic caver and deception plans. To 

fo:rmulate and promulgate the basic policies used in such p6rtions. 

(7) To obtain from the departments and agencies their 

requirements for crypto .. equipn1ents and materials and to 

formulate, for consideration by the Board, integrated programs 

for the research, development, production an:i procurement 

necessary to meet these requirements and adequate to insure the 

continuing security of Federal telecommunications. 

(8) To review and coordinate the integrated cryptosecurit7 research and development program and to conduc. t 

researoh--ana development necessary to support it. Subject 

to prior notification to am approval by the Director, 

- 9 - GOllF!BEM'fIJ'L 

CONFIDENTiliL 
• 

REF ID:A72285 

rcONFIDENTI~L 

DRAFT 

SQ?l'IBENTI:Ali 

5B6lf RE'fI INP6ltlA'l'feM 

NSA., deparbnents and agencie.s may in:1 ti.ate and pursue such 

research and development projects'as may.be necessary to 

support their COMSEC activities. 

(9) To produce cryptomaterial necessary to meet the 

legit:lmte requirements of the departments 8nd 'agencies and 

to insure that there is adequate capacity to meet these 

J'8quirements. In so doing the Director, NBA by mutual 

agreement Jll87 authorise the departments and agencies to 

engage in the production of cryptomaterial provided that 

such production is comucted in accordance with technical 

cryptologic criteria prescribed by the Director, NSA. and 

• 

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

~he production accomplished.. 

(10) In meeting operational requirements, to insure the 

necessary compatibility and, insofar as practicable, the 

atanda:rdisation·of cr,yp1io-equipments and material in order 

to promote a maximum ot ettioien07 and economy ::ln their procurement, operation, andjmaintenanoe. Determination ot the 

aoceptabili v ot an ·equipnent in meeting the operational 

:requirements is a respdrl81bil.1t)r of the departments and 

agencies. 

(11) To 1'1misb services and materials for the COMSEC 

program ot the deparboents am agencies um.er mutual~ 

agreeable fiscal aJTangements. 

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CONFIDENTIAL 
• 

SECURff'Y INFORMATION SiNPfBBft'lif.I 

SBaJnl!'Y INF9RHAlmN 

DRAFT 

(12) To conduct liaison on technical COMSEC and related 

matters with the cr;rptologio auth0ritiea ot foreign nations 

and international organizations. 

(13) To provide teclmical guidance and support tor 

OJ_7Ptoaecurity trainirg conducted by the departments and 

agencies. 

e. Except on ma.tiara which have been 'VOted on by the Board - and 111bject t.o ·the.direction ot the Secretar,y ot Defense (mi in 

the case of th~ Mlli.taey Depart.manta, ~he Joint Chiefs ot Statt), 

·.. . t 

the Direct.or, NSA shall diaoharge his reaponeibilities in 

accozdance with .. bi.a own judgment. In •xercising the author.i.t.T. 

over COOEC •tterii granted in this Directive, the Director, NSA 

8hal.lt '--

(1) Obtain from the depart.manta and. agencies euch 

information aa he may :require in per.forming his tunctiona, 

aa authorized in this Directive or any other directive 

subsequently issued. 

(2) Act through ·the department and agency representatives 

on the Board or, in the case of departments and agencies not 

. I . 

represented on the Board, through the du]1' authorized repreaentati ves ot the he&ds ·or such departments and agencies • 

. , (3) Arrange with the authorised representative of a 

department or agenCJ' tor required l:laison w1 th subordinate 

el.amenta ot that department or agenCJ'. 

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CONFIDENTIAL· 
--·- CONHBl~f7\L SECURH'Y INFORMA'FION_ 8EIWiBPMHil . 

acuam DWO:AMA'rlOK 

DRAFT 

(b) Refer violations of OOMSEC instzuotions to the 

head of the depart.ment or agency eoncem~ for Su.ch action 

as may be deemed necessary and, if appropriate corrective 

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

3. Directive to the Departments and Agencies of the Government 

.!• All departments am agencies ot the Federal Ooverment 

ahallt 

(1) Organize and comuct their COlllllUllications securiv 

activities as they see fit subject to the provisions of 

law, the directives ot the President, the provisions ot 

this Directive, and any other directives which Jrl&1' be issued 

by the Special Colllllittee. Nothing in thia Directive shall 

relieve the imiv.ldual deparbllenta and agencies ot their 

responaibili ties for executing all measures required to 

assure the secu.rity and efficiency of' their own teleconmunications. 

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

the !bard, or any of its committees the contents of 8Zl1' 

official communications concerning its activities, it, in 

the opinion ot 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 81'1' of ita representatives the right to inspect 

any department or agency without approval by the head thereo.:r. 

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CONFIDENTIAL 
-- CONPfDDN'1218 ~L. SECURft'Y INPORMA'l'ION fBHFlB&AA.L 

SBCIJR!H IHPQRM.~l!IOlf 

D Rt.., 'T 

· (3) Bring to the a~ention of the Board all rules and 

regulations in conQic\'vi.th the provisions ot tbis 

.. Directive • 

h. Special Tems Used 1b i111s Directi'" are De.t1ned as Follow11 · 

!• Telecomunications - AJJT trana:Lssion, em:Lssion or 

reception or sign, signals, writing, 1-gea and mums or 

intelligence ot ·by' nature; by wire, radio, visual.1 or other 

electromagnetic system. 

b. Federal Teleconnunicationa - Those teleconmmications - which are of an o tticial character deal1ng w1 th governmental ; 

affairs and are originated by or intended for officials of the 

United states·Oovernment. SliecitiCal.11- exempted frolll this 

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

the authorit'ies granted the director ot Central Intelligence 

under NSCm No. S • 

..2• Communications Security - The protection resulting from 

all measures designed to deny to unauthorized persons information 

ot value which might be derived f~m t.be possession and st'1ld7 

ot teleconmunicationa, or to mislead u:nau:t.botlzed persons in 

their interpretation of the resul.ts of such a study. CoJDUnications securl.tJ' 1ncl.udes1 (1) transmission securityJ 

(2) cr,rptosecuriv, and (.3) physical security or communications 

security mter:Lal.s and info:nnation. 

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CONFIDENTlf1L 
.• 

--- CONFIDBN'l~L SECtiftfT-x"' INFO!tM*'flONeeNPmFJfTIA!J 

9Eef:JR!ft !MP6fMil:1'181f 

DRAFT 

!• Transmission Security - Transmission security is that 

: component of cOJllllUDications security Which results from all. 

\ ~ 

\ . JQeasures designed to protect tranaisld.ons from unauthorised. 

\ 

interception, trBtfic analysil, and 1Jnitative deception. •:: 

\ .!• Ql'n>toseaurity - That compoiient of eonmunications 

'· ' . 

aeourit7 which reaults from the provision of tecbnic~ sound 

c17Ptosystems and bheir proper use. 

!• Cqptol>r.blcipi.e - h obaracterist1ca ot the elanents 

. . invol\fad · in, and the fundamental 1"11.e ot opera~on, motion, or 

activit7 inherent in a cz,rpto97ste11. 

• I• 29J>to&stem (C17Ptograph1c Syatat) - The aaaociated 

i tams of CZ")'l>tomterial which are used as a unit and which 

provide a aingle meane of encryption and dec17ption • 

.!!• Cryptomaterial - ill mater.Lal, including documents, 

devicea and/or equipment or apparatus employed :in the enc~ion 

or dec:17pt1on of telecoD1111nicationa. 

~· Cr,ypto-equipment - The c:17pto-apparatua, •chanimu, 

•chines or devices used in the encryption or decryption· of 

teleC01111un1cationa~ 

J.• 1'\Ysical. Security - That compoli'ent of security which 

results from all pl\vsical measures necesaa17 to aateguard 

classified equipment, material and documents from access thereto 

or obaervation thereof l?Y unauthorized persons. 

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CONFIDENTIAL