American Electronics Association and Software Publishers Association Host
Cryptography Policy Workshop

August 8, 1995. (Washington, D.C. ) -- National cryptography policymaking
must keep pace with technological developments, and the Software
Publishers Association and the American Electronics Association are
cosponsoring a meeting on August 17, 1995 in the State Room at the
Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC to provide a forum for
industry-government dialogue.

In the summer of 1994, the Clinton Administration convened its "Key Escrow
Alternatives Working Group" (KEAWG) to address alternatives to the
"Clipper Chip", which provided a forum for industry-government dialogue on
cryptography policy issues. "We're looking for ways to move the ball
forward," said SPA President Ken Wasch. &quot;Stalemate on this issue
impedes competitiveness."

At the 1994 meeting of the KEAWG, industry presented government with a set
of questions about key escrow criteria, essentially asking the government
for clarification about Vice President Gore's criteria, which were set out
in his July 18 letter to then-Rep. Maria Cantwell. One of these questions
focused on the exportablility of DES as a part of a key escrow system.
Above all, industry communicated its paramount concern: that strong
cryptography be exportable. Industry has been moving forward with
technological approaches. Trusted Information Systems, National
Semiconductor, Hewlett-Packard, Bankers Trust, and others are developing
alternatives.

The meeting will clarify changes in the playing field in the last year,
allow attendees to compare notes on hardware and software solutions,
outline solutions, and serve as a keystone for further intra-industry or
industry-government discussions. It will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
and will include presentations by industry, government updates, and ample
time for discussion.

"There will inevitably be differences of opinion and conflicting
priorities," said AEA President William T. Archey, "But we all have in
common an urgent need for coherent policy and exportability of
cryptography."

The American Electronics Association is the largest high technology trade
association in the country, representing over 3,000 U.S.-based technology
firms. Membership spans from semiconductor and software companies to
computer systems and telecommunications companies. For more than 50 years,
AEA has been the accepted voice of the electronics and information
technology industry.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association for
the personal computer software industry. Since 1984, it has grown to over
1170 members, representing the leading publishers in the business,
consumer, and education software markets. SPA press releases are available
on-line through CompuServe (GO:SPAFORUM), and from the Internet
(WWW.SPA.ORG).
 
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