Federal Register: October 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 199)
DOCID: FR Doc 02-26132
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Docket ID: [Docket No.: 981028268-1287-05]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Information processing standards, Federal:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Announcing Approval of Changes to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 186-2, Digital Signature Standard
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Secretary of Commerce has approved changes to Federal
Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 1862, Digital Signature
Standard (DSS). These changes extend the transition period for the
implementation of FIPS 1862 to December 2002 and clarify that a
private sector algorithm (PKCS
SUMMARY:
Digital Signature Standard,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
In January 2000, the Secretary of Commerce approved FIPS 1862, Digital Signature Standard (DSS), which adopts three techniques for the generation and verification of digital signatures. These are the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) and two techniques specified in industry standards (ANSI X9.311998, Digital Signatures Using Reversible Public Key Cryptography for the Financial Services Industry and ANSI 9.62, 1998, Public Key Cryptography for the Financial Services Industry: Elliptical Curve Digital Signature Algorithm). When the standard was approved, it provided for a transition period from July 2000 to July 2001 to enable federal agencies to continue to use their existing digital signature systems and to acquire additional equipment that might be needed to interoperate with these legacy digital signature systems. Several agencies notified NIST that commercial equipment implementing the digital signature algorithms adopted by FIPS 1862 is not readily available, and that existing systems would be jeopardized by adherence to the original implementation schedule.
A notice was published in the Federal Register (Volume 66, Number
133, pp. 362545) on July 11, 2001, seeking public review or comment on
proposed changes to ease transition to FIPS 1862. The proposed changes
extended the transition period for the implementation of FIPS 1862
from July 2001 until December 2002 and specified that a private sector
algorithm (PKCS
Comment: The extended transition period will give government agencies a longer period in which to implement FIPS 1862 and insure its interoperability with existing systems. Overall, these changes to FIPS 1862 are favorable, and should be adopted as soon as possible.
Comment: This office concurs with the document as written and has no additional comments to offer.
Comment: I support the indefinite continuation to ANSI X9.31 as a
data formatting approach approved under FIPS 186. NIST is to be
congratulated on its continuing interaction with the PKI industry to
ensure compatible standards as reflected in the continuing support for PKCS
Therefore, the Secretary of Commerce approved the changes to
Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 1862, Digital Signature
Standard (DSS). These changes extend the transition period for the
implementation of FIPS 1862 from July 2001 to December 2002 and
clarify that a private sector algorithm (PKCS
Authority: Under Section 5131 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 and the Computer Security Act of 1987, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to approve standards and guidelines for the cost effective security and privacy of sensitive information processed by Federal computer systems.
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E.O. 12866: This notice has been determined to be nonsignificant for purposes of E.O. 12866.
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in E. O. 13132.
Dated: October 8, 2002.
Arden L. Bement, Jr.,
Director.
[FR Doc. 0226132 Filed 101102; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510CNP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ms. Elaine Barker, (301) 975-2911, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8930, Gaithersburg, MD 208998930.