SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000100110006-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 17, 1972
• Content Type: REPORT

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TOP. SECRET
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL INTELLIGENCE
DIRECTIVE NO. 61
SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE
(Effective 17 February 1972)
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), which comprises Communications Intelligence
(COMINT) and Electronics Intelligence (ELINT), and the activities pertain-
ing thereto are national responsibilities and must be so organized and managed
as to exploit to the maximum the available resources of the Government, to satisfy
the intelligence needs of the National Security Council and the departments and
agencies of the Government, and to provide for efficiency and economy in the
use of technical resources. Therefore, pursuant to the National Security Act of
1947, as amended, the National Security Council authorizes and directs that
SIGINT activities shall be conducted as prescribed herein.
1. Definitions
For the purpose of this directive, the terms "Communications Intelligence" or
"COMINT" shall be construed to mean technical and intelligence information
derived from foreign communications by other than the intended recipients.
COMINT activities shall be construed to mean those activities that produce
COMINT by the collection and processing of foreign communications passed by
radio, wire or other electromagnetic means, with specific exceptions stated below,
and by the processing of foreign encrypted communications, however transmitted.
Collection comprises search, intercept and direction finding. Processing com-
prises range estimation, transmitter/operator identification, signal analysis, traffic
analysis, cryptanalysis, decryption, study of plain text, the fusion of these processes,
and the reporting of results.
COMINT and COMINT activities as defined herein shall not include (a) any
intercept and processing of unencrypted written communications, press and
propaganda broadcasts, or (b) censorship.
.ELINT activities are defined as the collection (observation and recording ),
and the processing for subsequent intelligence purposes, of information derived
from foreign, non-communications, electromagnetic radiations emanating from
other than atomic detonation or radioactive sources. ELINT is the technical and
intelligence information product of ELINT activities.
2. The Director of Central Intelligence
Consistent with his responsibilities as set forth in NSCID Nos. 1, 2 and 3,
the Director of Central Intelligence shall:
a. Establish with the advice of the United States Intelligence Board and
issue appropriate intelligence objectives, requirements and priorities to guide
the conduct of all United States SIGINT activities.
`This Directive supersedes NSCID No. 6 dated 15 September 1958, revised 18 January .1961.
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b. Review the needs and performance of United States SIGINT activities
as a basis for preparing a consolidated intelligence program budget.
c. Establish policies and procedures for the conduct of SIGINT arrange-
ments with foreign governments with the advice of the United States Intelli-
gence Board.
d. Develop and establish policies and procedures for the protection of
SIGINT including the degree and type of security protection to be given
SIGINT activities through the protection of information about them or derived
from them.
3. The Secretary of Defense
a. The Secretary of Defense is designated as Executive Agent of the Govern-
ment for the conduct of SIGINT activities in accordance with the provisions
of this directive and for the direction, supervision, funding, maintenance and
operation of the National Security Agency. The Director of the National Se-
curity Agency shall report to the Secretary of Defense and shall be the prin-
cipal SIGINT adviser to the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central
Intelligence, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Secretary of Defense may dele-
gate in whole or part authority over the Director of the National Security
Agency within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
b. The Secretary of Defense may determine, after consultation with the
Secretary of State and the Director of Central Intelligence, that a SIGINT
matter forwarded by the Director of Central Intelligence to the National Se-
curity Council for decision presents a problem of an emergency nature and
requires immediate action. His action will be implemented and will govern,
pending a decision by the National Security Council.
4. The National Security Agency
a. There is established under the Secretary of Defense and subject to his
authority and control a National Security Agency with a Director who shall
be head thereof and a Deputy Director who shall act for, and exercise the
powers of, the Director during his absence or disability. The Director and
Deputy Director shall be designated by the Secretary of Defense subject to the
approval of the President. The duration of their appointments shall be at the
pleasure of the President. The Director shall be a commissioned officer of the
armed services, on active or reactivated status and shall enjoy not less than
three star rank during the period of his incumbency. The Director shall have a
Deputy who shall be a career civilian with SIGINT experience.
b. It shall be the duty of the Director of the National Security Agency to
provide for the SIGINT mission of the United States, to establish an effective
unified organization and control of all SIGINT collection and processing activi-
ties of the United States, and to produce SIGINT in accordance with objec-
tives, requirements and priorities established by the Director of Central Intelli-
gence with the advice of the United States Intelligence Board. No other or-
ganization shall engage in SIGINT activities except as provided for in this
directive.
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c. Except as provided in paragraphs 5 and 6 of this directive, the Director
of the National Security Agency shall exercise full control over all SIGINT
collection and processing activities, except the operation of mobile SIGINT f
platforms which will normally be exercised through appropriate elements of
the military command structure. The Director of the National Security Agency
is authorized to issue direct to any operating elements engaged in SIGINT
operations such instructions and assignments as are required. All instructions
issued by the Director under the authority provided in this paragraph shall
be mandatory, subject only to appeal to the Secretary of Defense.
d. In consonance with the aims of maximum overall efficiency, economy
and effectiveness, and to the extent he deems necessary and desirable, the
Director shall centralize and consolidate the performance of SIGINT functions
for which he is responsible. To this end, there is established a Central Security
Service under the Director of the National Security Agency, which shall be
organized in accordance with a plan approved by the Secretary of Defense.
It shall be principally collection oriented and shall include SIGINT functions
previously performed by various Military Department and other United States
governmental elements engaged in SIGINT activities. The Director of the
National Security Agency shall determine the appropriate division of respon-
sibilities among the elements under his direction.
e. The Armed Forces and other departments and agencies often require
timely and effective SIGINT. The Director of the National Security Agency
shall provide information requested, taking all necessary measures to facilitate
its maximum utility. As determined by the Director of the National Security
Agency or as directed by the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National
Security Agency shall provide such SIGINT either through the direction of
activities under his control or through the delegation to an appropriate agent
of specified SIGINT facilities and resources from among the elements under
his direction for-such periods and for such tasks as appropriate.
f. Specific responsibilities of the Director of the National Security Agency
include the following:
(1) Formulating necessary operational plans, policies and procedures
to provide for integrated operations.
(2) Managing SIGINT resources, personnel and programs.
(3) Conducting research and development to meet the needs of the
United States for SIGINT.
(4) Determining and submitting to the authorities responsible for
logistic support-for activities under his control requirements together with
specific recommendations as to what each of the responsible departments
and agencies of the Government should supply.
(5) Prescribing within his field of authorized operations requisite
security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission,
handling and distribution of SIGINT material within and among the ele-
ments under his control; and exercising the necessary monitoring and su-
pervisory . control to ensure compliance with the regulations.
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