TECHNICAL TASK GROUP REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70T00666R000200020040-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: March 1, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

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TFC} ICAL TASK 'GROUP REPORT
*DOC Exemption Letter In EUR Fiie*
Meeting Held: 'March 1 1965, at 1201 E St., N. WW
Agencies Represented: Commerce, Defense, CIA, State, FCC.
Part'A RCA Color Television System
Paoblem: Study of all equipment (except 'tape recorders and
tape which are. to be hand.ledsepar'ate1y) and technical data
involved in the RCA color TV system.; This should include:
1:. Identification of all equipment required in inst0.1-
ing and maintaining a complete color TV"system according to NLSC
standards and an' evaluation of the technology cofitalne ;_;.1.n such
equipment.
2.. .Identification of problem areas in terms of both
miltilateral and unilateral controls and (a) analysis of how
these problems can or should' be handled if case is-approved,
aid/or (b) rationale leading to objections in these identified
areas
Discussion.: Apart from video tape recordersg which:are
discussed in Part B, the Task Group determined that the following
items should be considered as part of the color television
package that Soviet bloc countries may be expected to seek to
purchase from the United States or other Western countries:
1. Color TV Cameras
2. TV Terminal Equipment
3. Test Equipment
4. TV Camera Tubes
'TV Picture Tube-Makin: Machinery
7o TV Transmitters
Excluded from automatic downgrading and declassification.
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Although items 6 and.7 were not mentioned in RCA's letter of
February 199 1965 (attachment I), it would appear appropriate
to consider them as part of the complex. It is further
considered probable that the Bloc will require technical,data
and assistance in establishing its on production of most if not
all of these items,''
1. Color TV Cameras
Color TV cameras are not rated either internationally
or unilaterally by the United States,' They require a validated
export license to Soviet bloc countries, but may be., exported to
:Poland and Rumania under general license G-REST. Although Japan
-produces color TV cameras and a number of other countries,
including the Soviet Union, have developed prototypes, the
United, States `? unquestionably is advanced over the rest of the
world in this field, However, it is not considered that the
sale of TV color cameras to the Bloc and the transfer o:f
te,shniCal data for their. manufacture would have an adverse
effect on security..
Auxiliary studio apparatus Listed by RCA includes; a
S ~nchronizing Generator to provide all of the essential
synchronizing pulses; Color Mor tors to permit viewing of the
program in the studio; Universal Multiplexes designed to
permit one or two vidicon cameras to handle signals from two
film projectors and two still projection equipments for.
maximum flexibility in film reproduction; Professi:na.l Slide
Projector to provide means of projecting standard sl-Wer
transparencies into monochrome or color vidicon film cameras
and a Light Control Unity. designed. to provide a means of varying
the projection light intensity from color and monochrome f .-Wi
or slide projectors., None of this auxiliary equipment has a
strategic rating and can be exported to Poland and Rumania
under general license. It is not considered. to meet any of
the strategic criteria.
2 TV Terminal Equipment
RCA has included the following items in this category:
Custom Television Equipment, comprising specially designed
master control consoles for controlling television program;
Video Switching Equipment to permit selection between vidao
signals from any of a number of picture sources; and a Video
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Distribution -Amplifier.designed to feed a video signal or color
subcarrier.signal to up to four lines
,Thi :equipment can be exported ' to Poland and Rumania
under general license, but-.requires a validated export license
f'or:,tk~e ..soviet;:bloc, It carries no strategic rating' and, is not
considered to meet any of the-: strategic criteria,.
3a Test Equipment
RCA has submitted brochures on several pieces of test
equipment that might be required. by the Soviet bloc, but points
out that it is questionable whether the 1Y S. will be asked to
supply such test equipment,, since it is readily available from
a, .umber.,of countries and' is not udder international control.,
Most of the items are specially designed for televi:ion use,
such as the Color Bar Generator, the Vectorscopes,,the Li.ncairy
Checker., and the Calibration Pulse Generator,, .Alihough all.
radio and television testing instruments are rated. MESL 1.529
ar:d were considered in 1958 to meet criteria a and c, it is not
considered. that these criteria apply in the present.instance0
Because:Af their,limi:ted application, it is unlikely that the
instruments would be divei+6dd to .any 'other 'us ea jr! addition., two
ea thod.e ray oscilloscopes are proposed as passible requirements
in the system, Both are 'specially' designed for 'television, use,
and neither is rated internationally, but are covered by NESL
1584 and are under presumption for denial to the, Soviet bloc,
It,appears probable , that any essential test equipment
could be.supplied with color television apparatus'without
violating COCOM agreements, Furthermore, it is unlikely that
any security risk would be incurred in supplying such equipment
or technical data for its manufacture,, However, a problem may
arise if the Bloc should attempt'to'obtain very-advanced or
multipurpose test equipment,
TV Camera, Tubes.
Both image -orthicons and vidicon , tub,2's fare used in.
color television cameras0 The types needed .for black and.white
cameras are the. same,;.as those needed for cola&Q 1'~ They are not .
under international control, being specifically exempted from
the IL definition, Non-ruggedized vidtcon tubes are under U,S,
control, however, and are under a presu r~ption for denial to the
Soviet bloc,
i! L
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The Soviet bloc is believed to lag the West in the
production of high quality camera tubes, The technology needed
to produce standard commercial television camera tubes is not
far different from the technology required to produce came:a
tubes for other purposes., some of them of strategic importance,
It is possible, therefore, that the level of Soviet ability in
the field of .image orthicon and vidicon production would be
materal"iyadvanced if they were given technical assistance in
producing TV 'c'amera tubes,, However, this technology is not
uniquely held br=the Und States and could. be supplied by
another tresteri' country or Japan,
Color Picture'Tubes
Color picture tubes are not under international control,,
but are covered. by U. S. MESS, 1541:
"" Cathode ray tubes with three or more guns."
They are und.er a presumption for denial to the Soviet', 3loca
this coverage would.appear to be an, accident of
definition, since no strategic application ?3 known for the
conventional color mask picture tube, Accordingly, it is not
considered that the approval of color picture tubes to the
Bloc would represent a security risks
Color picture tubes are also made in Japan and
Canada.., but the technical. data for their production is
believed to be held by the United. States;, There 14ould appear
tj be no reason not to supply such data to the Soviet bloc,,
6. TV Picture Tube-Making Machinery
RCA officials have indicated in discussions that the
economics of television are such that if the Soviet Union
intends to adopt color television on a broad basis, it will
have to produce its own color picture tubes and, in effect,
the United States must be ready to set the Soviets up in the
picture tube-making business,, This will entail not only
technical data but, in all probability, specialized tube-
making machinery,
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IL 1355(b) covers machinery, equipment and test
gear specially designed for the automatic or semiautomatic
assembly of electronic tubes,,. The-task groua _suggested that
picture tube-malting machinery may be sufficiently. specialized so
t'ha't' t'he CoCoan definition ~ could be modified to exclude it
w_tthput;_substantial security loss, CoCom concurrence. would, of
cour~e',-k'be needed for this change, 'In any case the matter
would require further study to determine if such machinery is
in fact different from the machiner~y used in the. production of
, oJ- t: ategi.c tubes
7. TV Transmitters
Television transmitters are not under international
control, and. types-suitable for..:color television could be
supplied by a number of T-Testern countries, They are covered
by U.S, MESL 1517.and are under ?s"?presumption.for denial to the
Soviet Bloc, However,, it is not:oon8idered, that denial by the
United " States would, preclude the Soviet Union from obtai-irin.g
such traismitters
he only possible ' .proble ., breas appear to be tes?c,
equipmezit, depending ,on what -instruments are involved;
technica~i data for the production of TV camera tubes; and
machinery"for making TV picture tubes
P D: Tape Recorders and Tape Included in RCA Color
Television System
Problem~ Update previous: "task group report on` tape,record.er-a
and tape (including technical data) involved in the. RCA color
TV H'TSG''system, This should include:
1, The extent to which technicafl3 one can
differentiate between, vi.dpc- tape recorders and tape ana other
types covered on the. T/Lo -Now, would `approval of th:i,s case
aff`cat'"oalanoe of the definition?
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2, Exploration of the profit aspect such as the
amount of.money the U.S, Government has invested. in developing
these teins: and what would be the costs incurred. by a U.S.
need to modify?.ts system in reaction to Soviet acquisition
(DOD and. NASA should be contacted.)
3? Are-there components-such:as delay, lines which...
as such are?not embargoed? Are they specially designed? -Could.,
they be siu iplied. as 'accessories with the studio equipment
independently of the tape recorder?.
'Discussion: The previous task group report stated that the
video, recorders under discussion meet criteria a, b,.and e;'
that they:incorporate advanced technology with respect to
wideband recording techniques; and that they have important
and. higlily classified- military uses, No new evidence was
presented that.would change' that. earlier determination, With
respect to the specific questions, the'following information
was developed z
1. It is possible to distinguish between video
recorders and. some other magnetic recorders covered by the
definition (e g., digital recorders), but quite difficult, or
iir:possible to differentiate between them and other wideba::d
rotary head, recorders. Video recorders for color television
represent the ,most advanced. technology; therefore, approval of
their export to the Bloc would in effect nullify the balance of
the definition0
2. The Defense representative stated that DOD
has spent $26.,514,277 for wideband rotary head recorder develop-
ment and hardware, The task group was unable to estimate what
costs would be incurred by a U.S. need to modify its system in
reaction to.Soviet acquisition,,
36 Delay lines and other important components are
specially designed for video recorders, They could not be
supplied as accessories with the studio equipment independent].
of,the tape recorder,
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No new evidence was found to change the previcus task
group determination with respect to the strategic importance
of video recorders for color television,.
Participants
John R. Collins, Chairman,
Commerce,
OEO
Carl W. Douglas
Commerce,
OEC
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Donald S. Parris
Commerce,
BDSA
R. C. Gillett
Col. W. T. Moseley
Commerce,
Defense
BDSA
T,hn. A. McFadden
Win. A. Root
Florence Dowling
Willmar K. Roberts
State, E/MDC
State, E/MDC
State, TD
FCC
25X1A9a
CIA
Observer
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