PLANNING GROUP FOR RAPID REPORTING SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01083A000100090011-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2006
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 27, 1959
• Content Type: MF

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EMORI ANDU1s.M FOR: Deputy Director (Plans)
Deputy Director (intellig, ence)
Deputy Director (Support)
SU BJECT : Planning Group for Rapid Repo } U g
System
1. This memorandum reports actions taken and progress
by an Agency Planning Group established by the Deputy Directors.
It also contains recommendations for your approval. Such recom-Y
mendations are contained in paragraph 8 below.
BACKGROUND
2. In November 1958 a Planning Group was formed at your
direction to develop proposals for a mechanically iA:taegrated systa n
which will increase materially the speed and effectiveness of our
intelligence transmissions, The Planning Group, comprised of ref-re-
sentatives from all major components having a direct; interest in fl As
problem, first conducted a series of briefings on fifteen major top:'.cs
(which were recorded in written summaries) to provide members with
a better understanding of the principal matters with which they were
expected to deal. Then a special team was cesignsaited to develop a
proposed system, employing modern mechanical techniques to im-
prove and accelerate the flow of intelligence information from field
collectors to using analysts.
EPORTIN SYSTEM
3. In February 1959 th eporting Syste ,g was proposeeda
Under this system, field stn ons use Flexowriters (or sin tsar tap,,--.-
punching typewriters) to originate intelligence reports which ,there--
after are relayed and reproduced automatically. This speeds
transmission and also eliminates manual retyping. Original tape.,.
are mechanically encrypted, transmitted to Headqu .rtea s by unac-?
coznpanied pouch (or high-speed communications equipment when
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available), and mechanically decrypted and typed. Headquarters
processing is greatly speeded up by combining steps and by ha-ring
separate processing actions proceed simultaneously. Then as a
final feature of the system, analysts are required to complete abbre-
viated "Initial Reaction Sheets" on reports they receive. Organized
tabulations of these reaction sheets can be used to tighten dissemi-
nation procedures, perfect the use of the Intelligence Subject Code,
and eliminate or reduce marginal reporting.
4. On 2 7 Febru the Planning Group reported to the Deputy
Directors that theroposal holds high promise of providing a
rapid reporting system for the Agency and might well provide the basis
for an improved system encompassing other members of the intelli-
gence community. However, it was recognized that a number of
technical and procedural problems had to be resolved before any final
judgment could be made. Accordingly the Group recommended that a 25X1
pilot model of theI system be established at so an actual
test of Its feasibility could be conducted while further study was being
given to technical and procedural problems. This was approved and 25X1
the test began 25 March.
RESULT OFII'-EST
5. Between 25 March and 30 June, 1180 reports were sent
25~ X1
from to Headquarters. Average transmission time (from typing 25X1
to automatic retyping at Headquarters) was 4.9 days. Total
time elapsed between typing in nd receipt by DDI analysts
averaged 7.2 days for those repor s sseminatedo
To date, st material has been of fairly low priority
and quality. Hence no effort has been made to "force" the system;
It has been allowed. to function at a normal pace. However, It Is
clear that still more time savings are possible, particularly in trans-
mission from to Washington. Even so, the results attained
are most encouraging. They stand in sharp contrast to the several
Weeks normally required to transmit and process CS reports (other
than cables) from Munich.
Organized tabulations have been made of Initial Reaction
Sheets from DDI analysts who receiverepcrts, and these have
been distributed. However, it is too assess their full value.
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PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS AR
STEM
6. It is clear from results of thtest that th~
system is feasible. From a technical po nt o view, the system works
well and can be made to work even better. The results we hoped for
have been attained or clearly could be attained.
PROBLEMS R LINING
). At the same time, however, problems and questions persist
which must be resolved before the Planning Group can recommend ex-
panding the system to most stations. These lie principally in.the fol-
lowing areas:
a. Equipment
There are available in the Agency surplus models of two
kinds of automatic typewriters which have been considered for
th ystem--Flexowriters and M-19 Teletype machines.
New m00
e s of these machines cost $2-3,000 per unit. So far,
only Flexowriters (of which sixteen are available) have been
used in the=test, but it is planned to try the M-19 also.
The latter will become surplus in fairly substantial numbers as
Communications gradually replaces them throughout the world
with higher speed Teletype equipment. However, both the
M-19 and the Flexowriter have distinct limitations for our
purposes--limitations of speed, security, cost, noise, and
other factors. In addition, new equipment now under commer-
:ial development will make these and other similar machines
t.ompletely obsolete in about two years. We therefore believe
Ii. unwise to propose the purchase of any significant number of
automatic typewriters now being marketed to support a large
expansion of th ystem. Instead, a moderate extension
of the system, us vailable equipment, seems the proper
coarse to pursue until it becomes clear just what machine
ou+ht to be acquired for long-term use. This interim period
(of-about two years) should be used to further refine procedural
asd ects of the system and to explore technical developments
such s photo encryption which can improve or supplement the
Isystem for intelligence transmissions.
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Our concept of the automatic typewriter needed for long-
term .use in th system is a tape-producing machine which
will serve a secretary equally well for normal typing and for
input into CIA's future communications system with its enormous
capacity for transmissions. To obtain such a typewriter, which
will also meet our security requirements, we propose to form a
small task force of individuals from the components concerned
to develop the specifications for the machine and then shop for
it among the various commercial suppliers.
b. Securi
Tape-producing typewriters present a potential security
threat because of power line and radiation signals which emanate
during operation. Effective counter-measures have been developed
for the M-19 and for the Flexowriter used in th Iprogram.
And machines now under commercial development can have such
protective features included in their basic design. However, the
machines must thereafter be protected continually against tamper-
ing. This requires their being housed in secure areas and treated
with considerable precaution; and only cleared U. S. personnel
can be allowed to service and repair them. Both these latter con-
trols will be important factors in considering extension of the
(system to stations where space and maintenance problems
c. Cost Analysis
25x1 Experience to date is insufficient to compute equipment
and personnel costs associated with any large-scale adoption
of thsystem. The Planning Group believes that more
exper the operational development of the system is
needed before this can be done effectively. For such a develop-
ment phase, we believe the necessary equipment is already on
hand and personnel requirements will be very slight.
RECOMMENDATIONS
8 Having established, in our judgment, the feasibility of the
ystem, the Planning Group recommends:
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(signed)
25X1
Chairman, Panning Group
a. The system undergo a period of operational development
sufficient to permit valid determinations and recommendations to
be made as to its long-term usefulness and application.
b. Th test link a be continued on a develop-
ment basis an a tional. links es a ished a
and iusing Flexowriter facilities available or planned for
thos s under the Teletape communicating program.
c. M-19 Teletype machines be used as they become surplus,
to establish developmental~Inks at additional stations.
d. Headquarters components whose participation is required
in the development of the= system be instructed to continue
such participation.
e. The Planning Group be required to submit a report of
progress on or about 31 December 1959.
The recommendations made in paragraph 8 are approved,
Richard M. Bissell, Ir. 30 July 1959
Deputy Director (Plans) Date
Huntington D. Sheldon 4 August 1959
Acting Deputy Director (Intelligence) Date
H. Gates Lloyd 7 ,uq st 1959
Acting Deputy Director (Support) Date
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