LETTER TO HARRY E. FITZWATER FROM EDMUND B. FITZGERALD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G00186R000901060007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 28, 1985
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/16: CIA-RDP88GO0186R000901060007-3
nurtharn
talacum
The Woodlawn Mansion
127 Woodmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37205
Edmund B. Fitzgerald
Chairman of the Board
May 28, 1985
Mr. Harry E. Fitzwater
Deputy Director for Administration
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20505
Fitz
ald
Thank you very much for your kind letter of May 21. I am very pleased
to learn that your FOCI Policy is under serious review. Mr. Dobyns
and I are very appreciative of the opportunity to meet with you and
your staff in your offices on April 15, and to learn that our comments
were helpful to you.
I agree with you that a "skunk works" would be difficult to effectively
operate if there were not a significant volume of business to justify
its existence. However, if we should enter into a contractual
relationship in the future, I am sure that we can develop a written
understanding of the security and business modus operandi which
would have to be established to insure protection under your FOCI
Policy.
Again, many thanks for your letter and for the consideration you
are giving this matter. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Sincerely,
A
*
4V
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Central Intelligence Agency
Mr. Edmund B. Fitzgerald
President & Chief Executive Officer
Northern Telecom Limited
127 Woodmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37205
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
The visit by you and Mr. Dobyns with me and members of my organization
last month was very helpful. Our knowledge of your company and its products
was expanded. Hopefully, you and Mr. Dobyns gained from the visit greater
understanding of our foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) policy
and an appreciation for our sensitivities and concerns in the FOCI area.
We understand the concern expressed in your recent 15 April letter over
the fact that another vendor was selected to provide a switchi
our Headquarters facility. We also understand your even greater csystem
oncernfor
regarding potential future impact of our FOCI policy on your participation in
the U.S. intelligence market.
While we have not, at this writing, revised our FOCI policy, I am able to
say that it is under serious review. Your offer to establish a "skunk works"
operation, reporting to you and managed and operated by U.S. citizens holding
appropriate clearances, is of interest and would seem to provide a secure
method of handling classified business. While something like the "skunk
works" operation would provide increased protection of classified information,
only Northern Telecom can determine whether there is enough market potential
to warrant such a change. Naturally, if we should enter into a contractual
relationship in the future, a written understanding of the security and
business modus operandi would have to be established to ensure protection
under our FOCI policy.
May I say in closing that it is always a pleasure to meet with senior
officials from the contract
or community. Please feel free to contact me
further on this matter
I h
.
ave asked our Procurement Executive,
to provide further feedback to you when the review of our FOCI Polky is
complete.
Sincerely,
ry E. Fit' ater
Deputy Director
for
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DDA 85-1710//
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Subject: Letter to E. Fitzgerald
STAT DSO Distri ion: j (21 May 85)
Orig - Addressee
STAT 1 -
1 - DDA Subject
1 - DDA Chrono
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