SECURE VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010032-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2004
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: January 30, 1974
• Content Type: MF

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II~J i ,t LlG ri 1G Iimr-O ity1ATiOm HANDLING COMIMITTEE
OF
rn~ X11, t~
U i1 I '~ . . ? iJ ' C E BC?Ai~O
1Ci7IC-74-1107
30 January 1974
:~ ?'_OZ lr % T IOR : General Graham, D/DCI/IC
SUBJECT Secure Video Communications for the intelligence
Community
1. Attached is a staff study (IHC-11~2d-1 74) which I have prepared
on the above subject. I request that it be brought to the attention
of the Director of Central Intelligence.
2. This is a companion piece to the communication transmitted
today by behalf of Director, NSA, to
PD/DCI/I , Iect.
3. The :xecutive Summary of my staff study embodies a statement
of the problem an.~ its background and my Conclusions and Recommenda-
tions. in brief, I urge that the USIB Intelligence Information Handling
Committee (IHC) be charged by the DCI, USIB members concurring, to
"orchestrate" on their behalf the proliferating efforts individual
agencies are now undertaking to plan for future computer-driven ter-
minals and communications networks that can transmit video (graphics)
as well as mitten materials.
4. As Director, NSA rightly points out, if these individual efforts
are allo-vred to continue without overall guidance and general coordination
at the community level, we will end up with very expensive, incompatible.
systems that actually handicap users by virtue of their differing cha-
racteristics, limitations and operating procedures.
5. The total subject is so diverse that there is room for several
groups to work on different aspects of the problem. What I argue for
?:os strongly is that those operating level technical investigations
he given community-level guidance a, the outset, and that the results
of i.n'IeSti "atlonS at those levels -o through a second stage of cocmunit`;...
.1_evel integration in order to prepare an over ie oi' the total s--Stem
p? orosals that may be rev _ereer1 on-1. a -pro r d by the DCI
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30 January 1974
SUBJECT: Secure Video Communications for the Intelligence Community
Executive Summary
1. Background. This study provides an overview of proliferating efforts by indi-
vidual intelligence agencies to develop telecommunications networks and terminal equip-
ment for secure, near-real-time dissemination by video of intelligence information and
products. The present efforts, frequently, have the limitation of planning for dissemina-
tion of collected and processed data from single sources or sensors. To illustrate the
present situation, this study describes some of the more significant efforts that have come
to the attention of the USIB Intelligence Information Handling Committee's Support
Staff. A sizeable additional number exists but is not catalogued here. Efforts summarized
here are sponsored by CIA, NPIC, DIA, NSA, and the JCS and U&S Commands.
2. Problem. Planning and development efforts, conducted at the level of individual
agency or sensor systems, have a serious risk of forcing on users of intelligence information
and products an unnecessarily complex, expensive and non-compatible battery of single-
sensor-oriented hardware operating in separate communications networks. Future major
resource commitments -- and they will be very large in the coming years -- should be made
on the basis of a-comprehensive community plan for overall architecture of secure video
communications. The subject, today, is at a sufficiently early stage that it is still sus-
ceptible to orderly, community-wide development, taking account of the spectrum of user
needs as well as the special requirements of individual sensor systems. The opportunity
to give overall guidance, setting parameters for individual efforts by community members
so that they may interrelate most effectively, is time-limited, and if not taken soon can,
effectively, be lost.
3. Conclusions:
a. Comprehensive, authoritative guidance on this subject, addressed to
the total needs of the intelligence community and its customers, can come
only from the DCI in consultation with USIB members. The President's
Board of Foreign Intelligence Advisors (PFIAB) has encouraged the DCI, with
respect to the total field of information handling, to delineate community
objectives and develop an agreed community implementation plan, and the
DCI has responded to the Board, acknowledging the need for planning for
information flow in the context of on-coming collection programs.
b. Community standardization (to the extent practicable) of terminal
equipment with video capabilities, and a community plan for communication
netting of secure television are essential. However, the time available to take
effective community action for overall dissemination and communication
planning is limited. Individual sensor system managers are finding it necessary
to proceed unilaterally in the absence of orchestration at the community level.
This can be expensive and produce unnecessary complexities for users to be
served by secure video communications equipment and networks.
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c. A community mechanism should, within 60 days, present a full
factual survey, descriptive of the current status of this problem and the pro-
posed actions of individual organizations. Subject to DCI and USIB member
guidance and approval, it should also draft a comprehensive concept and
general plan to provide guidance parameters for orderly implementation by
operating organizations within the community.
d. The USIB Intelligence Information Handling Committee (IHC)
has an existing structure and body of experience which qualifies it to serve
as a community forum and to carry out this planning task. No other com-
munity mechanism exists at this time with equivalent capabilities. To make
the IHC an effective instrumentality, its responsibilities should be reaffirmed
by the DCI and USIB members and purposeful action by this committee
should be authorized. and supported.
4. Recommendations. It is recommended that:
a. The USIB/IHC be charged now to conduct the factual survey and
develop the comprehensive concept and general plan called for in paragraph
3c. above.
b. The USIB/IHC be confirmed as the community's continuing focal
point, and charged with the following tasks relative to secure video communi-
cations, reporting regularly thereon to the DCI and the USIB:
(1) To develop and maintain a comprehensive overview of
intelligence user needs relative to the use of video.
(2) To update and expand prior IHC work describing video
terminal equipment capabilities and the potential for standardiza-
tion for intelligence uses.
(3) To develop information on communications system
capabilities relative to the operation of integrated, community-wide
secure video networking.
.(4) To maintain general contact with, and offer general
guidance to, investigations in these premises that are conducted
within their areas of special exper:.ise by intelligence line organi-
zations and other USIB committees.
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Copy's of 10
25X1 LOG Pal
C No.'s
Name
1 DCI (Mr. Colby)
2 D/DCI/IC (General Graham)
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