IMPROVED SECURITY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-533-5-6-8
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 15, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

- No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/03/24: LOC-HAK-533-5-6-8
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.G. 20506
TOP SECRET /SENSITIVE
August 15, 1974
National. Security Decision Memorandum 266
TO: The Secretary of Defense
SUBJECT: Improved Security of Telecommunications
The President has been informed of the opportunities for Soviet inter-
ception of critical unencrypted Government telephone conversations which
may be carried on Washington area microwave links. He has directed
that immediate defensive steps be taken to counter this situation.
In that connection, he has directed that you develop, in coordination with
the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Director
of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, a specific program designed to
reduce significantly the opportunities for such interception.
The program should include near term interim measures including steps to
route critical Government communications on cables or wire lines until
well out of the Washington area. It also should propose more comprehensive
long term measures including but not limited to expansion of the availability
of secure telephones useable over standard telephone lines, and alternative
programs for securing the microwave links in the Washington area. Program
definition for both near term and longer term proposals should include
technical descriptions, costs, and scheduling information assuring highest
priorities.
Details as to specific near term interim measures which can be or are
being instituted and the specific datds on which they will become effective
should be submitted to the President for his consideration not later than
October 1, 1974. Details of longer term measures for this program should
be submitted for the President's consideration not later than January 1, 1975.
Henry A. Kissinger
MORI/CDF per
C03335350
cc: The Deputy Secretary of State
The Director, Office of Management and Budget
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Director, Office of Telecommunication Policy
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE /XGDS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/03/24: LOC-HAK-533-5-6-8