MERCURY AND GATEWAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00210R000300100030-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2008
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: February 29, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

MEMORANDUM February 29, 1980
Director of Communications
Central Intelligence Agency
Washin.. on,___D...E_, .20505
FROM: Stuartl, ;`-, Branch
Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Communications
SUBJECT : Mercury and Gateway (U)
REFERENCE: You-'r Memorandum (OC-M-80-110) , -rebruary.19, 1` 80
With the exception of increased emphasis on the need for
such data speed service to enhance our security posture
overseas, there has been little else that has developed in
the way of requi renm`nts . I am, however, as indicated
above, quite prepared to have our staffs meet once again
as you suggest. This may; in fact, be desirable since,
judging from your memorandum, there seems to be some mis-
understanding regarding the function of the Gateway. It
is not, as you suggest, a terminal' processor. Our communi-
cations terminal processor is the TERP system, of which,
as you know, there are some 50, odd already installed
overseas and 30 or so in the pipeline. The Gateway is, as
I have mentioned in different discussions over the past
or so and covered in our briefing of January 4, a concen-
trator, the function of which is to provide an interface
I have reviewed your memorandum of February 19, which -
proposes that our respective staffs get together to review
requirements prior- tc our Narch meeting to discuss philosonv
and concept of Your. Mercury a^d our Gateway pro j ects . T. am
prepared to proceed in any manner that is most convenient
for you. I did, however, think that we had, in our briefing
of your staff on the Gateway project and other ongoing State
communications programs on January 4, 1980, covered the re-
quirements as best we know them.
RDS - 2/29/2000 - Branch, S. E.
State Dept. review completed
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between the various communicating terminals currently in use
(or envisioned) by the foreign affairs agencies represented
overseas and the communications circuitry network.
Clearly, we must continue our efforts to avoid costs. in
this regard, 'ou should }krcw that we' do plan to Cbrirsj u
high-speed commercial ?.eased circuits to a nu:c ber of
ove:-
seas locations to S%it=s`V
r.h %~ fore .~7?"l c `. f-z :: i r , a^r'I?C
requirements riien ioried E'-ar :r 4.r . kc; we ndersta 2 your
Mercury prcg:-am, you plan cry using U.S.
cvern;rent-ctrr. i
facilities as the prirrary trar.smi :s:;.on media. To ` ~e
you have any req-_-Jrementc: fcr leased circ=zits, we? wouid be
pleased to include them in our plans.
Our interest is, of course, to make maximum. use of a single
high-speed circuit by sharing the bandwidth to meet numerous
requirements. This will require a Gateway but will eliminate
.the expensive, recurring annual costs associated with dedi-
cated circuits to meet each separate requirement. Further,
it pro? cs ' single man geritcnt and interface -v7:.th t'' M='"" s
and loc J. `}.`T' S as ;r'ei.. as .i~iit .,g preeri~ o f the ~. '
ptic,n ~re:;e
circuits in the event of. a crisis situation.
The increased circuit capacity and cost avoidance, which
will be realized with the Gateway, make this 'a very high
priority program in our office.
SECRET
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