National Security Decision Memorandum 346: Security of U.S. Telecommunications   [open pdf - 72KB]

Alternate Title: NSDM 346: Security of U.S. Telecommunications

National Security Decision Memorandum 346 (NSDM 346) directs the following measures to address the vulnerability of telecommunications to foreign or domestic intercept resulting from the rapid growth in the use of microwave radion in the long distance telephone system: 1) rerouting of government communications from microwave to cable in Washington D.C., San Francisco and New York; 2) rerouting of lines of sensitive government contractors to cable; 3) development of electronic bulk scrambling techniques by the Department of Defense; and 4) implementation of a plan to use electronic scrambling techniques in three areas of Sovioet interception activity, and nationwide. The directive also establishes a joint NSC/Domestic Council Committee on the security of US Telecommunications.