80_FR_31611 80 FR 31505 - Revisions to Definitions in the Export Administration Regulations

80 FR 31505 - Revisions to Definitions in the Export Administration Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 106 (June 3, 2015)

Page Range31505-31520
FR Document2015-12843

This proposed rule is part of the Administration's Export Control Reform Initiative. The Initiative will enhance U.S. national and economic security, facilitate compliance with export controls, update the controls, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on U.S. exporters. As part of this effort, this rulemaking proposes revisions to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to include the definitions of ``technology,'' ``required,'' ``peculiarly responsible,'' ``proscribed person,'' ``published,'' results of ``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' ``transfer,'' and ``transfer (in-country)'' to enhance clarity and consistency with terms also found on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which is administered by the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). This rulemaking also proposes amendments to the Scope part of the EAR to update and clarify application of controls to electronically transmitted and stored technology and software. DDTC is concurrently publishing comparable proposed amendments to the ITAR's definitions of ``technical data,'' ``required,'' ``peculiarly responsible,'' ``public domain,'' results of ``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' and ``retransfer'' for the same reasons. Finally, this rulemaking proposes conforming changes to related provisions.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31505-31520]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12843]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security

15 CFR Parts 734, 740, 750, 764, and 772

[Docket No. 141016858-5228-01]
RIN 0694-AG32


Revisions to Definitions in the Export Administration Regulations

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule is part of the Administration's Export 
Control Reform Initiative. The Initiative will enhance U.S. national 
and economic security, facilitate compliance with export controls, 
update the controls, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on U.S. 
exporters. As part of this effort, this rulemaking proposes revisions 
to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to include the 
definitions of ``technology,'' ``required,'' ``peculiarly 
responsible,'' ``proscribed person,'' ``published,'' results of 
``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' 
``transfer,'' and ``transfer (in-country)'' to enhance clarity and 
consistency with terms also found on the International Traffic in Arms 
Regulations (ITAR), which is administered by the Department of State, 
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). This rulemaking also 
proposes amendments to the Scope part of the EAR to update and clarify 
application of controls to electronically transmitted and stored 
technology and software. DDTC is concurrently publishing comparable 
proposed amendments to the ITAR's definitions of ``technical data,'' 
``required,'' ``peculiarly responsible,'' ``public domain,'' results of 
``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' and 
``retransfer'' for the same reasons. Finally, this rulemaking proposes 
conforming changes to related provisions.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 3, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the Federal rulemaking portal 
(http://www.regulations.gov). The regulations.gov ID for this proposed 
rule is: [BIS-2015-0019]. Comments may also be submitted via email to 
publiccomments@bis.doc.gov or on paper to Regulatory Policy Division, 
Bureau of Industry and Security, Room 2099B, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. Please refer to RIN 0694-AG32 in all 
comments and in the subject line of email comments. All comments 
(including any personally identifying information) will be made 
available for public inspection and copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hillary Hess, Director, Regulatory 
Policy Division, Office of Exporter Services, Bureau of Industry and 
Security at 202-482-2440 or rpd2@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This proposed rule is part of the Administration's Export Control 
Reform (ECR) Initiative. The Initiative will enhance U.S. national and 
economic security, facilitate compliance with export controls, update 
the controls, and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on U.S. 
exporters. As part of this effort, this rulemaking proposes revisions 
to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to include the 
definitions of ``technology,'' ``required,'' ``peculiarly 
responsible,'' ``proscribed person,'' ``published,'' results of 
``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' 
``transfer,'' and ``transfer (in-country)'' to enhance clarity and 
ensure consistency with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations 
(ITAR), which is administered by the Department of State, Directorate 
of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). This rulemaking also proposes 
amendments to the Scope part of the EAR to update and clarify 
application of controls to electronically transmitted and stored 
technology and software. The DDTC is concurrently publishing comparable 
proposed amendments to the ITAR's definitions of ``technical data,'' 
``required,'' ``peculiarly responsible,'' ``public domain,'' results of 
``fundamental research,'' ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' and 
``retransfer'' for the same reasons. Finally, this rulemaking proposes 
conforming changes to related provisions.
    One aspect of the ECR Initiative includes amending the export 
control regulations to facilitate enhanced compliance while reducing 
unnecessary regulatory burdens. For similar national security, foreign 
policy, including human rights, reasons, the EAR and the ITAR each 
control, inter alia, the export, reexport, and in-country transfer of 
commodities, products or articles, technology, technical data, 
software, and services to various destinations, end users, and end 
uses. The two sets of regulations have been issued pursuant to 
different statutes, have been administered by different agencies with 
missions that are distinct from one another in certain respects, and 
have covered different items (or articles). For those reasons, and 
because each set of regulations has evolved separately over decades 
without much coordination between the two agencies regarding

[[Page 31506]]

their structure and content, they often use different words, or the 
same words differently, to accomplish similar regulatory objectives.
    Many parties are regulated by both the Commerce Department's EAR 
and the State Department's ITAR, particularly now that regulatory 
jurisdiction over many types of military items has been transferred 
from the ITAR to the EAR. Using common terms and common definitions to 
regulate the same types of items or actions is intended to facilitate 
enhanced compliance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. 
Conversely, if different concerns between the two sets of export 
control regulations warrant different terms or different controls, then 
the differences should be clear for the same reason. Such clarity will 
benefit national security because it will be easier for exporters to 
know how to comply with the regulations and for prosecutors to be able 
to prosecute violations of the regulations. Such clarity will also 
enhance our economic security because it will reduce unnecessary 
regulatory burdens for exporters when attempting to determine the 
meaning of key words and phrases across similar sets of regulations. 
Finally, such harmonization and clarification is a necessary step 
toward accomplishing one of the ultimate objectives of the ECR 
initiative, which is the creation of a common export control list and 
common set of export control regulations.
    BIS and DDTC have identified a series of similar terms in the EAR 
and the ITAR that are defined differently and that warrant either 
harmonization or the creation of similar structures that would identify 
more clearly the differences in how similar concepts are treated under 
the EAR and the ITAR. The proposed revisions to these terms are 
generally not intended to materially increase or decrease their 
existing scope. In particular, BIS and DDTC will continue to maintain 
their long-standing positions that ``published'' (or ``public domain'') 
information and the results of ``fundamental research'' are excluded 
from the scope of ``technology'' subject to the EAR and the ITAR's 
``technical data.'' Rather, the proposed changes are designed to 
clarify and update BIS policies and practices with respect to the 
application of the terms and to allow for their structural 
harmonization with their counterparts in the ITAR.
    Harmonizing definitions does not mean making them identical. For 
example, under the EAR, technology may be ``subject to'' or ``not 
subject to the EAR.'' Technical data under the ITAR is subject to those 
regulations by definition. While the two terms have substantial 
commonality, they remain different terms used in different ways. This 
rulemaking proposes that, to the extent possible, similar definitions 
be harmonized both substantively and structurally. Substantive 
harmonization will mean using the same words for the same concepts 
across the two sets of regulations. Structural harmonization will mean 
setting forth similar definitions in a paragraph order that renders 
their similarities and differences clearly visible. This structural 
harmonization may require reserving certain paragraphs in an EAR 
definition if the corresponding paragraph does not exist in the ITAR 
definition, or vice versa.
    A side-by-side comparison on the regulatory text proposed by both 
Departments is available on both agencies' Web sites: 
www.pmddtc.state.gov and www.bis.doc.gov.

Scope of the Export Administration Regulations

    An interim rule entitled ``Export Administration Regulation; 
Simplification of Export Administration Regulations'' (61 FR 12714) 
published March 25, 1996, established part 734, Scope of the Export 
Administration Regulations. The interim rule stated that part 734 
``establishes the rules for determining whether commodities, software, 
technology, software, and activities of U.S. and foreign persons are 
subject to the EAR.'' (61 FR at 12716) This rulemaking proposes to 
streamline and clarify part 734 while retaining its purpose and scope 
of control.

Items Subject to the EAR

    Section 734.2, currently titled ``Important EAR terms and 
principles,'' contains two sets of important definitions: A definition 
and description of ``subject to the EAR,'' and definitions of export, 
reexport, and a number of associated terms. This rulemaking proposes to 
retitle the section ``Subject to the EAR,'' retain the definition and 
description of that term, and create separate sections in part 734 to 
define ``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``release,'' and ``transfer (in-
country),'' which will be described in greater detail below. This 
rulemaking proposes to remove current Sec.  734.2(b)(7) regarding the 
listing of foreign territories and possessions in the Commerce Country 
Chart (Supplement No. 1 to part 738) because it duplicates current 
Sec.  738.3(b).

Items Not Subject to the EAR

    Section 734.3(a) describes items (i.e., commodities, software, or 
technology) subject to the EAR. Paragraph (b) describes items that are 
not subject to the EAR. This rulemaking proposes minor revisions to 
paragraph (b)(3), which describes software and technology that is not 
subject to the EAR, to describe more fully educational and patent 
information that is not subject to the EAR, and to add a note to make 
explicit that information that is not ``technology'' as defined in the 
EAR is per se not subject to the EAR. These changes are part of an 
effort to make more clear throughout the EAR that ``technology'' is a 
subset of ``information.'' Only information that is within the scope of 
the definition of ``technology'' is subject to the EAR. If information 
of any sort is not within the scope of the definition of 
``technology,'' then it is not subject to the EAR. This proposed rule 
makes no changes to the notes to paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) that a 
printed book or other printed material setting forth encryption source 
code is not itself subject to the EAR, but that encryption source code 
in electronic form or media remains subject to the EAR. It also makes 
no changes to the note that publicly available encryption object code 
software classified under ECCN 5D002 is not subject to the EAR when the 
corresponding source code meets the criteria specified in Sec.  
740.13(e) of the EAR. (See proposed corresponding revisions to Sec.  
120.6(b) of the ITAR.)

Published Technology and Software

    Current Sec.  734.7 sets forth that technology and software is 
``published'' and thus not subject to the EAR when it becomes generally 
accessible to the interested public in any form, including through 
publication, availability at libraries, patents, and distribution or 
presentation at open gatherings.
    This rulemaking proposes a definition of ``published'' with the 
same scope but a simpler structure. The proposed Sec.  734.7(a) reads: 
``Except as set forth in paragraph (b), ``technology'' or ``software'' 
is ``published'' and is thus not ``technology'' or ``software'' subject 
to the EAR when it is not classified national security information and 
has been made available to the public without restrictions upon its 
further dissemination. This proposed definition is substantially the 
same as the wording of definitions adopted by the multilateral export 
control regimes of which the United States is a member: The Wassenaar 
Arrangement, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control 
Regime, and Australia Group. The phrase ``classified national security 
information'' refers to information that has been classified in 
accordance with Executive Order 13526, 75 FR 707; 3

[[Page 31507]]

CFR 201 Comp., p. 298. The phrasing following the definition quoted 
above (``such as through'') means that the list that follows consists 
of representative examples taken from the list of such things that are 
in both the ITAR and the EAR and merged together. This is not an 
exhaustive list of published information. Section 734.7(b) keeps 
certain published encryption software subject to the EAR, a restriction 
currently found in Sec.  734.7(c). BIS believes that the proposed 
revised section is easier to read and that the list of examples is 
easier to update than current text. The relevant restrictions do not 
include copyright protections or generic property rights in the 
underlying physical medium. (See proposed corresponding revisions to 
``public domain'' in Sec.  120.11 of the ITAR.)

Fundamental Research

    The current Sec.  734.8 excludes most information resulting from 
fundamental research from the scope of the EAR. The section is 
organized primarily by locus, specifically by the type of organization 
in which the research takes place. This proposed rule would revise 
Sec.  734.8, but it is not intended to change the scope of the current 
Sec.  734.8. The proposed revisions streamline the section by 
consolidating different provisions that involve the same criteria with 
respect to prepublication review, removing reference to locus unless it 
makes a difference to the jurisdictional status, and adding clarifying 
notes. The proposed revisions also consistently use the description 
``arises during or results from fundamental research'' to make clear 
that technology that arises prior to a final result is subject to the 
EAR unless it otherwise meets the provisions of Sec.  734.8. Comments 
regarding whether the streamlined Sec.  734.8 text is narrower or 
broader in scope than the current text in Sec.  734.8 are encouraged.
    Proposed notes clarify that technology initially transferred to 
researchers, e.g., by sponsors, may be subject to EAR, and that 
software and commodities are not ``technology resulting from 
fundamental research.'' Additional notes clarify when technology is 
``intended to be published,'' as it must be in order to be not subject 
to the EAR pursuant to this section.
    Issued in 1985, National Security Decision Directive (NSDD)-189 
established a definition of ``fundamental research'' that has been 
incorporated into numerous regulations, internal compliance regimes, 
and guidance documents. Therefore, in this rulemaking, BIS has proposed 
a definition of ``fundamental research'' that is identical to that in 
NSDD-189. However, BIS solicits comment on a simpler definition that is 
consistent with NSDD-189, but not identical. Specifically, the 
alternative definition would read: ```Fundamental research' means non-
proprietary research in science and engineering, the results of which 
ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific 
community.'' BIS believes that the scope of this wording is the same as 
that of the wording in NSDD-189 and seeks comment on whether the final 
rule should adopt the simpler wording.
    The proposed definition of ``fundamental research'' includes 
references to ``basic'' and ``applied'' research. For clarity, this 
rulemaking proposes definitions of those terms. The definition of 
``basic research'' in proposed Sec.  734.8 is that currently defined in 
the EAR (Sec.  772.1), and in the Wassenaar Arrangement's General 
Technology Note as ``basic scientific research.'' The proposed 
definition of ``applied research'' was drawn from the Defense Federal 
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (48 CFR part 31.205-18). A possible 
alternative definition of applied research is that found in the 2014 
Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11: ``Systematic study to 
gain knowledge or understanding necessary to determine the means by 
which a recognized and specific need may be met.'' (See proposed 
corresponding Sec.  120.49 of the ITAR.)

Educational Information

    Current Sec.  734.9 states that educational information released by 
instruction in a catalog course or associated teaching laboratory of an 
academic institution is not subject to the EAR. This rulemaking 
proposes moving this exclusion to Sec.  734.3(b) and removing Sec.  
734.9. This proposed rule is not intended to change the scope of the 
current Sec.  734.9.

Patents

    This rulemaking proposes to revise current Sec.  734.10, ``Patent 
applications,'' for clarity. For example, instead of an internal cross-
reference to the section of the EAR identifying items not subject to 
the EAR the revised section directly states that ``technology'' is not 
``subject to the EAR'' if it is contained in the patent-related 
documents described in the section. For the sake of structural 
consistency with the ITAR's treatment of information in patents, 
paragraph (a)(1) is added to state that a patent or an open (published) 
patent application available from or at any patent office is per se not 
subject to EAR. The proposed revisions do not, however, change the 
scope of current Sec.  734.10. The existing footnote to the current 
Sec.  734.10 is removed because it would be redundant of the proposed 
text.

Specific National Security Controls

    This rulemaking proposes minor conforming edits to current Sec.  
734.11, which describes specific national security controls. The 
proposed revisions do not change the scope of current Sec.  734.11. As 
described below, this rulemaking proposes to remove Supplement No. 1 to 
part 734, ``Questions and Answers--Technology and Software Subject to 
the EAR.'' Questions and answers are illustrative rather than 
regulatory and are thus more appropriately posted as Web site guidance 
than published as regulatory text.

Export

    In Sec.  734.2(b) of the current EAR, there are definitions of 
export, export of technology or software, and export of encryption 
source code and object code software. Section 772.1 also defines 
``export'' as follows: ``Export means an actual shipment or 
transmission of items out of the United States.'' This rulemaking 
proposes to consolidate the definitions of ``export'' and ``export of 
technology and software,'' while moving ``export of encryption source 
code and object code software'' to a new Sec.  734.13.
    Proposed Sec.  734.13(a) would have six paragraphs. Paragraphs 
(a)(4) and (5) would be reserved. The corresponding paragraphs in the 
ITAR would contain provisions that are not relevant to the EAR.
    Proposed paragraph (a)(1) of the definition of ``export'' uses the 
EAR terms ``actual shipment or transmission out of the United States,'' 
combined with the existing ITAR ``sending or taking an item outside the 
United States in any manner.''
    Paragraph (a)(2), specifying the concept of transfer or release of 
technology to a foreign national in the United States, or ``deemed 
export,'' reflects the long-standing BIS practice of treating software 
source code as technology for deemed export purposes.
    Paragraph (a)(3) includes in the definition of ``export'' 
transferring by a person in the United States of registration, control, 
or ownership (i) of a spacecraft subject to the EAR that is not 
eligible for export under License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft that 
provide space-based logistics, assembly or servicing of any spacecraft) 
to a person in or a national of any other country, or (ii) of any other 
spacecraft subject to the EAR to a person in or a national of a Country 
Group D:5 country.

[[Page 31508]]

    Paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) remain reserved, reflecting 
placeholders. The ITAR's parallel proposed provisions would control 
transfers to embassies within the United States and defense services. 
Neither topic is relevant to the EAR.
    Paragraph (a)(6) defines as an export the release or other transfer 
of the means of access to encrypted data. This is intended to 
complement the exclusion of certain encrypted data from the definition 
of export, specified in proposed Sec.  734.18(a)(4) and discussed 
below. Logically, providing the means to decrypt or otherwise access 
controlled technology or software that is encrypted should constitute a 
controlled event to the same extent as releasing or otherwise 
transferring the unencrypted controlled technology or software itself. 
Upon transfer of the means of access to encrypted technology or 
software, the technology or software would acquire the classification 
and control status of the underlying technology or software, as 
specified in proposed Sec.  764.2(l). The meaning of ``clear text'' in 
the proposed definition is no different than an industry standard 
definition, e.g., information or software that is readable without any 
additional processing and is not encrypted. Comments are encouraged 
regarding whether a specific EAR definition of the term is warranted 
and, if so, what the definition should be.
    Paragraph (a)(6) of export and paragraph (a)(4) of reexport in this 
proposed rule and the DDTC companion proposed rule present different 
formulations for this control and the agencies request input from the 
public on which text more clearly describes the control. The agencies 
intend, however, that the act of providing physical access to unsecured 
``technical data'' (subject to the ITAR) will be a controlled event. 
The mere act of providing physical access to unsecured ``technology'' 
(subject to the EAR) will not, however, be a controlled event unless it 
is done with ``knowledge'' that such provision will cause or permit the 
transfer of controlled ``technology'' in clear text or ``software'' to 
a foreign national.
    This provision is not confined to the transfer of cryptographic 
keys. It includes release or other transfer of passwords, network 
access codes, software or any other information that the exporter 
``knows'' would result in the unauthorized transfer of controlled 
technology. As defined in current Sec.  772.1 of the EAR, ``knowledge'' 
includes not only positive knowledge that a circumstance exists or is 
substantially certain to occur, but also an awareness of a high 
probability of its existence or future occurrence.
    Paragraph (b) of Sec.  734.13 would retain BIS's deemed export rule 
as set forth in current Sec.  734.2(b). It would also codify a long-
standing BIS policy that when technology or source code is released to 
a foreign national, the export is ``deemed'' to occur to that person's 
most recent country of citizenship or permanent residency. See, e.g., 
71 FR 30840 (May 31, 2006).
    Paragraph (c) would state that items that will transit through a 
country or countries or will be transshipped in a country or countries 
to a new country, or are intended for reexport to the new country are 
deemed to be destined to the new country. This provision would be moved 
without change from current Sec.  734.2(b)(6).

    (See proposed corresponding revisions to Sec.  120.17 of the 
ITAR.)

Reexport

    The current definitions of reexport and reexport of technology or 
software in Sec.  734.2(b) are shipment or transmission of items from 
one foreign country to another foreign country, and release of 
technology or source code to a foreign national ``of another country.'' 
This rulemaking proposes to move the definition of ``reexports'' to new 
Sec.  734.14. In general, the provisions of the proposed definition of 
reexport parallel those of the proposed definition of export discussed 
above, except that reexports occur outside of the United States. 
Paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) mirror the current definition but divide 
it into two paragraphs so that one paragraph pertains to actual 
reexports and another paragraph is specific to deemed reexports. 
Paragraph (a)(3) expands on the existing reference to transfer of 
registration or operational control over satellites in the definition 
of reexport in Sec.  772.1 to include transferring by a person outside 
the United States of registration, control, or ownership (i) of a 
spacecraft subject to the EAR that is not eligible for reexport under 
License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft that provide space-based 
logistics, assembly or servicing of any spacecraft) to a person in or a 
national of any other country, or (ii) of any other spacecraft subject 
to the EAR to a person in or a national of a Country Group D:5 country. 
Paragraph (a)(4) mirrors the proposed addition in the definition of 
``export'' of the concept that releasing or otherwise transferring, in 
this case, outside the United States, the means to transfer to a 
foreign national controlled technology or software in readable form 
constitutes a ``reexport.'' (See proposed corresponding Sec.  120.19 of 
the ITAR.)

Release

    This provision changes the existing definition of ``release'' in 
Sec.  734.2(b)(3) and adds it to new Sec.  734.15. Notably, while 
existing text provides that ``visual inspection'' by itself constitutes 
a release of technical data or source code, the proposed text provides 
that such inspection (including other types of inspection in addition 
to visual, such as aural or tactile) must actually reveal controlled 
technology or source code. Thus, for example, merely seeing an item 
briefly is not necessarily sufficient to constitute a release of the 
technology required, for example, to develop or produce it. This 
rulemaking proposes adding ``written'' to current ``oral exchanges'' as 
a means of release.
    The proposed text also clarifies that the application of 
``technology'' and ``software'' is a ``release'' in situations where 
U.S. persons abroad use personal knowledge or technical experience 
acquired in the United States in a manner that reveals technology or 
software to foreign nationals. This clarification makes explicit a 
long-standing EAR interpretation. This provision complements proposed 
new Sec.  120.9(a)(5) of the ITAR, which would include in the 
definition of ``defense service'' the furnishing of assistance 
(including training) to the government of a country listed in Sec.  
126.1 of the ITAR in the development, production, operation, 
installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul or refurbishing of a 
defense article or a part, component, accessory or attachment specially 
designed for a defense article. The proposed definition does not use 
the existing phrase ``visual inspection by foreign nationals of U.S.-
origin equipment and facilities'' because such inspections do not per 
se release ``technology.'' For example, merely seeing equipment does 
not necessarily mean that the seer is able to glean any technology from 
it and, in any event, not all visible information pertaining to 
equipment is necessarily ``technology'' subject to the EAR. (See 
proposed corresponding Sec.  120.50 of the ITAR.)

Transfer (In-Country)

    The current definition of transfer (in-country) is the ``shipment, 
transmission, or release of items subject to the EAR from one person to 
another person that occurs outside the United States within a single 
foreign country'' (Sec.  772.1). There is no difference between this 
phrase and the phrase ``in-country transfer'' that is used in the EAR. 
Variations in the use of the term will be harmonized over time.

[[Page 31509]]

    This proposed rule would remove the definition from Sec.  772.1 and 
add a revised definition to new Sec.  734.16. This rulemaking proposes: 
``a transfer (in-country) is a change in end use or end user of an item 
within the same foreign country.'' This revision eliminates any 
potential ambiguity regarding whether a change in end use or end user 
within a foreign country is or is not a ``transfer (in-country).'' This 
new text would parallel the term ``retransfer'' in the ITAR. (See 
proposed corresponding definition of retransfer in Sec.  120.51 of the 
ITAR.)

Export of Encryption Source Code and Object Code Software

    Proposed new Sec.  734.17, export of encryption source code and 
object code software, would retain the text of Sec.  734.2(b)(9). It 
would be moved to this section with only minor conforming and 
clarifying edits so that it is under the section of the regulations 
that would define when such an ``export'' occurs rather than under the 
existing ``important EAR terms and principles.'' Describing when an 
export occurs in the ``export of encryption source code and object code 
software'' section of the regulations is more clear than under a 
general ``important EAR terms and principles'' heading.

Activities That Are Not Exports, Reexports, or Transfers

    Proposed new Sec.  734.18 gathers existing EAR exclusions from 
exports, reexports, and transfers into a single provision, and includes 
an important new provision pertaining to encrypted technology and 
software.
    Paragraph (a)(1) reflects that by statute, launching a spacecraft, 
launch vehicle, payload, or other item into space is not an export. See 
51 U.S.C. 50919(f).
    Paragraph (a)(2), based on existing text in Sec.  734.2(b)(2)(ii), 
would state that the release in the United States of technology or 
software to U.S. nationals, permanent residents, or protected 
individuals is not an export.
    Paragraph (a)(3) would move from current Sec.  734.2(b)(8) text 
stating that shipments between or among the states or possessions of 
the United States are not ``exports'' or ``reexports.'' The word 
``moving'' and `transferring'' were inserted next to ``shipment'' in 
order to avoid suggesting that the only way movement between or among 
the states or possessions would not be a controlled event was if they 
were ``shipped.''
    Paragraph (a)(4) establishes a specific carve-out from the 
definition of ``export'' the transfer of technology and software that 
is encrypted in a manner described in the proposed section. Encrypted 
information--i.e., information that is not in ``clear text''--is not 
readable, and is therefore useless to unauthorized parties unless and 
until it is decrypted. As a result, its transfer in encrypted form 
consistent with the requirements of paragraph (a)(4) poses no threat to 
national security or other reasons for control and does not constitute 
an ``actual'' transmission of ``technology'' or ``software.'' 
Currently, neither the EAR nor the ITAR makes any distinction between 
encrypted and unencrypted transfers of technology or software for 
control or definitional purposes.
    This section specifies the conditions under which this part of the 
definition would apply. An important requirement is that the technology 
or software be encrypted ``end-to-end,'' a phrase that is defined in 
paragraph (b). The intent of this requirement is that relevant 
technology or software is encrypted by the originator and remains 
encrypted (and thus not readable) until it is decrypted by its intended 
recipient. Such technology or software would remain encrypted at every 
point in transit or in storage after it was encrypted by the originator 
until it was decrypted by the recipient.
    BIS understands that end-to-end encryption is not used in all 
commercial situations, particularly when encryption is provided by 
third party digital service providers such as cloud SaaS (software as a 
service) providers and some email services. However, in many such 
situations, technology or software may be encrypted and decrypted many 
times before it is finally decrypted and read by the intended 
recipient. At these points, it is in clear text and is vulnerable to 
unauthorized release. BIS considered this an unacceptable risk and 
therefore specified the use of end-to-end encryption as part of the 
proposed definition. A key requirement of the end-to-end provision is 
to ensure that no non-US national employee of a domestic cloud service 
provider or foreign digital third party or cloud service provider can 
get access to controlled technology or software in unencrypted form.
    Paragraph (a)(4)(iii) describes encryption standards for purposes 
of the definition. In this proposed rule, use of encryption modules 
certified under the Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 (FIPS 
140-2), supplemented by appropriate software implementation, 
cryptographic key management and other procedures or controls that are 
in accordance with guidance provided in current U.S. National Institute 
for Standards and Technology publications, would qualify as sufficient 
security. FIPS 140-2 is a well understood cryptographic standard used 
for Federal Government procurement in the United States and Canada, as 
well as for many other uses, both in the United States and abroad. 
However, BIS understands that companies may use hardware and software 
that has not been certified by NIST or that does not conform to NIST 
guidelines (e.g., for internal use or conforming to other standards). 
To accommodate this, this paragraph allows for use of ``similarly 
effective cryptographic means,'' meaning that alternative approaches 
are allowable provided that they work. In such cases, the exporter is 
responsible for ensuring that they work. In contrast, the corresponding 
definition proposed by DDTC makes FIPS 140-2 conformity a baseline 
requirement. Hardware and software modules must be certified by NIST, 
and NIST key management and other implementation standards must be 
used. Alternatives are not permitted regardless of effectiveness.
    This paragraph also specifically excludes from the definition 
technology and software stored in countries in Country Group D:5 and 
Russia for foreign policy reasons in light of the embargoes and 
policies of presumptive denial now in place with respect to such 
countries.
    Logically, providing keys or other information that would allow 
access to encrypted technology or software should be subject to the 
same type of controls as the actual export, reexport, or transfer of 
the technology or software itself. This is specifically addressed in 
the proposed Sec.  734.13(a)(6) as part of the definition of 
``export.'' In addition, the proposed Sec.  764.2(1) states that for 
enforcement purposes such an unauthorized release will constitute a 
violation to the same extent as a violation in connection with the 
actual export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) of the underlying 
``technology'' or ``software.''
    Paragraph (c) confirms that the mere ability to access 
``technology'' or ``software'' while it is encrypted in a manner that 
satisfies the requirements in the section does not constitute the 
release or export of such ``technology'' or ``software.'' This responds 
to a common industry question on the issue. (See proposed corresponding 
Sec.  120.52 of the ITAR.)

Activities That Are Not Deemed Reexports

    Proposed Sec.  734.20, activities that are not deemed reexports, 
merely codifies

[[Page 31510]]

BIS's interagency-cleared Deemed Reexport Guidance posted on the BIS 
Web site dated October 31, 2013. This guidance was created so that the 
provisions regarding possible deemed reexports contained in Sec. Sec.  
124.16 and 126.18 of the ITAR would be available for EAR technology and 
source code.
    Under this guidance and new Sec.  734.20, release of technology or 
source code by an entity outside the United States to a foreign 
national of a country other than the foreign country where the release 
takes place does not constitute a deemed reexport of such technology or 
source code if the entity is authorized to receive the technology or 
source code at issue, whether by a license, license exception, or 
situations where no license is required under the EAR for such 
technology or source code and the foreign national's most recent 
country of citizenship or permanent residency is that of a country to 
which export from the United States of the technology or source code at 
issue would be authorized by the EAR either under a license exception, 
or in situations where no license under the EAR would be required.
    Release of technology or source code by an entity outside the 
United States to a foreign national of a country other than the foreign 
country where the release takes place does not constitute a deemed 
reexport if: (i) The entity is authorized to receive the technology or 
source code at issue, whether by a license, license exception, or 
through situations where no license is required under the EAR; (ii) the 
foreign national is a bona fide regular and permanent employee (who is 
not a proscribed person under U.S. law) directly employed by the 
entity; (iii) such employee is a national exclusively of a country in 
Country Group A:5; and (iv) the release of technology or source code 
takes place entirely within the physical territory of any such country. 
This rulemaking also proposes a definition of ``proscribed person'' in 
Sec.  772.1.
    This paragraph corresponds to Sec.  124.16 of the ITAR, but the 
reference to Country Group A:5 instead of the countries in the 
corresponding ITAR section varies slightly. This variation is a 
function of BIS's national security and foreign policy assessment of 
the application of this proposed rule to the nationals of Country Group 
A:5 and as part of a general BIS effort to reduce the number of 
variations in groups of countries identified in the EAR consistent with 
U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. South Korea and 
Argentina are in Country Group A:5, but not in ITAR Sec.  124.16. 
Malta, Albania, and Cyprus are in Sec.  124.16, but not in Country 
Group A:5.
    For nationals other than those of Country Group A:5 countries, 
which are close military allies of the United States, other criteria 
may apply. In particular, the section specifies the situations in which 
the releases would not constitute deemed exports in a manner consistent 
with Sec.  126.18 of the ITAR. An additional paragraph on scope of 
technology licenses included in the Web site would not be included in 
this proposed Sec.  734.20. It would be included in proposed Sec.  
750.7, discussed below. For purposes of this section, ``substantive 
contacts'' would have the same meaning as it has in Sec.  126.18 of the 
ITAR. The proposed phrase ``permanent and regular employee'' is a 
combination of BIS's definition of ``permanent employee,'' as set forth 
in a BIS advisory opinion issued on November 19, 2007, and the ITAR's 
definition of ``regular employee'' in Sec.  120.39. This proposed rule 
adds specific text excluding persons proscribed under U.S. law to make 
clear that Sec.  734.20 does not authorize release of technology to 
persons proscribed under U.S. law, such as those on the Entity List or 
the Specially Designated Nationals List, or persons denied export 
privileges, and defines ``proscribed person'' in Sec.  772.1. The US-UK 
Exchange of Notes and US-Canadian Exchange of Letters referred to in 
the existing online guidance can be found on the State Department's Web 
site. The URL's for the letter are not proposed to be published in the 
EAR since URL addresses periodically change. Upon implementation of a 
final rule in this regard, BIS will place the URL references in an 
``FAQ'' section of its Web site.

Technology

    Like the current definition of ``technology'' in the EAR (Sec.  
772.1), the definition proposed in this rulemaking is based on the 
Wassenaar Arrangement definition of technology. It continues to rest on 
the Wassenaar-defined sub-definitions of ``development,'' 
``production,'' and ``use,'' which are currently defined in Sec.  772.1 
and which this rulemaking does not propose to change. This rulemaking 
also does not propose to change BIS's long-standing policy that all six 
activities in the definition of ``use'' (operation, installation 
(including on-site installation), maintenance (checking), repair, 
overhaul and refurbishing) must be present for an item to be classified 
under an ECCN paragraph that uses ``use'' to describe the 
''technology'' controlled. See 71 FR 30842, May 31, 2006. The proposed 
definition includes, as does the current EAR definition, the terms 
``operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or 
refurbishing (or other terms specified in ECCNs on the CCL that control 
`technology') of an item'' because such words are used as to describe 
technology controlled in multiple ECCNs, often with ``or'' rather than 
the ``and'' found in ``use.''
    This rulemaking proposes to incorporate the definitions of 
``technical data'' and ``technical assistance'' into the definition of 
``technology'' as illustrative lists. The note in the existing 
definition of ``technology'' that ``technical assistance'' ``may take 
the forms such as instruction, skills training, working knowledge, and 
consulting services'' is not repeated given that the proposed 
definition and its examples would include any ``technology'' in such 
circumstances and in a manner that is harmonized with the ITAR's 
definition of technical data.
    This rulemaking proposes to add a note to address a common industry 
question about modification. This proposed rule also would add three 
exclusions to clarify the limits of the scope of the definition in a 
manner consistent with long-standing BIS policy and interpretation of 
existing scope of ``technology.'' The first two insertions parallel 
exclusions in the ITAR and the third, the exclusion of telemetry data, 
mirrors specific exclusions inserted into both the ITAR and the EAR as 
part of recent changes regarding the scope of U.S. export controls 
pertaining to satellites and related items. See 79 FR 27417 (May 13, 
2014). Several paragraphs of this section are held in reserve merely to 
allow the entire section to mirror the corresponding ITAR provisions 
that are not relevant to the EAR. (See proposed corresponding revisions 
to Sec.  120.10 of the ITAR.)

Questions and Answers--Technology and Software Subject to the EAR

    This rulemaking proposes to remove Supplement No. 1 to part 734, 
``Questions and Answers--Technology and Software Subject to the EAR.'' 
Because the questions and answers are illustrative rather than 
regulatory, they are more appropriately posted as Web site guidance 
than included in the EAR.

Required

    This proposed rule retains the existing EAR definition of 
``required'' in Sec.  772.1, but proposes adding notes clarifying the 
application of the term. It removes the references in the existing 
definition to CCL Categories 4, 5, 6, and 9 to avoid the suggestion 
that BIS

[[Page 31511]]

applies the definition of ``required'' only to the uses of the term in 
these categories. BIS has never had a separate definition of 
``required'' used elsewhere in the EAR and this removal merely 
eliminates a potential ambiguity and reflects long-standing BIS policy.
    To address common questions BIS has received regarding the meaning 
of the word ``required,'' BIS proposes adding two notes to address the 
questions. The first states that the references to ``characteristics'' 
and ``functions'' are not limited to entries on the CCL that use 
specific technical parameters to describe the scope of what is 
controlled. The ``characteristics'' and ``functions'' of an item listed 
are, absent a specific regulatory definition, a standard dictionary's 
definition of the item. It then includes examples of this point. The 
second refers to the fact that the ITAR and the EAR often divide within 
each set of regulations or between each set of regulations (a) controls 
on parts, components, accessories, attachments, and software and (b) 
controls on the end items, systems, equipment, or other articles into 
which those parts, components, accessories, attachments, and software 
are to be installed or incorporated. Moreover, with the exception of 
technical data specifically enumerated on the USML, the jurisdictional 
status of unclassified technical data or ``technology'' is the same as 
the jurisdictional status of the defense article or item to which it is 
directly related. Examples of this point are provided. (See proposed 
corresponding revisions to Sec.  120.46 of the ITAR.)

Peculiarly Responsible

    This rulemaking proposes a definition of the currently undefined 
term ``peculiarly responsible'' in order to respond to common industry 
questions. The new definition would be modeled on the catch-and-release 
structure BIS adopted for the definition of ``specially designed.'' 
Thus, under the proposed definition, an item is ``peculiarly 
responsible'' for achieving or exceeding any referenced controlled 
performance levels, characteristics, or functions if it is used in 
``development,'' ``production,'' ``use,'' operation, installation, 
maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of an item subject to 
the EAR unless (a) the Department of Commerce has determined otherwise 
in a commodity classification determination, (b) it is identical to 
information used in or with a commodity or software that is or was in 
production and is EAR99 or described in an ECCN controlled only for 
Anti-Terrorism (AT) reasons, (c) it was or is being developed for use 
in or with general purpose commodities or software, or (d) it was or is 
being developed with ``knowledge'' that it would be for use in or with 
commodities or software described (i) in an ECCN controlled for AT-only 
reasons and also EAR99 commodities or software or (ii) exclusively for 
use in or with EAR99 commodities or software.

Export of Technical Data for U.S. Persons Abroad

    This rulemaking proposes to amend the temporary export of 
technology provisions of existing License Exception TMP by revising 
Sec.  740.9(a)(3) to clarify that the ``U.S. employer'' and ``U.S. 
persons or their employees'' using this license exception are not 
foreign subsidiaries. The proposed paragraph streamlines current text 
without changing the scope. (See proposed corresponding revisions to 
Sec.  125.4(b)(9) of the ITAR.)

Scope of a License

    This proposed revision would implement in the EAR the interagency-
agreed boilerplate for all licenses that was posted on the BIS Web site 
and began appearing on licenses December 8, 2014. It is a slight 
revision to the existing Sec.  750.7(a), which states that licenses 
authorize only the transaction(s) described in the license application 
and the license application support documents. This proposed revision 
would also codify the existing interpretation that a license 
authorizing the release of technology to an entity also authorizes the 
release of the same technology to the entity's foreign nationals who 
are permanent and regular employees of the entity's facility or 
facilities authorized on the license, except to the extent a license 
condition limits or prohibits the release of the technology to 
nationals of specific countries or country groups.

Release of Protected Information

    This rulemaking proposes adding a new paragraph (l) to Sec.  764.2 
``Violations.'' This paragraph would provide that the unauthorized 
release of decryption keys or other information that would allow access 
to particular controlled technology or software would, for enforcement 
purposes, constitute a violation to the same extent as a violation in 
connection with the export of the underlying controlled ``technology'' 
or ``software.'' Under these and other related provisions, the 
decryption keys (or other technology), while subject to the EAR, do not 
themselves retain the classification of the technology that they could 
potentially release. This allows them to be secured and transmitted 
independently of the technology they could be used to release. (See 
proposed corresponding revisions to Sec.  127.1(b)(4) of the ITAR.)

Removals From and Additions to EAR's List of Definitions in Sec.  772.1

    With the changes proposed in this rulemaking, there would be stand-
alone sections in the EAR to address the scope and meaning of 
``publicly available information,'' ``publicly available technology and 
software,'' and ``technical data.'' To avoid redundancy, the existing 
definitions in Sec.  772.1 would be removed. In light of the changes 
described above, the definitions of ``basic scientific research,'' 
``export,'' ``reexport,'' ``required,'' ``technology,'' and 
``transfer'' would be revised accordingly. A clarifying note would be 
added at the bottom of the definition that the use of ``transfer'' does 
not apply to the unrelated ``transfers of licenses'' provision in Sec.  
750.10 or the antiboycott provisions in Supplement No. 8 to part 760 of 
the EAR. It also states that the term ``transfer'' may also be included 
on licenses issued by BIS. In that regard, the changes that can be made 
to a BIS license are the non-material changes described in Sec.  
750.7(c). Any other change to a BIS license without authorization is a 
violation of the EAR. See Sec. Sec.  750.7(c) and 764.2(e). Finally, 
consistent with the explanations above, definitions for the terms 
``applied research,'' ``fundamental research,'' ``peculiarly 
responsible,'' ``publicly available encryption software,'' 
``published,'' and ``release'' would be added to Sec.  772.1.

Public Comments

    BIS welcomes comments on any aspects of this proposed rule. With 
respect to the proposed revisions, BIS would like to receive comments 
that are as specific and well-supported as possible. Particularly 
helpful comments will include a description of a problem or concern, 
available data on cost or economic impact, and a proposed solution. BIS 
also welcomes comments on aspects of this proposed rule that the public 
considers effective or well designed.
    BIS specifically solicits comment on the following issues:
    1. Whether the revisions proposed in this rulemaking create gaps, 
overlaps, or contradictions between the EAR and the ITAR, or among 
various provisions within the EAR;
    2. Whether the alternative definition of fundamental research 
suggested in the preamble should be adopted;

[[Page 31512]]

    3. Whether the alternative definition of applied research suggested 
in the preamble should be adopted, or whether basic and applied 
research definitions are needed given that they are subsumed by 
fundamental research;
    4. Whether the questions and answers in existing Supplement No. 1 
to part 734 proposed to be removed by this rulemaking have criteria 
that should be retained in part 734;
    5. With respect to end-to-end encryption described in the proposed 
revision of the definition of ``Activities that are Not Exports, 
Reexports, or Transfers,'' whether the illustrative standard proposed 
in the EAR rulemaking also should be adopted in the ITAR rulemaking; 
whether the safe harbor standard proposed in the ITAR rulemaking also 
should be adopted in the EAR rulemaking; or whether the two bodies of 
regulations should have different standards;
    6. Whether encryption standards adequately address data storage and 
transmission issues with respect to export controls; and
    7. Whether the proposed definition of ``peculiarly responsible'' 
effectively explains how items may be ``required'' or ``specially 
designed'' for particular functions.
    8. The public is asked to comment on the effective date of the 
final rule. Export Control Reform rules that revised categories of the 
USML and created new 600 series ECCNs have had a six-month delayed 
effective date to allow for exporters to update the classification of 
their items. In general, rules effecting export controls have been 
effective on the date of publication, due to the impact on national 
security and foreign policy. As this proposed rule, and the companion 
proposed rule from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, revise 
definitions within the ITAR and the EAR and do not make any changes to 
the USML or CCL, a 30-day delayed effective date is proposed to allow 
exporters to ensure continued compliance.

Export Administration Act

    Although the Export Administration Act expired on August 20, 2001, 
the President, through Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001, 3 CFR, 
2001 Comp., p. 783 (2002), as amended by Executive Order 13637 of March 
8, 2013, 78 FR 16129 (March 13, 2013) and as extended by the Notice of 
August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014), has continued the Export 
Administration Regulations in effect under the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act. BIS continues to carry out the provisions of the 
Export Administration Act, as appropriate and to the extent permitted 
by law, pursuant to Executive Order 13222 as amended by Executive Order 
13637.

Regulatory Requirements

    1. Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distribute impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This proposed rule has been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' although not economically significant, under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this proposed rule 
has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    2. This proposed rule does not contain information collections 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (PRA). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
no person is required to respond to, nor is subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information, subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    3. This proposed rule does not contain policies with Federalism 
implications as that term is defined under E.O. 13132.
    4. Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 
601 et seq., BIS has prepared the following initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Act analysis of the potential impact that this proposed 
rule, if adopted, would have on small entities.

Description of the Reasons Why Action Is Being Considered

    The policy reasons for issuing this proposed rule are discussed in 
the background section of the preamble of this document, and are not 
repeated here.

Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, the Proposed Rule; 
Identification of All Relevant Federal Rules Which May Duplicate, 
Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rule

    The objective of this proposed rule (and a proposed rule being 
published simultaneously by the Department of State) is to provide 
greater clarity and precision in the EAR and the ITAR by providing 
common definitions and common terms to regulate the same types of 
actions. The proposed rule also seeks to express some concepts more 
clearly.
    The proposed rule would alter definitions in the EAR. It also would 
update and clarify application of controls to electronically 
transmitted technology and software.
    The legal basis for this proposed rule is 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et 
seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 
Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13020, 61 FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 219; E.O. 
13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 
3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13637 of March 8, 2013, 78 FR 16129 
(March 13, 2013); Notice of August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 
2014); Notice of November 7, 2014, 79 FR 67035 (November 12, 2014).
    No other Federal rules duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this 
proposed rule.

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by the Proposed 
Action

    This proposed rule would apply to all persons engaged in the 
export, reexport, or transfer of commodities, technology or software 
that is regulated by the EAR. BIS does not maintain data from which it 
can determine how many of those persons are small entities as 
identified in the Small Business Administration size standards. 
Nevertheless, BIS recognizes that some of those persons are likely to 
be small entities.

Description of the Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule is unlikely to increase the number of 
transactions that must be reported to BIS because EAR reporting 
requirements apply only in five specific situations, none of which 
would change as a result of this proposed rule. Those situations are: 
Exports that do not require a license of items on the Wassenaar 
Arrangement Sensitive List; Exports of High Performance Computers; 
Exports of certain thermal imaging cameras that do not require a 
license; Certain exports of Conventional Arms; and 600 series major 
defense equipment.
    Because recordkeeping requirements already apply to all 
transactions that are subject to the EAR, BIS expects that this 
proposed rule would not expand recordkeeping requirements.
    It is possible that some of these changes would increase the number 
of

[[Page 31513]]

licenses that some small entities would have to seek from BIS although 
BIS is not aware of any specific instance in which additional licenses 
would be required.
    The following discussion describes the changes that would be made 
by this proposed rule. It is divided into two sections: Changes that 
BIS believes would not impose any new regulatory obligations; and 
Changes that are not intended to imposed any new regulatory obligation, 
but that BIS cannot state with certainty would not do so.

Changes That BIS Believes Would Not Impose Any New Regulatory Burden

    This proposed rule would make certain changes to clarify and 
streamline the definitions of comparable terms, phrases, and concepts 
between the EAR and the ITAR. Many of these changes are technical in 
nature and attempt to consolidate and re-phrase the definitions to 
enhance readability and to parallel the structure of the ITAR's 
definition of the same term. However, there are a small number of new 
provisions, but these changes would not impose any new regulatory 
burdens. Specifically, this proposed rule would make the following 
changes:
    Remove Sec.  734.2(b) which currently defines export, reexport, 
release, transfer (in country) and export of encryption source code or 
object code software, because those terms would be defined in separate 
sections. Section 734.2(b) also states the policy of applying license 
requirements that apply to a country to its dependencies and 
possessions; this policy is currently stated elsewhere in the EAR.
    Create new separate sections defining export, reexport, release and 
export of encryption source code or object code software. Those terms 
would be clarified and presented in a more organized manner, but 
substantively unchanged from the existing regulatory text.
    Create a new section identifying activities that are not exports, 
reexports, or transfers. This section restates the transactions that 
are excluded from the definition of export in current regulatory text 
and adds two additional activities that would be expressly declared not 
to be exports, rexports or transfers: space launches and sending, 
taking or storing certain technology or software abroad using specified 
cryptographic techniques. The former, although not expressly in the 
current regulatory text, is required by statute (see 51 U.S.C. 
50919(f)) and consistent with current BIS practice of not treating a 
space launch as an export, reexport or transfer. The latter is, in 
fact, new. However, by removing the transactions it describes from the 
definitions of exports, reexports, or transfers, it removes existing 
license requirements from those transactions.
    Clarify without substantively changing the provisions related to 
patent applications and add specific text stating that technology 
contained in a patent available from or at any patent office is not 
subject to the EAR. The addition reflects BIS' long-standing 
interpretation. To the extent that it could be characterized as new, 
its only effect would be to appear to release from the EAR technology 
that some readers of the EAR might have (erroneously) concluded was 
subject to the EAR.
    Add to License Exception TMP text to emphasize that foreign 
subsidiaries of U.S. companies are neither U.S. employers nor ``U.S. 
persons or their employees'' as those terms are used in the license 
exception. This additional text adds no restriction that is not already 
imposed by the definition of ``U.S. persons'' that currently appears in 
the text of License Exception TMP.
    Add text codifying in the EAR limits on transactions authorized by 
a license that currently are imposed by conditions on the license 
itself.
    Add text prohibiting the release or other transfer of information 
(e.g., decryption keys, passwords or access codes) with knowledge that 
such release or other transfer will result in an unauthorized export, 
reexport or transfer of other technology or software. This addition 
provides specific grounds for bringing charges with respect to one 
particular type of misconduct. However, existing EAR provisions, 
including the prohibition on causing, aiding or abetting a violation of 
the EAR or license, authorization or order could be used to bring 
charges for that same type of misconduct.

Changes That Are Not Intended To Impose Any Regulatory Obligation, but 
That BIS Cannot State With Certainty Would Not Do So

    This proposed rule would add definitions for two new terms 
``applied research,'' and ``peculiarly responsible'' and revise the 
definitions of two existing terms ``required'' and ``transfer (in-
country).'' It also would adopt BIS' interpretative guidance regarding 
deemed reexports as regulatory text. These changes are not intended to 
impose any regulatory obligations on regulated entities, but BIS cannot 
state with certainty that there will be no impact. This proposed rule 
would make the following changes:
    Add to the existing definition of ``fundamental research'' a new 
definition of ``applied research.'' The information arising from 
fundamental research is not subject to the EAR. Fundamental research 
consists of basic and applied research where the results are ordinarily 
published and shared broadly within the scientific community. This 
proposed rule would retain the overall concept of fundamental research 
that is currently in the EAR, but would remove certain limitations 
based on the type of institution in which the research takes place, 
relocate the definition of ``basic research'' from the definitions 
section of the EAR to the section dealing with fundamental research and 
provide a definition of applied research.
    Add to the EAR a definition of the term ``peculiarly responsible.'' 
That currently undefined term appears in the definitions of ``specially 
designed'' and of ``required'' in the EAR. This proposed rule would 
define that term.
    Add to the EAR a definition of ``proscribed person.'' This 
definition does not create any new regulated class. It simply provides 
a clear, shorthand reference to a person who is already prohibited from 
receiving items or participating in a transaction that is subject to 
the EAR without authorization by virtue of U.S. law, such as persons on 
the Entity List, Specially Designated Nationals, or debarred parties.
    Remove from the definition of the term ``required'' references to 
CCL Categories 4, 5, 6 and 9 to accurately reflect BIS' long-standing 
interpretation that its definition applies wherever the EAR imposes a 
license requirement for technology ``required'' for a particular 
process or activity.
    In the definition of ``transfer (in-country),'' replace the phrase 
``shipment, transmission, or release of items subject to the EAR from 
one person to another person that occurs outside the United States 
within a single foreign country'' with ``a change in end use or end 
user of an item within the same foreign country.'' This new text would 
parallel the term ``retransfer'' in the ITAR and would eliminate any 
potential ambiguity that a change in end use or end user within a 
foreign country is or is not a ``transfer (in-country).''
    Each of the foregoing changes would serve the overall policy goals 
of reducing uncertainty and harmonizing the requirements of the ITAR 
and the EAR. In most instances, reduced uncertainty will be beneficial 
to persons who have to comply with the regulations, particularly 
persons who engage in transactions subject to both sets of regulations. 
They would be able to make decisions more quickly and

[[Page 31514]]

have less need to contact BIS for advice. Additionally, by making these 
terms more explicit, the possibility of their being interpreted 
contrary to BIS' intent is reduced. Such contrary interpretations would 
have three undesirable effects. First, they would undermine the 
national security and foreign policy objectives that the EAR are 
intended to implement. Second, persons who are interpreting the 
regulations in a less restrictive manner than BIS intends may seek 
fewer licenses from BIS than their competitors who are interpreting the 
regulations consistent with BIS' intent or who are obtaining advice 
from BIS, thereby gaining a commercial advantage to the detriment of 
the relevant national security or foreign policy interests. Third, 
unnecessary regulatory complexity and unnecessary differences between 
the terminology of the ITAR and that of the EAR could discourage small 
entities from even attempting to export. The beneficial effects of 
making these terms more explicit justify any economic impact that might 
be incurred by small entities that would have to change their conduct 
because their contrary interpretations could no longer be defended 
given the clearer and more explicit terms in the regulations.
    This proposed rule also would add to the EAR a description of 
activities that are not deemed reexports. This description currently 
appears as interpretative guidance on BIS' Web site and closely tracks 
the regulatory text of the ITAR. Deemed reexports are releases of 
technology or software source code within a single foreign country by a 
party located outside the United States to a national of a country 
other than the country in which the releasing party is located. The 
guidance describes three situations in which that party may release the 
technology or source code without obtaining a license from BIS.
    By adopting this guidance as regulatory text that closely tracks 
the text governing the same activities in the ITAR, BIS reduces both 
complexity and unnecessary differences between the two sets of 
regulations with the salutary effects of faster decision making, 
reduced need to contact BIS for advice and reduced possibility that 
small entities would be discouraged from exporting as noted above.

Description of Any Significant Alternatives to the Proposed Rule That 
Accomplish the Stated Objectives of Applicable Statutes and That 
Minimize Any Significant Economic Impact of the Proposed Rule on Small 
Entities

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 603(c), BIS' analysis considered 
significant alternatives. Those alternatives are: (1) The preferred 
alternative of altering definitions and updating and clarifying 
application of controls to electronically transmitted technology and 
software; (2) Maintaining the status quo and not revising the 
definitions or updating and clarifying application of controls to 
electronically transmitted technology and software; and (3) 
Establishing a size threshold below which entities would not be subject 
to the changes proposed by this rulemaking.
    By altering definitions and updating and clarifying application of 
controls to electronically transmitted technology and software as this 
proposed rule would do, BIS would be reducing uncertainty for all 
parties engaged in transactions that are subject to the EAR. Potential 
ambiguities would be reduced; decisions could be made more quickly; the 
need to contact BIS for advice be reduced; and the possibility of 
inconsistent interpretations providing one party commercial advantages 
over others would be reduced. Persons (including small entities) 
engaged in transactions that are subject to the ITAR and transactions 
that are subject to the EAR would face fewer actual or apparent 
inconsistencies that must be addressed in their regulatory compliance 
programs. Although small entities, along with all other parties, would 
need to become familiar with the revised terminology, in the long run, 
compliance costs are likely to be reduced when compared to the present 
situation where the ITAR and the EAR use different terminology to 
regulate the same types of activity in the same manner. Therefore, BIS 
adopted this alternative.
    If BIS chose to maintain the status quo, small entities and other 
parties would not have to incur the cost and effort of becoming 
familiar with the revised regulations and any party who is currently 
interpreting the regulations that would clearly be precluded by the 
more explicit interpretations would incur the cost of complying with 
the regulations consistent with their underlying intent and in the way 
that BIS believes most regulated parties do. However, the benefits of 
these proposed changes would be lost. Those benefits, greater clarity, 
consistency between the ITAR and the EAR, and reduced possibility of 
inconsistent application of the regulations by similarly situated 
regulated parties, would be foregone. Therefore, BIS has not adopted 
this alternative.
    If BIS chose to create a size threshold exempting small entities as 
currently defined by the SBA size standards from the changes imposed by 
this proposed rule, those entities would face a more complicated 
regulatory environment than larger entities. The small entities would 
continue to be subject to the EAR as a whole but without the benefit of 
the clarifications introduced by this proposed rule. The only way to 
make a size threshold beneficial to entities falling below the 
threshold would be to exempt them from all or at least many of the 
requirements of the EAR. However, doing so would create a major 
loophole allowing commodities, software, and technology that are 
controlled for export for national security or foreign policy reasons 
to go, without restriction, to any party abroad, undermining the 
interests that the regulations are intended to protect. Therefore, BIS 
has not adopted this alternative.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Parts 734 and 772

    Exports.

15 CFR Parts 740 and 750

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

15 CFR Part 764

    Administrative practice and procedure, Exports, Law enforcement, 
Penalties.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, parts 734, 740, 750, 764, 
and 772 of the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR subchapter C) 
are proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 734--SCOPE OF THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 734 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13020, 61 
FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 219; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 
1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 
783; E.O. 13637 of March 8, 2013, 78 FR 16129 (March 13, 2013); 
Notice of August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014) ; Notice of 
November 7, 2014, 79 FR 67035 (November 12, 2014).


Sec.  734.2--[Amended]  

0
2. Section 734.2 is amended by revising the heading to read as follows 
and by removing and reserving paragraph (b).


Sec.  734.2  Subject to the EAR.

0
3. Section 734.3 is amended by revising paragraph (b) introductory 
text, paragraph (b)(3), the Note to paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3), and 
the Note to paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows.

[[Page 31515]]

Sec.  734.3  Items subject to the EAR.

* * * * *
    (b) The following are not subject to the EAR:
* * * * *
    (3) Information and ``software'' that:
    (i) Are ``published,'' as described in Sec.  734.7;
    (ii) Arise during, or result from, ``fundamental research,'' as 
described in Sec.  734.8;
    (iii) Concern general scientific, mathematical, or engineering 
principles commonly taught in schools, and released by instruction in a 
catalog course or associated teaching laboratory of an academic 
institution; or
    (iv) Appear in patents or open (published) patent applications 
available from or at any patent office, unless covered by an invention 
secrecy order, or are otherwise patent information as described in 
Sec.  734.10.

    Note to paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3): A printed book or other 
printed material setting forth encryption source code is not itself 
subject to the EAR (see Sec.  734.3(b)(2)). However, notwithstanding 
Sec.  734.3(b)(2), encryption source code in electronic form or 
media (e.g., computer diskette or CD ROM) remains subject to the EAR 
(see Sec.  734.17)). Publicly available encryption object code 
software classified under ECCN 5D002 is not subject to the EAR when 
the corresponding source code meets the criteria specified in Sec.  
740.13(e) of the EAR.


    Note to paragraph (b)(3): Except as set forth in part 760 of 
this title, information that is not within the scope of the 
definition of ``technology'' (see Sec.  772.1 of the EAR) is not 
subject to the EAR.

* * * * *
0
4. Section 734.7 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  734.7  Published.

    (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, 
unclassified ``technology'' or ``software'' is ``published,'' and is 
thus not ``technology'' or ``software'' subject to the EAR, when it has 
been made available to the public without restrictions upon its further 
dissemination such as through any of the following:
    (1) Subscriptions available without restriction to any individual 
who desires to obtain or purchase the published information;
    (2) Libraries or other public collections that are open and 
available to the public, and from which the public can obtain tangible 
or intangible documents;
    (3) Unlimited distribution at a conference, meeting, seminar, trade 
show, or exhibition, generally accessible to the interested public;
    (4) Public dissemination (i.e., unlimited distribution) in any form 
(e.g., not necessarily in published form), including posting on the 
Internet on sites available to the public; or
    (5) Submission of a written composition, manuscript or presentation 
to domestic or foreign co-authors, editors, or reviewers of journals, 
magazines, newspapers or trade publications, or to organizers of open 
conferences or other open gatherings, with the intention that the 
compositions, manuscripts, or publications will be made publicly 
available if accepted for publication or presentation.
    (b) Published encryption software classified under ECCN 5D002 
remains subject to the EAR unless it is publicly available encryption 
object code software classified under ECCN 5D002 and the corresponding 
source code meets the criteria specified in Sec.  740.13(e) of the EAR.
0
5. Section 734.8 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  734.8  ``Technology'' that arises during, or results from, 
fundamental research.

    (a) ``Technology'' that arises during, or results from, fundamental 
research and is `intended to be published' is thus not ``subject to the 
EAR.''

    Note 1 to paragraph (a):  The inputs used to conduct fundamental 
research, such as information, equipment, or software, are not 
``technology that arises during or results from fundamental 
research'' except to the extent that such inputs are ``technology'' 
that arose during or resulted from earlier fundamental research.


    Note 2 to paragraph (a): There are instances in the conduct of 
research, whether fundamental, basic, or applied, where a 
researcher, institution or company may decide to restrict or protect 
the release or publication of ``technology'' contained in research 
results. Once a decision is made to maintain such ``technology'' as 
restricted or proprietary, the ``technology,'' if within the scope 
of Sec.  734.3(a), becomes ``subject to the EAR.''

    (b) Prepublication review. ``Technology'' that arises during, or 
results, from fundamental research is ``intended to be published'' to 
the extent that the researchers are free to publish the technology 
contained in the research without restriction or delay. ``Technology'' 
that arises during or results from fundamental research subject to 
prepublication review is still ``intended to be published'' when:
    (1) Prepublication review is conducted solely to ensure that 
publication would not compromise patent rights, so long as the review 
causes no more than a temporary delay in publication of the research 
results;
    (2) Prepublication review is conducted by a sponsor of research 
solely to insure that the publication would not inadvertently divulge 
proprietary information that the sponsor has furnished to the 
researchers; or
    (3) With respect to research conducted by scientists or engineers 
working for a Federal agency or a Federally Funded Research and 
Development Center (FFRDC), within any appropriate system devised by 
the agency or the FFRDC to control the release of information by such 
scientists and engineers.

    Note 1 to paragraph (b): Although ``technology'' arising during 
or resulting from fundamental research is not considered ``intended 
to be published'' if researchers accept restrictions on its 
publication, such ``technology'' will nonetheless qualify as 
``technology'' arising during or resulting from fundamental research 
once all such restrictions have expired or have been removed.


    Note 2 to paragraph (b): Except as provided in Sec.  734.11, 
``technology'' that is subject to other publication restrictions, 
such as U.S. government-imposed access and dissemination controls, 
is not ``intended to be published.''

    (c) Fundamental research definition. ``Fundamental research'' means 
basic or applied research in science and engineering, the results of 
which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the scientific 
community. This is distinguished from proprietary research and from 
industrial development, design, production, and product utilization, 
the results of which ordinarily are restricted for proprietary or 
national security reasons.
    (1) ``Basic research'' means experimental or theoretical work 
undertaken principally to acquire new knowledge of the fundamental 
principles of phenomena or observable facts, not primarily directed 
towards a specific practical aim or objective.
    (2) ``Applied research'' means the effort that:
    (i) Normally follows basic research, but may not be severable from 
the related basic research;
    (ii) Attempts to determine and exploit the potential of scientific 
discoveries or improvements in technology, materials, processes, 
methods, devices, or techniques; and
    (iii) Attempts to advance the state of the art.


Sec.  734.9  [Removed and Reserved]

0
6. Section 734.9 is removed and reserved.
0
7. Section 734.10 is revised to read as follows:

[[Page 31516]]

Sec.  734.10  Patents.

    ``Technology'' is not ``subject to the EAR'' if it is contained in:
    (a) A patent or an open (published) patent application available 
from or at any patent office;
    (b) A published patent or patent application prepared wholly from 
foreign-origin technology where the application is being sent to the 
foreign inventor to be executed and returned to the United States for 
subsequent filing in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;
    (c) A patent application, or an amendment, modification, supplement 
or division of an application, and authorized for filing in a foreign 
country in accordance with the regulations of the Patent and Trademark 
Office, 37 CFR part 5; or
    (d) A patent application when sent to a foreign country before or 
within six months after the filing of a United States patent 
application for the purpose of obtaining the signature of an inventor 
who was in the United States when the invention was made or who is a 
co-inventor with a person residing in the United States.
0
8. Section 734.11 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  734.11  Government-sponsored research covered by contract 
controls.

    (a) If research is funded by the U.S. Government, and specific 
national security controls are agreed on to protect information 
resulting from the research, the provisions of Sec.  734.3(b)(3) will 
not apply to any export or reexport of such information in violation of 
such controls. However, any export or reexport of information resulting 
from the research that is consistent with the specific national 
security controls may nonetheless be made under this provision.
    (b) Examples of ``specific national security controls'' include 
requirements for prepublication review by the Government, with right to 
withhold permission for publication; restrictions on prepublication 
dissemination of information to non-U.S. citizens or other categories 
of persons; or restrictions on participation of non-U.S. citizens or 
other categories of persons in the research. A general reference to one 
or more export control laws or regulations or a general reminder that 
the Government retains the right to classify is not a ``specific 
national security control.''
0
9. Section 734.13 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.13  Export.

    (a) Except as set forth in Sec.  734.17, ``export'' means:
    (1) An actual shipment or transmission out of the United States, 
including the sending or taking of an item out of the United States, in 
any manner;
    (2) Releasing or otherwise transferring ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' (but not ``object code'') to a foreign national in the United 
States (a ``deemed export'');
    (3) Transferring by a person in the United States of registration, 
control, or ownership of:
    (i) A spacecraft subject to the EAR that is not eligible for export 
under License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft that provide space-based 
logistics, assembly or servicing of any spacecraft) to a person in or a 
national of any other country; or
    (ii) Any other spacecraft subject to the EAR to a person in or a 
national of a Country Group D:5 country; or
    (4) [Reserved]
    (5) [Reserved]
    (6) Releasing or otherwise transferring decryption keys, network 
access codes, passwords, ``software'' or other information with 
``knowledge'' that such provision will cause or permit the transfer of 
other ``technology'' in clear text or ``software'' to a foreign 
national.
    (b) Any release in the United States of ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' to a foreign national is a deemed export to the foreign 
national's most recent country of citizenship or permanent residency.
    (c) The export of an item that will transit through a country or 
countries or will be transshipped in a country or countries to a new 
country, or are intended for reexport to the new country, is deemed to 
be an export to the new country.
0
10. Section 734.14 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.14  Reexport.

    (a) Except as set forth in Sec. Sec.  734.18 and 734.20, 
``reexport'' means:
    (1) An actual shipment or transmission of an item from one foreign 
country to another foreign country, including the sending or taking of 
an item to or from such countries in any manner;
    (2) Releasing or otherwise transferring ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' to a foreign national of a country other than the foreign 
country where the release or transfer takes place (a ``deemed 
reexport'');
    (3) Transferring by a person outside the United States of 
registration, control, or ownership of:
    (i) A spacecraft subject to the EAR that is not eligible for 
reexport under License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft that provide 
space-based logistics, assembly or servicing of any spacecraft) to a 
person in or a national of any other country; or
    (ii) Any other spacecraft subject to the EAR to a person in or a 
national of a Country Group D:5 country; or
    (4) Releasing or otherwise transferring outside of the United 
States decryption keys, network access codes, passwords, ``software,'' 
or other information with ``knowledge'' that such provision will cause 
or permit the transfer of other ``technology'' in clear text or 
``software'' to a foreign national.
    (b) Any release outside of the United States of ``technology'' or 
``source code'' subject to the EAR to a foreign national of another 
country is a deemed reexport to the foreign national's most recent 
country of citizenship or permanent residency, except as described in 
Sec.  734.20.
    (c) The reexport of an item subject to the EAR that will transit 
through a country or countries or will be transshipped in a country or 
countries to a new country, or are intended for reexport to the new 
country, is deemed to be a reexport to the new country.
0
11. Section 734.15 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.15  Release.

    (a) Except as set forth in Sec.  734.18, ``technology'' and 
``software'' are ``released'' through:
    (1) Visual or other inspection by a foreign national of items that 
reveals ``technology'' or ``source code'' subject to the EAR to a 
foreign national;
    (2) Oral or written exchanges with a foreign national of 
``technology'' in the United States or abroad; or
    (3) The application by U.S. persons of ``technology'' or 
``software'' to situations abroad using personal knowledge or technical 
experience acquired in the United States, to the extent that the 
application reveals to a foreign national ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' subject to the EAR.
    (b) [Reserved]
0
12. Section 734.16 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.16  Transfer (in-country).

    Except as set forth in Sec.  734.18, a transfer (in-country) is a 
change in end use or end user of an item within the same foreign 
country. ``Transfer (in-country)'' is synonymous with ``in-country 
transfer.''
0
13. Section 734.17 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.17  Export of encryption source code and object code 
software.

    (a) For purposes of the EAR, the export of encryption source code 
and object code software means:

[[Page 31517]]

    (1) An actual shipment, transfer, or transmission out of the United 
States (see also paragraph (b) of this section); or
    (2) A transfer of such software in the United States to an embassy 
or affiliate of a foreign country.
    (b) The export of encryption source code and object code software 
controlled for ``EI'' reasons under ECCN 5D002 on the Commerce Control 
List (see Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the EAR) includes:
    (1) Downloading, or causing the downloading of, such software to 
locations (including electronic bulletin boards, Internet file transfer 
protocol, and World Wide Web sites) outside the U.S., or
    (2) Making such software available for transfer outside the United 
States, over wire, cable, radio, electromagnetic, photo optical, 
photoelectric or other comparable communications facilities accessible 
to persons outside the United States, including transfers from 
electronic bulletin boards, Internet file transfer protocol and World 
Wide Web sites, unless the person making the software available takes 
precautions adequate to prevent unauthorized transfer of such code. See 
Sec.  740.13(e) of the EAR for notification requirements for exports or 
reexports of encryption source code software considered to be publicly 
available or published consistent with the provisions of Sec.  
734.3(b)(3). Publicly available encryption software in object code that 
corresponds to encryption source code made eligible for License 
Exception TSU under Sec.  740.13(e) of this subchapter is not subject 
to the EAR.
    (c) Subject to the General Prohibitions described in part 736 of 
the EAR, such precautions for Internet transfers of products eligible 
for export under Sec.  740.17(b)(2) of the EAR (encryption software 
products, certain encryption source code and general purpose encryption 
toolkits) shall include such measures as:
    (1) The access control system, either through automated means or 
human intervention, checks the address of every system outside of the 
U.S. or Canada requesting or receiving a transfer and verifies such 
systems do not have a domain name or Internet address of a foreign 
government end-user (e.g., ``.gov,'' ``.gouv,'' ``.mil'' or similar 
addresses);
    (2) The access control system provides every requesting or 
receiving party with notice that the transfer includes or would include 
cryptographic software subject to export controls under the Export 
Administration Regulations, and anyone receiving such a transfer cannot 
export the software without a license or other authorization; and
    (3) Every party requesting or receiving a transfer of such software 
must acknowledge affirmatively that the software is not intended for 
use by a government end user, as defined in part 772 of the EAR, and he 
or she understands the cryptographic software is subject to export 
controls under the Export Administration Regulations and anyone 
receiving the transfer cannot export the software without a license or 
other authorization. BIS will consider acknowledgments in electronic 
form provided they are adequate to assure legal undertakings similar to 
written acknowledgments.
0
14. Section 734.18 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.18  Activities that are not exports, reexports, or transfers.

    (a) The following activities are not exports, reexports, or 
transfers:
    (1) Launching a spacecraft, launch vehicle, payload, or other item 
into space.
    (2) While in the United States, releasing technology or software to 
United States citizens, persons lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence in the United States, or persons who are protected 
individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 
1324b(a)(3)).
    (3) Shipping, moving, or transferring items between or among the 
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or any 
territory, dependency, or possession of the United States as listed in 
Schedule C, Classification Codes and Descriptions for U.S. Export 
Statistics, issued by the Bureau of the Census.
    (4) Sending, taking, or storing technology or software that is:
    (i) Unclassified;
    (ii) Secured using end-to-end encryption;
    (iii) Secured using cryptographic modules (hardware or software) 
compliant with Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 
140-2 (FIPS 140-2) or its successors, supplemented by software 
implementation, cryptographic key management and other procedures and 
controls that are in accordance with guidance provided in current U.S. 
National Institute for Standards and Technology publications, or other 
similarly effective cryptographic means; and
    (iv) Not stored in a country listed in Country Group D:5 (see 
Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the EAR) or in the Russian Federation.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, `end-to-end 
encryption' means the provision of uninterrupted cryptographic 
protection of data between an originator and an intended recipient, 
including between an individual and himself or herself. It involves 
encrypting data by the originating party and keeping that data 
encrypted except by the intended recipient, where the means to access 
the data in unencrypted form is not given to any third party, including 
to any Internet service provider, application service provider or cloud 
service provider.
    (c) The ability to access ``technology'' or ``software'' in 
encrypted form that satisfies the criteria set forth in paragraph 
(a)(4) of this section does not constitute the release or export of 
such ``technology'' or ``software.''

    Note to Sec.  734.18:  Releasing ``technology'' or ``software'' 
to any person with knowledge that a violation will occur is 
prohibited by Sec.  736.2(b)(10) of the EAR.

Sec.  734.19  [Reserved]

0
15. Section 734.19 is reserved.
0
16. Section 734.20 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  734.20  Activities that are not ``deemed reexports.''

    (a) Release of ``technology'' or ``source code'' by an entity 
outside the United States to a foreign national of a country other than 
the foreign country where the release takes place does not constitute a 
deemed reexport of such ``technology'' or ``source code'' if:
    (1) The entity is authorized to receive the ``technology'' or 
``source code'' at issue, whether by a license, license exception, or 
situations where no license is required under the EAR for such 
``technology'' or ``source code;'' and
    (2) The entity is certain that the foreign national's most recent 
country of citizenship or permanent residency is that of a country to 
which export from the United States of the ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' at issue would be authorized by the EAR either under a license 
exception, or in situations where no license under the EAR would be 
required.
    (b) Release to A:5 nationals. Release of ``technology'' or ``source 
code'' by an entity outside the United States to a foreign national of 
a country other than the foreign country where the release takes place 
does not constitute a deemed reexport of such ``technology'' or 
``source code'' if:

[[Page 31518]]

    (1) The entity is authorized to receive the ``technology'' or 
``source code'' at issue, whether by a license, license exception, or 
through situations where no license is required under the EAR;
    (2) The foreign national is a bona fide regular and permanent 
employee who is not a proscribed person under U.S. law and is directly 
employed by the entity;
    (3) Such employee is a national exclusively of a country in Country 
Group A:5; and
    (4) The release of ``technology'' or ``source code'' takes place 
entirely within the physical territory of any such country.
    (c) Release to other than A:5 nationals. Release of ``technology'' 
or ``source code'' by an entity outside the United States to a foreign 
national of a country other than the foreign country where the release 
takes place does not constitute a deemed reexport of such 
``technology'' or ``source code'' if:
    (1) The entity is authorized to receive the ``technology'' or 
``source code'' at issue, whether by a license, license exception, or 
situations where no license is required under the EAR;
    (2) The foreign national is a bona fide regular and permanent 
employee who is not a proscribed person under U.S. law and is directly 
employed by the entity;
    (3) The release takes place entirely within the physical territory 
of the country where the entity is located, conducts official business, 
or operates;
    (4) The entity has effective procedures to prevent diversion to 
destinations, entities, end users, and end uses contrary to the EAR; 
and
    (5) Any one of the following six (i.e., paragraphs (c)(5)(i), (ii), 
(iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of this section) situations is applicable:
    (i) The foreign national has a security clearance approved by the 
host nation government of the entity outside the United States;
    (ii) The entity outside the United States:
    (A) Has in place a process to screen the foreign national employee 
and to have the employee execute a non-disclosure agreement that 
provides assurances that the employee will not disclose, transfer, or 
reexport controlled technology contrary to the EAR;
    (B) Screens the employee for substantive contacts with countries 
listed in Country Group D:5 (see Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the 
EAR). Although nationality does not, in and of itself, prohibit access 
to ``technology'' or ``source code'' subject to the EAR, an employee 
who has substantive contacts with persons from countries listed in 
Country Group D:5 shall be presumed to raise a risk of diversion, 
unless BIS determines otherwise;
    (C) Maintains a technology security or clearance plan that includes 
procedures for screening employees for such substantive contacts;
    (D) Maintains records of such screenings for the longer of five 
years or the duration of the individual's employment with the entity; 
and
    (E) Will make such plans and records available to BIS or its agents 
for civil and criminal law enforcement purposes upon request;
    (iii) The entity is a UK entity implementing Sec.  126.18 of the 
ITAR (22 CFR 126.18) pursuant to the US-UK Exchange of Notes regarding 
Sec.  126.18 of the ITAR for which the UK has provided appropriate 
implementation guidance;
    (iv) The entity is a Canadian entity implementing Sec.  126.18 of 
the ITAR pursuant to the US-Canadian Exchange of Letters regarding 
Sec.  126.18 of the ITAR for which Canada has provided appropriate 
implementation guidance;
    (v) The entity is an Australian entity implementing the exemption 
at paragraph 3.7b of the ITAR Agreements Guidelines; or
    (vi) The entity is a Dutch entity implementing the exemption at 
paragraph 3.7c of the ITAR Agreements Guidelines.
    (d) Definitions. (1) ``Substantive contacts'' includes regular 
travel to countries in Country Group D:5; recent or continuing contact 
with agents, brokers, and nationals of such countries; continued 
demonstrated allegiance to such countries; maintenance of business 
relationships with persons from such countries; maintenance of a 
residence in such countries; receiving salary or other continuing 
monetary compensation from such countries; or acts otherwise indicating 
a risk of diversion.
    (2) ``Permanent and regular employee'' is an individual who:
    (a) Is permanently (i.e., for not less than a year) and directly 
employed by an entity, or
    (b) Is a contract employee who:
    (i) Is in a long-term contractual relationship with the company 
where the individual works at the entity's facilities or at locations 
assigned by the entity (such as a remote site or on travel);
    (ii) Works under the entity's direction and control such that the 
company must determine the individual's work schedule and duties;
    (iii) Works full time and exclusively for the entity; and
    (iv) Executes a nondisclosure certification for the company that he 
or she will not disclose confidential information received as part of 
his or her work for the entity.

    Note to paragraph (d)(2):  If the contract employee has been 
seconded to the entity by a staffing agency, then the staffing 
agency must not have any role in the work the individual performs 
other than to provide the individual for that work. The staffing 
agency also must not have access to any controlled ``technology'' or 
``source code'' other than that authorized by the applicable 
regulations or a license.

PART 740--LICENSE EXCEPTIONS

0
17. The authority citation for part 740 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., 
p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice 
of August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).

0
18. Section 740.9(a)(3) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  740.9  Temporary imports, exports, reexports, and transfers (in-
country) (TMP).

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (3) ``Technology,'' regardless of media or format, may be exported 
by or to a U.S. person or a foreign national employee of a U.S. person, 
traveling or on temporary assignment abroad, subject to the following 
restrictions:
    (i) Foreign nationals may only export or receive such 
``technology'' as they are authorized to receive through a license, 
license exception other than TMP or because no license is required.
    (ii) ``Technology'' exported under this authorization may only be 
possessed or used by a U.S. person or authorized foreign national and 
sufficient security precautions must be taken to prevent the 
unauthorized release of the ``technology.'' Such security precautions 
include encryption of the ``technology,'' the use of secure network 
connections, such as Virtual Private Networks, the use of passwords or 
other access restrictions on the electronic device or media on which 
the ``technology'' is stored, and the use of firewalls and other 
network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
    (iii) The U.S. person is an employee of the U.S. Government or is 
directly employed by a U.S. person and not, e.g., by a foreign 
subsidiary.
    (iv) Technology'' authorized under this exception may not be used 
for foreign production purposes or for technical assistance unless 
authorized through a license or license exception other than TMP.
    (v) The U.S. person employer of foreign nationals must document the 
use of this exception by foreign national

[[Page 31519]]

employees, including the reason that the ``technology'' is needed by 
the foreign nationals for their temporary business activities abroad on 
behalf of the U.S. person.
* * * * *

PART 750--APPLICATION PROCESSING, ISSUANCE, AND DENIAL

0
19. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 750 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
Sec 1503, Pub. L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 559; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 
CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., 
p. 783; E.O. 13637 of March 8, 2013, 78 FR 16129 (March 13, 2013); 
Presidential Determination 2003-23 of May 7, 2003, 68 FR 26459, May 
16, 2003; Notice of August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).

0
20. Section 750.7 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  750.7  Issuance of licenses.

    (a) Scope. Unless limited by a condition set out in a license, the 
export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) authorized by a license is 
for the item(s), end-use(s), and parties described in the license 
application and any letters of explanation. The applicant must inform 
the other parties identified on the license, such as the ultimate 
consignees and end users, of the license's scope and of the specific 
conditions applicable to them. BIS grants licenses in reliance on 
representations the applicant made in or submitted in connection with 
the license application, letters of explanation, and other documents 
submitted. A BIS license authorizing the release of technology to an 
entity also authorizes the release of the same technology to the 
entity's foreign nationals who are permanent and regular employees (and 
who are not proscribed persons under U.S. law) of the entity's facility 
or facilities authorized on the license, except to the extent a license 
condition limits or prohibits the release of the technology to 
nationals of specific countries or country groups.
* * * * *

PART 764--ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES

0
21. The authority citation for part 764 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of August 
7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).

0
22. Section 764.2 is amended by adding paragraph (l) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  764.2  Violations.

* * * * *
    (l) No person may ``release'' or otherwise transfer information, 
such as decryption keys, network access codes, or passwords, that would 
allow access to other ``technology'' in clear text or ``software'' with 
``knowledge'' that the release will result, directly or indirectly, in 
an unauthorized export, reexport, or transfer of the ``technology'' in 
clear text or ``software.'' Violation of this provision will constitute 
a violation to the same extent as a violation in connection with the 
export of the controlled ``technology'' or ``software.''

PART 772--DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

0
23. The authority citation for part 772 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 
E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of August 
7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).

0
24. Section 772.1 is amended by:
0
a. Adding, in alphabetical order, the definition for ``Applied 
research'';
0
b. Revising the definitions of ``Basic scientific research'' and 
``Export'';
0
c. Adding, in alphabetical order, definitions for ``Fundamental 
research,'' ``Peculiarly responsible,'' ``Proscribed person,'' and 
``Publicly available encryption software'';
0
d. Removing the definitions of ``Publicly available information'' and 
``Publicly available technology and software'';
0
e. Adding, in alphabetical order, the definition for ``Published'';
0
f. Revising the definitions of ``Reexport'';
0
g. Adding, in alphabetical order, the definition for ``Release'';
0
h. Revising the definition of ``Required'';
0
i. Removing the definition of ``Technical data''; and
0
j. Revising the definitions of ``Technology,'' and ``Transfer.''
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  772.1  Definitions of terms as used in the Export Administration 
Regulations (EAR).

* * * * *
    Applied research. See Sec.  734.8(c) of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Basic scientific research. (GTN)--Experimental or theoretical work 
undertaken principally to acquire new knowledge of the fundamental 
principles of phenomena or observable facts, not primarily directed 
towards a specific practical aim or objective. See also Sec.  734.8(c) 
of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Export. See Sec.  734.13 of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Fundamental research. See Sec.  734.8 of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Peculiarly responsible. An item is ``peculiarly responsible for 
achieving or exceeding the controlled performance levels, 
characteristics or functions'' if it is used in or for use in the 
``development,'' ``production,'' ``use,'' operation, installation, 
maintenance, repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of an item subject to 
the EAR unless:
    (1) The Department of Commerce has determined otherwise in a 
commodity classification determination;
    (2) [Reserved];
    (3) It is identical to information used in or with a commodity or 
software that:
    (i) Is or was in production (i.e., not in development); and
    (ii) Is EAR99 or described in an ECCN controlled only for Anti-
Terrorism (AT) reasons;
    (4) It was or is being developed with ``knowledge'' that it would 
be for use in or with commodities or software:
    (i) Described in an ECCN; and
    (ii) Also commodities or software either not enumerated on the CCL 
or the USML (e.g., EAR99 commodities or software) or commodities or 
software described in an ECCN controlled only for Anti-Terrorism (AT) 
reasons;
    (5) It was or is being developed for use in or with general purpose 
commodities or software, i.e., with no ``knowledge'' that it would be 
for use in or with a particular commodity or type of commodity; or
    (6) It was or is being developed with ``knowledge'' that it would 
be for use in or with commodities or software described:
    (i) In an ECCN controlled for AT-only reasons and also EAR99 
commodities or software; or
    (ii) Exclusively for use in or with EAR99 commodities or software.
* * * * *
    Proscribed person. A person who is prohibited from receiving the 
items at issue or participating in a transaction that is subject to the 
EAR without authorization by virtue of U.S. law, such as persons on the 
Entity List, Specially Designated Nationals, or debarred parties.
    Publicly available encryption software. See Sec.  740.13(e) of the 
EAR.
    Published. See Sec.  734.7 of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Reexport. See Sec.  734.14 of the EAR.
    Release. See Sec.  734.15 of the EAR.
* * * * *
    Required. (General Technology Note)--As applied to ``technology'' 
or

[[Page 31520]]

``software'', refers to only that portion of ``technology'' or 
``software'' which is peculiarly responsible for achieving or exceeding 
the controlled performance levels, characteristics or functions. Such 
``required'' ``technology'' or ``software'' may be shared by different 
products. For example, assume product ``X'' is controlled if it 
operates at or above 400 MHz and is not controlled if it operates below 
400 MHz. If production technologies ``A'', ``B'', and ``C'' allow 
production at no more than 399 MHz, then technologies ``A'', ``B'', and 
``C'' are not ``required'' to produce the controlled product ``X''. If 
technologies ``A'', ``B'', ``C'', ``D'', and ``E'' are used together, a 
manufacturer can produce product ``X'' that operates at or above 400 
MHz. In this example, technologies ``D'' and ``E'' are ``required'' to 
make the controlled product and are themselves controlled under the 
General Technology Note. (See the General Technology Note.)

    Note 1 to the definition of required:
     The references to ``characteristics'' and ``functions'' are not 
limited to entries on the CCL that use specific technical parameters 
to describe the scope of what is controlled. The ``characteristics'' 
and ``functions'' of an item listed are, absent a specific 
regulatory definition, a standard dictionary's definition of the 
item. For example, ECCN 9A610.a controls ``military aircraft 
specially designed for a military use that are not enumerated in 
USML paragraph VIII(a).'' No performance level is identified in the 
entry, but the control characteristic of the aircraft is that it is 
specially designed ``for military use.'' Thus, any technology, 
regardless of significance, peculiar to making an aircraft ``for 
military use'' as opposed to, for example, an aircraft controlled 
under ECCN 9A991.a, would be technical data ``required'' for an 
aircraft specially designed for military use thus controlled under 
ECCN 9E610.


    Note 2 to the definition of required:
     The ITAR and the EAR often divide within each set of 
regulations or between each set of regulations:
    1. Controls on parts, components, accessories, attachments, and 
software; and
    2. Controls on the end items, systems, equipment, or other items 
into which those parts, components, accessories, attachments, and 
software are to be installed or incorporated.
    Moreover, with the exception of technical data specifically 
enumerated on the USML, the jurisdictional status of unclassified 
technical data or ``technology'' is the same as the jurisdictional 
status of the defense article or ``item subject to the EAR'' to 
which it is directly related. Thus, if technology is directly 
related to the production of a 9A610.x aircraft component that is to 
be integrated or installed in a USML VIII(a) aircraft, then the 
technology is controlled under ECCN 9E610, not USML VIII(i).

* * * * *
    ``Technology'' means:
    (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b) of this definition:
    (1) Information necessary for the ``development,'' ``production,'' 
``use,'' operation, installation, maintenance, repair, overhaul, or 
refurbishing (or other terms specified in ECCNs on the CCL that control 
``technology'') of an item. ``Technology'' may be in any tangible or 
intangible form, such as written or oral communications, blueprints, 
drawings, photographs, plans, diagrams, models, formulae, tables, 
engineering designs and specifications, computer-aided design files, 
manuals or documentation, electronic media or information gleaned 
through visual inspection;

    Note to paragraph (a)(1) of this definition:  The modification 
of an existing item creates a new item and technology for the 
modification is technical data for the development of the new item.
    (2) [Reserved];
    (3) [Reserved];
    (4) [Reserved]; or
    (5) Information, such as decryption keys, network access codes, 
or passwords, that would allow access to other ``technology'' in 
clear text or ``software.''
    (b) ``Technology'' does not include:
    (1) Non-proprietary general system descriptions;
    (2) Information on basic function or purpose of an item; or
    (3) Telemetry data as defined in note 2 to Category 9, Product 
Group E (see Supplement No. 1 to Part 774 of the EAR).

* * * * *
    Transfer. A shipment, transmission, or release of items subject to 
the EAR either within the United States or outside the United States. 
For in-country transfer/transfer (in-country), see Sec.  734.16 of the 
EAR.

    Note to definition of transfer:
    This definition of ``transfer'' does not apply to Sec.  750.10 
of the EAR or Supplement No. 8 to part 760 of the EAR. The term 
``transfer'' may also be included on licenses issued by BIS. In that 
regard, the changes that can be made to a BIS license are the non-
material changes described in Sec.  750.7(c) of the EAR. Any other 
change to a BIS license without authorization is a violation of the 
EAR. See Sec. Sec.  750.7(c) and 764.2(e) of the EAR.

* * * * *

    Dated: May 18, 2015.
Kevin J. Wolf,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-12843 Filed 6-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                               31505




                                                      [FR Doc. 2015–13169 Filed 6–2–15; 8:45 am]              publishing comparable proposed                         ‘‘technology,’’ ‘‘required,’’ ‘‘peculiarly
                                                      BILLING CODE 6450–01–P                                  amendments to the ITAR’s definitions of                responsible,’’ ‘‘proscribed person,’’
                                                                                                              ‘‘technical data,’’ ‘‘required,’’                      ‘‘published,’’ results of ‘‘fundamental
                                                                                                              ‘‘peculiarly responsible,’’ ‘‘public                   research,’’ ‘‘export,’’ ‘‘reexport,’’
                                                      DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  domain,’’ results of ‘‘fundamental                     ‘‘release,’’ ‘‘transfer,’’ and ‘‘transfer (in-
                                                                                                              research,’’ ‘‘export,’’ ‘‘reexport,’’                  country)’’ to enhance clarity and ensure
                                                      Bureau of Industry and Security                         ‘‘release,’’ and ‘‘retransfer’’ for the same           consistency with the International
                                                                                                              reasons. Finally, this rulemaking                      Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR),
                                                      15 CFR Parts 734, 740, 750, 764, and                    proposes conforming changes to related                 which is administered by the
                                                      772                                                     provisions.                                            Department of State, Directorate of
                                                                                                              DATES: Comments must be received by                    Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). This
                                                      [Docket No. 141016858–5228–01]                                                                                 rulemaking also proposes amendments
                                                                                                              August 3, 2015.
                                                      RIN 0694–AG32                                           ADDRESSES: Comments may be                             to the Scope part of the EAR to update
                                                                                                              submitted to the Federal rulemaking                    and clarify application of controls to
                                                      Revisions to Definitions in the Export                  portal (http://www.regulations.gov). The               electronically transmitted and stored
                                                      Administration Regulations                              regulations.gov ID for this proposed rule              technology and software. The DDTC is
                                                                                                              is: [BIS–2015–0019]. Comments may                      concurrently publishing comparable
                                                      AGENCY:  Bureau of Industry and                                                                                proposed amendments to the ITAR’s
                                                      Security, Commerce.                                     also be submitted via email to
                                                                                                              publiccomments@bis.doc.gov or on                       definitions of ‘‘technical data,’’
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                                                                         ‘‘required,’’ ‘‘peculiarly responsible,’’
                                                                                                              paper to Regulatory Policy Division,
                                                                                                              Bureau of Industry and Security, Room                  ‘‘public domain,’’ results of
                                                      SUMMARY:     This proposed rule is part of                                                                     ‘‘fundamental research,’’ ‘‘export,’’
                                                      the Administration’s Export Control                     2099B, U.S. Department of Commerce,
                                                                                                                                                                     ‘‘reexport,’’ ‘‘release,’’ and ‘‘retransfer’’
                                                      Reform Initiative. The Initiative will                  Washington, DC 20230. Please refer to
                                                                                                                                                                     for the same reasons. Finally, this
                                                      enhance U.S. national and economic                      RIN 0694–AG32 in all comments and in
                                                                                                                                                                     rulemaking proposes conforming
                                                      security, facilitate compliance with                    the subject line of email comments. All
                                                                                                                                                                     changes to related provisions.
                                                      export controls, update the controls, and               comments (including any personally                        One aspect of the ECR Initiative
                                                      reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens                   identifying information) will be made                  includes amending the export control
                                                      on U.S. exporters. As part of this effort,              available for public inspection and                    regulations to facilitate enhanced
                                                      this rulemaking proposes revisions to                   copying.                                               compliance while reducing unnecessary
                                                      the Export Administration Regulations                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       regulatory burdens. For similar national
                                                      (EAR) to include the definitions of                     Hillary Hess, Director, Regulatory Policy              security, foreign policy, including
                                                      ‘‘technology,’’ ‘‘required,’’ ‘‘peculiarly              Division, Office of Exporter Services,                 human rights, reasons, the EAR and the
                                                      responsible,’’ ‘‘proscribed person,’’                   Bureau of Industry and Security at 202–                ITAR each control, inter alia, the export,
                                                      ‘‘published,’’ results of ‘‘fundamental                 482–2440 or rpd2@bis.doc.gov.                          reexport, and in-country transfer of
                                                      research,’’ ‘‘export,’’ ‘‘reexport,’’                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             commodities, products or articles,
                                                      ‘‘release,’’ ‘‘transfer,’’ and ‘‘transfer (in-                                                                 technology, technical data, software,
                                                      country)’’ to enhance clarity and                       Background                                             and services to various destinations, end
                                                      consistency with terms also found on                      This proposed rule is part of the                    users, and end uses. The two sets of
                                                      the International Traffic in Arms                       Administration’s Export Control Reform                 regulations have been issued pursuant
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                                                      Regulations (ITAR), which is                            (ECR) Initiative. The Initiative will                  to different statutes, have been
                                                      administered by the Department of                       enhance U.S. national and economic                     administered by different agencies with
                                                      State, Directorate of Defense Trade                     security, facilitate compliance with                   missions that are distinct from one
                                                      Controls (DDTC). This rulemaking also                   export controls, update the controls, and              another in certain respects, and have
                                                      proposes amendments to the Scope part                   reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens                  covered different items (or articles). For
                                                      of the EAR to update and clarify                        on U.S. exporters. As part of this effort,             those reasons, and because each set of
                                                      application of controls to electronically               this rulemaking proposes revisions to                  regulations has evolved separately over
                                                      transmitted and stored technology and                   the Export Administration Regulations                  decades without much coordination
                                                      software. DDTC is concurrently                          (EAR) to include the definitions of                    between the two agencies regarding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      EP03JN15.016</GPH>




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                                                      31506                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      their structure and content, they often                 substantial commonality, they remain                   describes items that are not subject to
                                                      use different words, or the same words                  different terms used in different ways.                the EAR. This rulemaking proposes
                                                      differently, to accomplish similar                      This rulemaking proposes that, to the                  minor revisions to paragraph (b)(3),
                                                      regulatory objectives.                                  extent possible, similar definitions be                which describes software and
                                                         Many parties are regulated by both the               harmonized both substantively and                      technology that is not subject to the
                                                      Commerce Department’s EAR and the                       structurally. Substantive harmonization                EAR, to describe more fully educational
                                                      State Department’s ITAR, particularly                   will mean using the same words for the                 and patent information that is not
                                                      now that regulatory jurisdiction over                   same concepts across the two sets of                   subject to the EAR, and to add a note to
                                                      many types of military items has been                   regulations. Structural harmonization                  make explicit that information that is
                                                      transferred from the ITAR to the EAR.                   will mean setting forth similar                        not ‘‘technology’’ as defined in the EAR
                                                      Using common terms and common                           definitions in a paragraph order that                  is per se not subject to the EAR. These
                                                      definitions to regulate the same types of               renders their similarities and differences             changes are part of an effort to make
                                                      items or actions is intended to facilitate              clearly visible. This structural                       more clear throughout the EAR that
                                                      enhanced compliance and reduce                          harmonization may require reserving                    ‘‘technology’’ is a subset of
                                                      unnecessary regulatory burdens.                         certain paragraphs in an EAR definition                ‘‘information.’’ Only information that is
                                                      Conversely, if different concerns                       if the corresponding paragraph does not                within the scope of the definition of
                                                      between the two sets of export control                  exist in the ITAR definition, or vice                  ‘‘technology’’ is subject to the EAR. If
                                                      regulations warrant different terms or                  versa.                                                 information of any sort is not within the
                                                      different controls, then the differences                   A side-by-side comparison on the                    scope of the definition of ‘‘technology,’’
                                                      should be clear for the same reason.                    regulatory text proposed by both                       then it is not subject to the EAR. This
                                                      Such clarity will benefit national                      Departments is available on both                       proposed rule makes no changes to the
                                                      security because it will be easier for                  agencies’ Web sites:                                   notes to paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) that
                                                      exporters to know how to comply with                    www.pmddtc.state.gov and                               a printed book or other printed material
                                                      the regulations and for prosecutors to be               www.bis.doc.gov.                                       setting forth encryption source code is
                                                      able to prosecute violations of the                                                                            not itself subject to the EAR, but that
                                                      regulations. Such clarity will also                     Scope of the Export Administration
                                                                                                                                                                     encryption source code in electronic
                                                      enhance our economic security because                   Regulations
                                                                                                                                                                     form or media remains subject to the
                                                      it will reduce unnecessary regulatory                     An interim rule entitled ‘‘Export                    EAR. It also makes no changes to the
                                                      burdens for exporters when attempting                   Administration Regulation;                             note that publicly available encryption
                                                      to determine the meaning of key words                   Simplification of Export Administration                object code software classified under
                                                      and phrases across similar sets of                      Regulations’’ (61 FR 12714) published                  ECCN 5D002 is not subject to the EAR
                                                      regulations. Finally, such harmonization                March 25, 1996, established part 734,                  when the corresponding source code
                                                      and clarification is a necessary step                   Scope of the Export Administration                     meets the criteria specified in
                                                      toward accomplishing one of the                         Regulations. The interim rule stated that              § 740.13(e) of the EAR. (See proposed
                                                      ultimate objectives of the ECR initiative,              part 734 ‘‘establishes the rules for                   corresponding revisions to § 120.6(b) of
                                                      which is the creation of a common                       determining whether commodities,                       the ITAR.)
                                                      export control list and common set of                   software, technology, software, and
                                                      export control regulations.                                                                                    Published Technology and Software
                                                                                                              activities of U.S. and foreign persons are
                                                         BIS and DDTC have identified a series                subject to the EAR.’’ (61 FR at 12716)                    Current § 734.7 sets forth that
                                                      of similar terms in the EAR and the                     This rulemaking proposes to streamline                 technology and software is ‘‘published’’
                                                      ITAR that are defined differently and                   and clarify part 734 while retaining its               and thus not subject to the EAR when
                                                      that warrant either harmonization or the                purpose and scope of control.                          it becomes generally accessible to the
                                                      creation of similar structures that would                                                                      interested public in any form, including
                                                      identify more clearly the differences in                Items Subject to the EAR                               through publication, availability at
                                                      how similar concepts are treated under                     Section 734.2, currently titled                     libraries, patents, and distribution or
                                                      the EAR and the ITAR. The proposed                      ‘‘Important EAR terms and principles,’’                presentation at open gatherings.
                                                      revisions to these terms are generally                  contains two sets of important                            This rulemaking proposes a definition
                                                      not intended to materially increase or                  definitions: A definition and description              of ‘‘published’’ with the same scope but
                                                      decrease their existing scope. In                       of ‘‘subject to the EAR,’’ and definitions             a simpler structure. The proposed
                                                      particular, BIS and DDTC will continue                  of export, reexport, and a number of                   § 734.7(a) reads: ‘‘Except as set forth in
                                                      to maintain their long-standing                         associated terms. This rulemaking                      paragraph (b), ‘‘technology’’ or
                                                      positions that ‘‘published’’ (or ‘‘public               proposes to retitle the section ‘‘Subject              ‘‘software’’ is ‘‘published’’ and is thus
                                                      domain’’) information and the results of                to the EAR,’’ retain the definition and                not ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’ subject
                                                      ‘‘fundamental research’’ are excluded                   description of that term, and create                   to the EAR when it is not classified
                                                      from the scope of ‘‘technology’’ subject                separate sections in part 734 to define                national security information and has
                                                      to the EAR and the ITAR’s ‘‘technical                   ‘‘export,’’ ‘‘reexport,’’ ‘‘release,’’ and             been made available to the public
                                                      data.’’ Rather, the proposed changes are                ‘‘transfer (in-country),’’ which will be               without restrictions upon its further
                                                      designed to clarify and update BIS                      described in greater detail below. This                dissemination. This proposed definition
                                                      policies and practices with respect to                  rulemaking proposes to remove current                  is substantially the same as the wording
                                                      the application of the terms and to allow               § 734.2(b)(7) regarding the listing of                 of definitions adopted by the
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                                                      for their structural harmonization with                 foreign territories and possessions in the             multilateral export control regimes of
                                                      their counterparts in the ITAR.                         Commerce Country Chart (Supplement                     which the United States is a member:
                                                         Harmonizing definitions does not                     No. 1 to part 738) because it duplicates               The Wassenaar Arrangement, Nuclear
                                                      mean making them identical. For                         current § 738.3(b).                                    Suppliers Group, Missile Technology
                                                      example, under the EAR, technology                                                                             Control Regime, and Australia Group.
                                                      may be ‘‘subject to’’ or ‘‘not subject to               Items Not Subject to the EAR                           The phrase ‘‘classified national security
                                                      the EAR.’’ Technical data under the                        Section 734.3(a) describes items (i.e.,             information’’ refers to information that
                                                      ITAR is subject to those regulations by                 commodities, software, or technology)                  has been classified in accordance with
                                                      definition. While the two terms have                    subject to the EAR. Paragraph (b)                      Executive Order 13526, 75 FR 707; 3


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                            31507

                                                      CFR 201 Comp., p. 298. The phrasing                     that is identical to that in NSDD–189.                 footnote to the current § 734.10 is
                                                      following the definition quoted above                   However, BIS solicits comment on a                     removed because it would be redundant
                                                      (‘‘such as through’’) means that the list               simpler definition that is consistent                  of the proposed text.
                                                      that follows consists of representative                 with NSDD–189, but not identical.
                                                                                                                                                                     Specific National Security Controls
                                                      examples taken from the list of such                    Specifically, the alternative definition
                                                      things that are in both the ITAR and the                would read: ‘‘‘Fundamental research’                      This rulemaking proposes minor
                                                      EAR and merged together. This is not an                 means non-proprietary research in                      conforming edits to current § 734.11,
                                                      exhaustive list of published                            science and engineering, the results of                which describes specific national
                                                      information. Section 734.7(b) keeps                     which ordinarily are published and                     security controls. The proposed
                                                      certain published encryption software                   shared broadly within the scientific                   revisions do not change the scope of
                                                      subject to the EAR, a restriction                       community.’’ BIS believes that the scope               current § 734.11. As described below,
                                                      currently found in § 734.7(c). BIS                      of this wording is the same as that of the             this rulemaking proposes to remove
                                                      believes that the proposed revised                      wording in NSDD–189 and seeks                          Supplement No. 1 to part 734,
                                                      section is easier to read and that the list             comment on whether the final rule                      ‘‘Questions and Answers—Technology
                                                      of examples is easier to update than                    should adopt the simpler wording.                      and Software Subject to the EAR.’’
                                                      current text. The relevant restrictions do                 The proposed definition of                          Questions and answers are illustrative
                                                      not include copyright protections or                    ‘‘fundamental research’’ includes                      rather than regulatory and are thus more
                                                      generic property rights in the                          references to ‘‘basic’’ and ‘‘applied’’                appropriately posted as Web site
                                                      underlying physical medium. (See                        research. For clarity, this rulemaking                 guidance than published as regulatory
                                                      proposed corresponding revisions to                     proposes definitions of those terms. The               text.
                                                      ‘‘public domain’’ in § 120.11 of the                    definition of ‘‘basic research’’ in
                                                                                                                                                                     Export
                                                      ITAR.)                                                  proposed § 734.8 is that currently
                                                                                                              defined in the EAR (§ 772.1), and in the                  In § 734.2(b) of the current EAR, there
                                                      Fundamental Research                                    Wassenaar Arrangement’s General                        are definitions of export, export of
                                                         The current § 734.8 excludes most                    Technology Note as ‘‘basic scientific                  technology or software, and export of
                                                      information resulting from fundamental                  research.’’ The proposed definition of                 encryption source code and object code
                                                      research from the scope of the EAR. The                 ‘‘applied research’’ was drawn from the                software. Section 772.1 also defines
                                                      section is organized primarily by locus,                Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation                 ‘‘export’’ as follows: ‘‘Export means an
                                                      specifically by the type of organization                Supplement (48 CFR part 31.205–18). A                  actual shipment or transmission of
                                                      in which the research takes place. This                 possible alternative definition of                     items out of the United States.’’ This
                                                      proposed rule would revise § 734.8, but                 applied research is that found in the                  rulemaking proposes to consolidate the
                                                      it is not intended to change the scope of               2014 Office of Management and Budget                   definitions of ‘‘export’’ and ‘‘export of
                                                      the current § 734.8. The proposed                       Circular A–11: ‘‘Systematic study to                   technology and software,’’ while moving
                                                      revisions streamline the section by                     gain knowledge or understanding                        ‘‘export of encryption source code and
                                                      consolidating different provisions that                 necessary to determine the means by                    object code software’’ to a new § 734.13.
                                                      involve the same criteria with respect to               which a recognized and specific need                      Proposed § 734.13(a) would have six
                                                      prepublication review, removing                         may be met.’’ (See proposed                            paragraphs. Paragraphs (a)(4) and (5)
                                                      reference to locus unless it makes a                    corresponding § 120.49 of the ITAR.)                   would be reserved. The corresponding
                                                      difference to the jurisdictional status,                                                                       paragraphs in the ITAR would contain
                                                      and adding clarifying notes. The                        Educational Information                                provisions that are not relevant to the
                                                      proposed revisions also consistently use                  Current § 734.9 states that educational              EAR.
                                                      the description ‘‘arises during or results              information released by instruction in a                  Proposed paragraph (a)(1) of the
                                                      from fundamental research’’ to make                     catalog course or associated teaching                  definition of ‘‘export’’ uses the EAR
                                                      clear that technology that arises prior to              laboratory of an academic institution is               terms ‘‘actual shipment or transmission
                                                      a final result is subject to the EAR                    not subject to the EAR. This rulemaking                out of the United States,’’ combined
                                                      unless it otherwise meets the provisions                proposes moving this exclusion to                      with the existing ITAR ‘‘sending or
                                                      of § 734.8. Comments regarding whether                  § 734.3(b) and removing § 734.9. This                  taking an item outside the United States
                                                      the streamlined § 734.8 text is narrower                proposed rule is not intended to change                in any manner.’’
                                                      or broader in scope than the current text               the scope of the current § 734.9.                         Paragraph (a)(2), specifying the
                                                      in § 734.8 are encouraged.                                                                                     concept of transfer or release of
                                                         Proposed notes clarify that technology               Patents                                                technology to a foreign national in the
                                                      initially transferred to researchers, e.g.,                This rulemaking proposes to revise                  United States, or ‘‘deemed export,’’
                                                      by sponsors, may be subject to EAR, and                 current § 734.10, ‘‘Patent applications,’’             reflects the long-standing BIS practice of
                                                      that software and commodities are not                   for clarity. For example, instead of an                treating software source code as
                                                      ‘‘technology resulting from fundamental                 internal cross-reference to the section of             technology for deemed export purposes.
                                                      research.’’ Additional notes clarify                    the EAR identifying items not subject to                  Paragraph (a)(3) includes in the
                                                      when technology is ‘‘intended to be                     the EAR the revised section directly                   definition of ‘‘export’’ transferring by a
                                                      published,’’ as it must be in order to be               states that ‘‘technology’’ is not ‘‘subject            person in the United States of
                                                      not subject to the EAR pursuant to this                 to the EAR’’ if it is contained in the                 registration, control, or ownership (i) of
                                                      section.                                                patent-related documents described in                  a spacecraft subject to the EAR that is
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                                                         Issued in 1985, National Security                    the section. For the sake of structural                not eligible for export under License
                                                      Decision Directive (NSDD)–189                           consistency with the ITAR’s treatment                  Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft that
                                                      established a definition of ‘‘fundamental               of information in patents, paragraph                   provide space-based logistics, assembly
                                                      research’’ that has been incorporated                   (a)(1) is added to state that a patent or              or servicing of any spacecraft) to a
                                                      into numerous regulations, internal                     an open (published) patent application                 person in or a national of any other
                                                      compliance regimes, and guidance                        available from or at any patent office is              country, or (ii) of any other spacecraft
                                                      documents. Therefore, in this                           per se not subject to EAR. The proposed                subject to the EAR to a person in or a
                                                      rulemaking, BIS has proposed a                          revisions do not, however, change the                  national of a Country Group D:5
                                                      definition of ‘‘fundamental research’’                  scope of current § 734.10. The existing                country.


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                                                      31508                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                         Paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) remain                     Paragraph (b) of § 734.13 would retain              Release
                                                      reserved, reflecting placeholders. The                  BIS’s deemed export rule as set forth in
                                                      ITAR’s parallel proposed provisions                     current § 734.2(b). It would also codify                  This provision changes the existing
                                                      would control transfers to embassies                    a long-standing BIS policy that when                   definition of ‘‘release’’ in § 734.2(b)(3)
                                                      within the United States and defense                    technology or source code is released to               and adds it to new § 734.15. Notably,
                                                      services. Neither topic is relevant to the              a foreign national, the export is                      while existing text provides that ‘‘visual
                                                      EAR.                                                    ‘‘deemed’’ to occur to that person’s most              inspection’’ by itself constitutes a
                                                         Paragraph (a)(6) defines as an export                recent country of citizenship or                       release of technical data or source code,
                                                      the release or other transfer of the means              permanent residency. See, e.g., 71 FR                  the proposed text provides that such
                                                      of access to encrypted data. This is                    30840 (May 31, 2006).                                  inspection (including other types of
                                                      intended to complement the exclusion                                                                           inspection in addition to visual, such as
                                                      of certain encrypted data from the                         Paragraph (c) would state that items                aural or tactile) must actually reveal
                                                      definition of export, specified in                      that will transit through a country or                 controlled technology or source code.
                                                      proposed § 734.18(a)(4) and discussed                   countries or will be transshipped in a                 Thus, for example, merely seeing an
                                                      below. Logically, providing the means                   country or countries to a new country,                 item briefly is not necessarily sufficient
                                                      to decrypt or otherwise access                          or are intended for reexport to the new                to constitute a release of the technology
                                                      controlled technology or software that is               country are deemed to be destined to                   required, for example, to develop or
                                                      encrypted should constitute a controlled                the new country. This provision would                  produce it. This rulemaking proposes
                                                      event to the same extent as releasing or                be moved without change from current                   adding ‘‘written’’ to current ‘‘oral
                                                      otherwise transferring the unencrypted                  § 734.2(b)(6).                                         exchanges’’ as a means of release.
                                                      controlled technology or software itself.                  (See proposed corresponding revisions to               The proposed text also clarifies that
                                                      Upon transfer of the means of access to                 § 120.17 of the ITAR.)                                 the application of ‘‘technology’’ and
                                                      encrypted technology or software, the                                                                          ‘‘software’’ is a ‘‘release’’ in situations
                                                      technology or software would acquire                    Reexport
                                                                                                                                                                     where U.S. persons abroad use personal
                                                      the classification and control status of                                                                       knowledge or technical experience
                                                                                                                 The current definitions of reexport
                                                      the underlying technology or software,                                                                         acquired in the United States in a
                                                                                                              and reexport of technology or software
                                                      as specified in proposed § 764.2(l). The                                                                       manner that reveals technology or
                                                                                                              in § 734.2(b) are shipment or
                                                      meaning of ‘‘clear text’’ in the proposed                                                                      software to foreign nationals. This
                                                                                                              transmission of items from one foreign
                                                      definition is no different than an                                                                             clarification makes explicit a long-
                                                                                                              country to another foreign country, and
                                                      industry standard definition, e.g.,                                                                            standing EAR interpretation. This
                                                      information or software that is readable                release of technology or source code to
                                                                                                              a foreign national ‘‘of another country.’’             provision complements proposed new
                                                      without any additional processing and                                                                          § 120.9(a)(5) of the ITAR, which would
                                                      is not encrypted. Comments are                          This rulemaking proposes to move the
                                                                                                              definition of ‘‘reexports’’ to new                     include in the definition of ‘‘defense
                                                      encouraged regarding whether a specific                                                                        service’’ the furnishing of assistance
                                                      EAR definition of the term is warranted                 § 734.14. In general, the provisions of
                                                                                                              the proposed definition of reexport                    (including training) to the government
                                                      and, if so, what the definition should be.                                                                     of a country listed in § 126.1 of the ITAR
                                                         Paragraph (a)(6) of export and                       parallel those of the proposed definition
                                                                                                              of export discussed above, except that                 in the development, production,
                                                      paragraph (a)(4) of reexport in this
                                                                                                              reexports occur outside of the United                  operation, installation, maintenance,
                                                      proposed rule and the DDTC companion
                                                                                                              States. Paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2)                   repair, overhaul or refurbishing of a
                                                      proposed rule present different
                                                                                                              mirror the current definition but divide               defense article or a part, component,
                                                      formulations for this control and the
                                                                                                              it into two paragraphs so that one                     accessory or attachment specially
                                                      agencies request input from the public
                                                      on which text more clearly describes the                paragraph pertains to actual reexports                 designed for a defense article. The
                                                      control. The agencies intend, however,                  and another paragraph is specific to                   proposed definition does not use the
                                                      that the act of providing physical access               deemed reexports. Paragraph (a)(3)                     existing phrase ‘‘visual inspection by
                                                      to unsecured ‘‘technical data’’ (subject                expands on the existing reference to                   foreign nationals of U.S.-origin
                                                      to the ITAR) will be a controlled event.                transfer of registration or operational                equipment and facilities’’ because such
                                                      The mere act of providing physical                      control over satellites in the definition              inspections do not per se release
                                                      access to unsecured ‘‘technology’’                      of reexport in § 772.1 to include                      ‘‘technology.’’ For example, merely
                                                      (subject to the EAR) will not, however,                 transferring by a person outside the                   seeing equipment does not necessarily
                                                      be a controlled event unless it is done                 United States of registration, control, or             mean that the seer is able to glean any
                                                      with ‘‘knowledge’’ that such provision                  ownership (i) of a spacecraft subject to               technology from it and, in any event,
                                                      will cause or permit the transfer of                    the EAR that is not eligible for reexport              not all visible information pertaining to
                                                      controlled ‘‘technology’’ in clear text or              under License Exception STA (i.e.,                     equipment is necessarily ‘‘technology’’
                                                      ‘‘software’’ to a foreign national.                     spacecraft that provide space-based                    subject to the EAR. (See proposed
                                                         This provision is not confined to the                logistics, assembly or servicing of any                corresponding § 120.50 of the ITAR.)
                                                      transfer of cryptographic keys. It                      spacecraft) to a person in or a national               Transfer (In-Country)
                                                      includes release or other transfer of                   of any other country, or (ii) of any other
                                                      passwords, network access codes,                        spacecraft subject to the EAR to a person                 The current definition of transfer (in-
                                                      software or any other information that                  in or a national of a Country Group D:5                country) is the ‘‘shipment, transmission,
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                                                      the exporter ‘‘knows’’ would result in                  country. Paragraph (a)(4) mirrors the                  or release of items subject to the EAR
                                                      the unauthorized transfer of controlled                 proposed addition in the definition of                 from one person to another person that
                                                      technology. As defined in current                       ‘‘export’’ of the concept that releasing or            occurs outside the United States within
                                                      § 772.1 of the EAR, ‘‘knowledge’’                       otherwise transferring, in this case,                  a single foreign country’’ (§ 772.1).
                                                      includes not only positive knowledge                    outside the United States, the means to                There is no difference between this
                                                      that a circumstance exists or is                        transfer to a foreign national controlled              phrase and the phrase ‘‘in-country
                                                      substantially certain to occur, but also                technology or software in readable form                transfer’’ that is used in the EAR.
                                                      an awareness of a high probability of its               constitutes a ‘‘reexport.’’ (See proposed              Variations in the use of the term will be
                                                      existence or future occurrence.                         corresponding § 120.19 of the ITAR.)                   harmonized over time.


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                            31509

                                                         This proposed rule would remove the                  software that is encrypted in a manner                 National Institute for Standards and
                                                      definition from § 772.1 and add a                       described in the proposed section.                     Technology publications, would qualify
                                                      revised definition to new § 734.16. This                Encrypted information—i.e.,                            as sufficient security. FIPS 140–2 is a
                                                      rulemaking proposes: ‘‘a transfer (in-                  information that is not in ‘‘clear text’’—             well understood cryptographic standard
                                                      country) is a change in end use or end                  is not readable, and is therefore useless              used for Federal Government
                                                      user of an item within the same foreign                 to unauthorized parties unless and until               procurement in the United States and
                                                      country.’’ This revision eliminates any                 it is decrypted. As a result, its transfer             Canada, as well as for many other uses,
                                                      potential ambiguity regarding whether a                 in encrypted form consistent with the                  both in the United States and abroad.
                                                      change in end use or end user within a                  requirements of paragraph (a)(4) poses                 However, BIS understands that
                                                      foreign country is or is not a ‘‘transfer               no threat to national security or other                companies may use hardware and
                                                      (in-country).’’ This new text would                     reasons for control and does not                       software that has not been certified by
                                                      parallel the term ‘‘retransfer’’ in the                 constitute an ‘‘actual’’ transmission of               NIST or that does not conform to NIST
                                                      ITAR. (See proposed corresponding                       ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software.’’ Currently,             guidelines (e.g., for internal use or
                                                      definition of retransfer in § 120.51 of the             neither the EAR nor the ITAR makes                     conforming to other standards). To
                                                      ITAR.)                                                  any distinction between encrypted and                  accommodate this, this paragraph
                                                                                                              unencrypted transfers of technology or                 allows for use of ‘‘similarly effective
                                                      Export of Encryption Source Code and                    software for control or definitional                   cryptographic means,’’ meaning that
                                                      Object Code Software                                    purposes.                                              alternative approaches are allowable
                                                         Proposed new § 734.17, export of                        This section specifies the conditions               provided that they work. In such cases,
                                                      encryption source code and object code                  under which this part of the definition                the exporter is responsible for ensuring
                                                      software, would retain the text of                      would apply. An important requirement                  that they work. In contrast, the
                                                      § 734.2(b)(9). It would be moved to this                is that the technology or software be                  corresponding definition proposed by
                                                      section with only minor conforming and                  encrypted ‘‘end-to-end,’’ a phrase that is             DDTC makes FIPS 140–2 conformity a
                                                      clarifying edits so that it is under the                defined in paragraph (b). The intent of                baseline requirement. Hardware and
                                                      section of the regulations that would                   this requirement is that relevant                      software modules must be certified by
                                                      define when such an ‘‘export’’ occurs                   technology or software is encrypted by                 NIST, and NIST key management and
                                                      rather than under the existing                          the originator and remains encrypted                   other implementation standards must be
                                                      ‘‘important EAR terms and principles.’’                 (and thus not readable) until it is                    used. Alternatives are not permitted
                                                      Describing when an export occurs in the                 decrypted by its intended recipient.                   regardless of effectiveness.
                                                      ‘‘export of encryption source code and                  Such technology or software would                         This paragraph also specifically
                                                      object code software’’ section of the                   remain encrypted at every point in                     excludes from the definition technology
                                                      regulations is more clear than under a                  transit or in storage after it was                     and software stored in countries in
                                                      general ‘‘important EAR terms and                       encrypted by the originator until it was               Country Group D:5 and Russia for
                                                      principles’’ heading.                                   decrypted by the recipient.                            foreign policy reasons in light of the
                                                                                                                 BIS understands that end-to-end                     embargoes and policies of presumptive
                                                      Activities That Are Not Exports,                        encryption is not used in all commercial               denial now in place with respect to such
                                                      Reexports, or Transfers                                 situations, particularly when encryption               countries.
                                                         Proposed new § 734.18 gathers                        is provided by third party digital service                Logically, providing keys or other
                                                      existing EAR exclusions from exports,                   providers such as cloud SaaS (software                 information that would allow access to
                                                      reexports, and transfers into a single                  as a service) providers and some email                 encrypted technology or software
                                                      provision, and includes an important                    services. However, in many such                        should be subject to the same type of
                                                      new provision pertaining to encrypted                   situations, technology or software may                 controls as the actual export, reexport,
                                                      technology and software.                                be encrypted and decrypted many times                  or transfer of the technology or software
                                                         Paragraph (a)(1) reflects that by                    before it is finally decrypted and read by             itself. This is specifically addressed in
                                                      statute, launching a spacecraft, launch                 the intended recipient. At these points,               the proposed § 734.13(a)(6) as part of the
                                                      vehicle, payload, or other item into                    it is in clear text and is vulnerable to               definition of ‘‘export.’’ In addition, the
                                                      space is not an export. See 51 U.S.C.                   unauthorized release. BIS considered                   proposed § 764.2(1) states that for
                                                      50919(f).                                               this an unacceptable risk and therefore                enforcement purposes such an
                                                         Paragraph (a)(2), based on existing                  specified the use of end-to-end                        unauthorized release will constitute a
                                                      text in § 734.2(b)(2)(ii), would state that             encryption as part of the proposed                     violation to the same extent as a
                                                      the release in the United States of                     definition. A key requirement of the                   violation in connection with the actual
                                                      technology or software to U.S. nationals,               end-to-end provision is to ensure that                 export, reexport, or transfer (in-country)
                                                      permanent residents, or protected                       no non-US national employee of a                       of the underlying ‘‘technology’’ or
                                                      individuals is not an export.                           domestic cloud service provider or                     ‘‘software.’’
                                                         Paragraph (a)(3) would move from                     foreign digital third party or cloud                      Paragraph (c) confirms that the mere
                                                      current § 734.2(b)(8) text stating that                 service provider can get access to                     ability to access ‘‘technology’’ or
                                                      shipments between or among the states                   controlled technology or software in                   ‘‘software’’ while it is encrypted in a
                                                      or possessions of the United States are                 unencrypted form.                                      manner that satisfies the requirements
                                                      not ‘‘exports’’ or ‘‘reexports.’’ The word                 Paragraph (a)(4)(iii) describes                     in the section does not constitute the
                                                      ‘‘moving’’ and ‘transferring’’ were                     encryption standards for purposes of the               release or export of such ‘‘technology’’
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                                                      inserted next to ‘‘shipment’’ in order to               definition. In this proposed rule, use of              or ‘‘software.’’ This responds to a
                                                      avoid suggesting that the only way                      encryption modules certified under the                 common industry question on the issue.
                                                      movement between or among the states                    Federal Information Processing                         (See proposed corresponding § 120.52 of
                                                      or possessions would not be a                           Standard 140–2 (FIPS 140–2),                           the ITAR.)
                                                      controlled event was if they were                       supplemented by appropriate software
                                                      ‘‘shipped.’’                                            implementation, cryptographic key                      Activities That Are Not Deemed
                                                         Paragraph (a)(4) establishes a specific              management and other procedures or                     Reexports
                                                      carve-out from the definition of                        controls that are in accordance with                     Proposed § 734.20, activities that are
                                                      ‘‘export’’ the transfer of technology and               guidance provided in current U.S.                      not deemed reexports, merely codifies


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                                                      31510                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      BIS’s interagency-cleared Deemed                        Malta, Albania, and Cyprus are in                      2006. The proposed definition includes,
                                                      Reexport Guidance posted on the BIS                     § 124.16, but not in Country Group A:5.                as does the current EAR definition, the
                                                      Web site dated October 31, 2013. This                      For nationals other than those of                   terms ‘‘operation, installation,
                                                      guidance was created so that the                        Country Group A:5 countries, which are                 maintenance, repair, overhaul, or
                                                      provisions regarding possible deemed                    close military allies of the United States,            refurbishing (or other terms specified in
                                                      reexports contained in §§ 124.16 and                    other criteria may apply. In particular,               ECCNs on the CCL that control
                                                      126.18 of the ITAR would be available                   the section specifies the situations in                ‘technology’) of an item’’ because such
                                                      for EAR technology and source code.                     which the releases would not constitute                words are used as to describe
                                                         Under this guidance and new                          deemed exports in a manner consistent                  technology controlled in multiple
                                                      § 734.20, release of technology or source               with § 126.18 of the ITAR. An                          ECCNs, often with ‘‘or’’ rather than the
                                                      code by an entity outside the United                    additional paragraph on scope of                       ‘‘and’’ found in ‘‘use.’’
                                                      States to a foreign national of a country               technology licenses included in the Web                   This rulemaking proposes to
                                                      other than the foreign country where the                site would not be included in this                     incorporate the definitions of ‘‘technical
                                                      release takes place does not constitute a               proposed § 734.20. It would be included                data’’ and ‘‘technical assistance’’ into
                                                      deemed reexport of such technology or                   in proposed § 750.7, discussed below.                  the definition of ‘‘technology’’ as
                                                      source code if the entity is authorized to              For purposes of this section,                          illustrative lists. The note in the existing
                                                      receive the technology or source code at                ‘‘substantive contacts’’ would have the                definition of ‘‘technology’’ that
                                                      issue, whether by a license, license                    same meaning as it has in § 126.18 of                  ‘‘technical assistance’’ ‘‘may take the
                                                      exception, or situations where no                       the ITAR. The proposed phrase                          forms such as instruction, skills
                                                      license is required under the EAR for                   ‘‘permanent and regular employee’’ is a                training, working knowledge, and
                                                      such technology or source code and the                  combination of BIS’s definition of                     consulting services’’ is not repeated
                                                      foreign national’s most recent country of               ‘‘permanent employee,’’ as set forth in a              given that the proposed definition and
                                                      citizenship or permanent residency is                   BIS advisory opinion issued on                         its examples would include any
                                                      that of a country to which export from                  November 19, 2007, and the ITAR’s                      ‘‘technology’’ in such circumstances and
                                                      the United States of the technology or                  definition of ‘‘regular employee’’ in                  in a manner that is harmonized with the
                                                      source code at issue would be                           § 120.39. This proposed rule adds                      ITAR’s definition of technical data.
                                                                                                              specific text excluding persons                           This rulemaking proposes to add a
                                                      authorized by the EAR either under a
                                                                                                              proscribed under U.S. law to make clear                note to address a common industry
                                                      license exception, or in situations where
                                                                                                              that § 734.20 does not authorize release               question about modification. This
                                                      no license under the EAR would be
                                                                                                              of technology to persons proscribed                    proposed rule also would add three
                                                      required.
                                                                                                              under U.S. law, such as those on the                   exclusions to clarify the limits of the
                                                         Release of technology or source code
                                                                                                              Entity List or the Specially Designated                scope of the definition in a manner
                                                      by an entity outside the United States to
                                                                                                              Nationals List, or persons denied export               consistent with long-standing BIS policy
                                                      a foreign national of a country other
                                                                                                              privileges, and defines ‘‘proscribed                   and interpretation of existing scope of
                                                      than the foreign country where the                      person’’ in § 772.1. The US-UK                         ‘‘technology.’’ The first two insertions
                                                      release takes place does not constitute a               Exchange of Notes and US-Canadian                      parallel exclusions in the ITAR and the
                                                      deemed reexport if: (i) The entity is                   Exchange of Letters referred to in the                 third, the exclusion of telemetry data,
                                                      authorized to receive the technology or                 existing online guidance can be found                  mirrors specific exclusions inserted into
                                                      source code at issue, whether by a                      on the State Department’s Web site. The                both the ITAR and the EAR as part of
                                                      license, license exception, or through                  URL’s for the letter are not proposed to               recent changes regarding the scope of
                                                      situations where no license is required                 be published in the EAR since URL                      U.S. export controls pertaining to
                                                      under the EAR; (ii) the foreign national                addresses periodically change. Upon                    satellites and related items. See 79 FR
                                                      is a bona fide regular and permanent                    implementation of a final rule in this                 27417 (May 13, 2014). Several
                                                      employee (who is not a proscribed                       regard, BIS will place the URL                         paragraphs of this section are held in
                                                      person under U.S. law) directly                         references in an ‘‘FAQ’’ section of its                reserve merely to allow the entire
                                                      employed by the entity; (iii) such                      Web site.                                              section to mirror the corresponding
                                                      employee is a national exclusively of a
                                                                                                              Technology                                             ITAR provisions that are not relevant to
                                                      country in Country Group A:5; and (iv)
                                                                                                                                                                     the EAR. (See proposed corresponding
                                                      the release of technology or source code                   Like the current definition of                      revisions to § 120.10 of the ITAR.)
                                                      takes place entirely within the physical                ‘‘technology’’ in the EAR (§ 772.1), the
                                                      territory of any such country. This                     definition proposed in this rulemaking                 Questions and Answers—Technology
                                                      rulemaking also proposes a definition of                is based on the Wassenaar Arrangement                  and Software Subject to the EAR
                                                      ‘‘proscribed person’’ in § 772.1.                       definition of technology. It continues to                 This rulemaking proposes to remove
                                                         This paragraph corresponds to                        rest on the Wassenaar-defined sub-                     Supplement No. 1 to part 734,
                                                      § 124.16 of the ITAR, but the reference                 definitions of ‘‘development,’’                        ‘‘Questions and Answers—Technology
                                                      to Country Group A:5 instead of the                     ‘‘production,’’ and ‘‘use,’’ which are                 and Software Subject to the EAR.’’
                                                      countries in the corresponding ITAR                     currently defined in § 772.1 and which                 Because the questions and answers are
                                                      section varies slightly. This variation is              this rulemaking does not propose to                    illustrative rather than regulatory, they
                                                      a function of BIS’s national security and               change. This rulemaking also does not                  are more appropriately posted as Web
                                                      foreign policy assessment of the                        propose to change BIS’s long-standing                  site guidance than included in the EAR.
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                                                      application of this proposed rule to the                policy that all six activities in the
                                                      nationals of Country Group A:5 and as                   definition of ‘‘use’’ (operation,                      Required
                                                      part of a general BIS effort to reduce the              installation (including on-site                           This proposed rule retains the
                                                      number of variations in groups of                       installation), maintenance (checking),                 existing EAR definition of ‘‘required’’ in
                                                      countries identified in the EAR                         repair, overhaul and refurbishing) must                § 772.1, but proposes adding notes
                                                      consistent with U.S. national security                  be present for an item to be classified                clarifying the application of the term. It
                                                      and foreign policy interests. South                     under an ECCN paragraph that uses                      removes the references in the existing
                                                      Korea and Argentina are in Country                      ‘‘use’’ to describe the ’’technology’’                 definition to CCL Categories 4, 5, 6, and
                                                      Group A:5, but not in ITAR § 124.16.                    controlled. See 71 FR 30842, May 31,                   9 to avoid the suggestion that BIS


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                             31511

                                                      applies the definition of ‘‘required’’ only             was or is being developed for use in or                potentially release. This allows them to
                                                      to the uses of the term in these                        with general purpose commodities or                    be secured and transmitted
                                                      categories. BIS has never had a separate                software, or (d) it was or is being                    independently of the technology they
                                                      definition of ‘‘required’’ used elsewhere               developed with ‘‘knowledge’’ that it                   could be used to release. (See proposed
                                                      in the EAR and this removal merely                      would be for use in or with                            corresponding revisions to § 127.1(b)(4)
                                                      eliminates a potential ambiguity and                    commodities or software described (i) in               of the ITAR.)
                                                      reflects long-standing BIS policy.                      an ECCN controlled for AT-only reasons
                                                         To address common questions BIS has                                                                         Removals From and Additions to EAR’s
                                                                                                              and also EAR99 commodities or
                                                      received regarding the meaning of the                                                                          List of Definitions in § 772.1
                                                                                                              software or (ii) exclusively for use in or
                                                      word ‘‘required,’’ BIS proposes adding                  with EAR99 commodities or software.                       With the changes proposed in this
                                                      two notes to address the questions. The                                                                        rulemaking, there would be stand-alone
                                                      first states that the references to                     Export of Technical Data for U.S.                      sections in the EAR to address the scope
                                                      ‘‘characteristics’’ and ‘‘functions’’ are               Persons Abroad                                         and meaning of ‘‘publicly available
                                                      not limited to entries on the CCL that                     This rulemaking proposes to amend                   information,’’ ‘‘publicly available
                                                      use specific technical parameters to                    the temporary export of technology                     technology and software,’’ and
                                                      describe the scope of what is controlled.               provisions of existing License Exception               ‘‘technical data.’’ To avoid redundancy,
                                                      The ‘‘characteristics’’ and ‘‘functions’’ of            TMP by revising § 740.9(a)(3) to clarify               the existing definitions in § 772.1 would
                                                      an item listed are, absent a specific                   that the ‘‘U.S. employer’’ and ‘‘U.S.                  be removed. In light of the changes
                                                      regulatory definition, a standard                       persons or their employees’’ using this                described above, the definitions of
                                                      dictionary’s definition of the item. It                 license exception are not foreign                      ‘‘basic scientific research,’’ ‘‘export,’’
                                                      then includes examples of this point.                   subsidiaries. The proposed paragraph                   ‘‘reexport,’’ ‘‘required,’’ ‘‘technology,’’
                                                      The second refers to the fact that the                  streamlines current text without                       and ‘‘transfer’’ would be revised
                                                      ITAR and the EAR often divide within                    changing the scope. (See proposed                      accordingly. A clarifying note would be
                                                      each set of regulations or between each                 corresponding revisions to § 125.4(b)(9)               added at the bottom of the definition
                                                      set of regulations (a) controls on parts,               of the ITAR.)                                          that the use of ‘‘transfer’’ does not apply
                                                      components, accessories, attachments,                   Scope of a License                                     to the unrelated ‘‘transfers of licenses’’
                                                      and software and (b) controls on the end                                                                       provision in § 750.10 or the antiboycott
                                                      items, systems, equipment, or other                        This proposed revision would                        provisions in Supplement No. 8 to part
                                                      articles into which those parts,                        implement in the EAR the interagency-                  760 of the EAR. It also states that the
                                                      components, accessories, attachments,                   agreed boilerplate for all licenses that               term ‘‘transfer’’ may also be included on
                                                      and software are to be installed or                     was posted on the BIS Web site and                     licenses issued by BIS. In that regard,
                                                      incorporated. Moreover, with the                        began appearing on licenses December                   the changes that can be made to a BIS
                                                      exception of technical data specifically                8, 2014. It is a slight revision to the                license are the non-material changes
                                                      enumerated on the USML, the                             existing § 750.7(a), which states that                 described in § 750.7(c). Any other
                                                      jurisdictional status of unclassified                   licenses authorize only the                            change to a BIS license without
                                                      technical data or ‘‘technology’’ is the                 transaction(s) described in the license                authorization is a violation of the EAR.
                                                      same as the jurisdictional status of the                application and the license application                See §§ 750.7(c) and 764.2(e). Finally,
                                                      defense article or item to which it is                  support documents. This proposed                       consistent with the explanations above,
                                                      directly related. Examples of this point                revision would also codify the existing                definitions for the terms ‘‘applied
                                                      are provided. (See proposed                             interpretation that a license authorizing              research,’’ ‘‘fundamental research,’’
                                                      corresponding revisions to § 120.46 of                  the release of technology to an entity                 ‘‘peculiarly responsible,’’ ‘‘publicly
                                                      the ITAR.)                                              also authorizes the release of the same                available encryption software,’’
                                                                                                              technology to the entity’s foreign                     ‘‘published,’’ and ‘‘release’’ would be
                                                      Peculiarly Responsible                                  nationals who are permanent and                        added to § 772.1.
                                                         This rulemaking proposes a definition                regular employees of the entity’s facility
                                                      of the currently undefined term                         or facilities authorized on the license,               Public Comments
                                                      ‘‘peculiarly responsible’’ in order to                  except to the extent a license condition                 BIS welcomes comments on any
                                                      respond to common industry questions.                   limits or prohibits the release of the                 aspects of this proposed rule. With
                                                      The new definition would be modeled                     technology to nationals of specific                    respect to the proposed revisions, BIS
                                                      on the catch-and-release structure BIS                  countries or country groups.                           would like to receive comments that are
                                                      adopted for the definition of ‘‘specially                                                                      as specific and well-supported as
                                                      designed.’’ Thus, under the proposed                    Release of Protected Information
                                                                                                                                                                     possible. Particularly helpful comments
                                                      definition, an item is ‘‘peculiarly                        This rulemaking proposes adding a                   will include a description of a problem
                                                      responsible’’ for achieving or exceeding                new paragraph (l) to § 764.2                           or concern, available data on cost or
                                                      any referenced controlled performance                   ‘‘Violations.’’ This paragraph would                   economic impact, and a proposed
                                                      levels, characteristics, or functions if it             provide that the unauthorized release of               solution. BIS also welcomes comments
                                                      is used in ‘‘development,’’                             decryption keys or other information                   on aspects of this proposed rule that the
                                                      ‘‘production,’’ ‘‘use,’’ operation,                     that would allow access to particular                  public considers effective or well
                                                      installation, maintenance, repair,                      controlled technology or software                      designed.
                                                      overhaul, or refurbishing of an item                    would, for enforcement purposes,                         BIS specifically solicits comment on
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                                                      subject to the EAR unless (a) the                       constitute a violation to the same extent              the following issues:
                                                      Department of Commerce has                              as a violation in connection with the                    1. Whether the revisions proposed in
                                                      determined otherwise in a commodity                     export of the underlying controlled                    this rulemaking create gaps, overlaps, or
                                                      classification determination, (b) it is                 ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software.’’ Under                  contradictions between the EAR and the
                                                      identical to information used in or with                these and other related provisions, the                ITAR, or among various provisions
                                                      a commodity or software that is or was                  decryption keys (or other technology),                 within the EAR;
                                                      in production and is EAR99 or                           while subject to the EAR, do not                         2. Whether the alternative definition
                                                      described in an ECCN controlled only                    themselves retain the classification of                of fundamental research suggested in
                                                      for Anti-Terrorism (AT) reasons, (c) it                 the technology that they could                         the preamble should be adopted;


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                                                      31512                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                         3. Whether the alternative definition                Administration Act, as appropriate and                 State) is to provide greater clarity and
                                                      of applied research suggested in the                    to the extent permitted by law, pursuant               precision in the EAR and the ITAR by
                                                      preamble should be adopted, or whether                  to Executive Order 13222 as amended                    providing common definitions and
                                                      basic and applied research definitions                  by Executive Order 13637.                              common terms to regulate the same
                                                      are needed given that they are                                                                                 types of actions. The proposed rule also
                                                                                                              Regulatory Requirements
                                                      subsumed by fundamental research;                                                                              seeks to express some concepts more
                                                         4. Whether the questions and answers                    1. Executive Orders 13563 and 12866                 clearly.
                                                      in existing Supplement No. 1 to part 734                direct agencies to assess all costs and                   The proposed rule would alter
                                                      proposed to be removed by this                          benefits of available regulatory                       definitions in the EAR. It also would
                                                      rulemaking have criteria that should be                 alternatives and, if regulation is                     update and clarify application of
                                                      retained in part 734;                                   necessary, to select regulatory                        controls to electronically transmitted
                                                         5. With respect to end-to-end                        approaches that maximize net benefits                  technology and software.
                                                      encryption described in the proposed                    (including potential economic,                            The legal basis for this proposed rule
                                                      revision of the definition of ‘‘Activities              environmental, public health and safety                is 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50 U.S.C.
                                                      that are Not Exports, Reexports, or                     effects, distribute impacts, and equity).              1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099,
                                                      Transfers,’’ whether the illustrative                   Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the                   3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13020,
                                                      standard proposed in the EAR                            importance of quantifying both costs                   61 FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
                                                      rulemaking also should be adopted in                    and benefits, of reducing costs, of                    219; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR,
                                                      the ITAR rulemaking; whether the safe                   harmonizing rules, and of promoting                    1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR
                                                      harbor standard proposed in the ITAR                    flexibility. This proposed rule has been               44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O.
                                                      rulemaking also should be adopted in                    designated a ‘‘significant regulatory                  13637 of March 8, 2013, 78 FR 16129
                                                      the EAR rulemaking; or whether the two                  action,’’ although not economically                    (March 13, 2013); Notice of August 7,
                                                      bodies of regulations should have                       significant, under section 3(f) of                     2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014);
                                                      different standards;                                    Executive Order 12866. Accordingly,                    Notice of November 7, 2014, 79 FR
                                                         6. Whether encryption standards                      this proposed rule has been reviewed by                67035 (November 12, 2014).
                                                      adequately address data storage and                     the Office of Management and Budget                       No other Federal rules duplicate,
                                                      transmission issues with respect to                     (OMB).                                                 overlap, or conflict with this proposed
                                                      export controls; and                                       2. This proposed rule does not                      rule.
                                                         7. Whether the proposed definition of                contain information collections subject
                                                      ‘‘peculiarly responsible’’ effectively                                                                         Number and Description of Small
                                                                                                              to the requirements of the Paperwork
                                                      explains how items may be ‘‘required’’                                                                         Entities Regulated by the Proposed
                                                                                                              Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
                                                      or ‘‘specially designed’’ for particular                                                                       Action
                                                                                                              et seq.) (PRA). Notwithstanding any
                                                      functions.                                              other provision of law, no person is                      This proposed rule would apply to all
                                                         8. The public is asked to comment on                 required to respond to, nor is subject to              persons engaged in the export, reexport,
                                                      the effective date of the final rule.                   a penalty for failure to comply with, a                or transfer of commodities, technology
                                                      Export Control Reform rules that revised                collection of information, subject to the              or software that is regulated by the EAR.
                                                      categories of the USML and created new                  requirements of the PRA, unless that                   BIS does not maintain data from which
                                                      600 series ECCNs have had a six-month                   collection of information displays a                   it can determine how many of those
                                                      delayed effective date to allow for                     currently valid OMB control number.                    persons are small entities as identified
                                                      exporters to update the classification of                  3. This proposed rule does not                      in the Small Business Administration
                                                      their items. In general, rules effecting                contain policies with Federalism                       size standards. Nevertheless, BIS
                                                      export controls have been effective on                  implications as that term is defined                   recognizes that some of those persons
                                                      the date of publication, due to the                     under E.O. 13132.                                      are likely to be small entities.
                                                      impact on national security and foreign                    4. Pursuant to the Regulatory
                                                      policy. As this proposed rule, and the                                                                         Description of the Projected Reporting,
                                                                                                              Flexibility Act, as amended by the
                                                      companion proposed rule from the                                                                               Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance
                                                                                                              Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                                      Directorate of Defense Trade Controls,                                                                         Requirements of the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                              Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 601 et
                                                      revise definitions within the ITAR and                  seq., BIS has prepared the following                      This proposed rule is unlikely to
                                                      the EAR and do not make any changes                     initial Regulatory Flexibility Act                     increase the number of transactions that
                                                      to the USML or CCL, a 30-day delayed                    analysis of the potential impact that this             must be reported to BIS because EAR
                                                      effective date is proposed to allow                     proposed rule, if adopted, would have                  reporting requirements apply only in
                                                      exporters to ensure continued                           on small entities.                                     five specific situations, none of which
                                                      compliance.                                                                                                    would change as a result of this
                                                                                                              Description of the Reasons Why Action                  proposed rule. Those situations are:
                                                      Export Administration Act                               Is Being Considered                                    Exports that do not require a license of
                                                        Although the Export Administration                       The policy reasons for issuing this                 items on the Wassenaar Arrangement
                                                      Act expired on August 20, 2001, the                     proposed rule are discussed in the                     Sensitive List; Exports of High
                                                      President, through Executive Order                      background section of the preamble of                  Performance Computers; Exports of
                                                      13222 of August 17, 2001, 3 CFR, 2001                   this document, and are not repeated                    certain thermal imaging cameras that do
                                                      Comp., p. 783 (2002), as amended by                     here.                                                  not require a license; Certain exports of
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                                                      Executive Order 13637 of March 8,                                                                              Conventional Arms; and 600 series
                                                      2013, 78 FR 16129 (March 13, 2013) and                  Statement of the Objectives of, and
                                                                                                                                                                     major defense equipment.
                                                      as extended by the Notice of August 7,                  Legal Basis for, the Proposed Rule;                       Because recordkeeping requirements
                                                      2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014),                    Identification of All Relevant Federal                 already apply to all transactions that are
                                                      has continued the Export                                Rules Which May Duplicate, Overlap, or                 subject to the EAR, BIS expects that this
                                                      Administration Regulations in effect                    Conflict With the Proposed Rule                        proposed rule would not expand
                                                      under the International Emergency                         The objective of this proposed rule                  recordkeeping requirements.
                                                      Economic Powers Act. BIS continues to                   (and a proposed rule being published                      It is possible that some of these
                                                      carry out the provisions of the Export                  simultaneously by the Department of                    changes would increase the number of


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                            31513

                                                      licenses that some small entities would                 However, by removing the transactions                  definition of ‘‘applied research.’’ The
                                                      have to seek from BIS although BIS is                   it describes from the definitions of                   information arising from fundamental
                                                      not aware of any specific instance in                   exports, reexports, or transfers, it                   research is not subject to the EAR.
                                                      which additional licenses would be                      removes existing license requirements                  Fundamental research consists of basic
                                                      required.                                               from those transactions.                               and applied research where the results
                                                         The following discussion describes                      Clarify without substantively                       are ordinarily published and shared
                                                      the changes that would be made by this                  changing the provisions related to                     broadly within the scientific
                                                      proposed rule. It is divided into two                   patent applications and add specific text              community. This proposed rule would
                                                      sections: Changes that BIS believes                     stating that technology contained in a                 retain the overall concept of
                                                      would not impose any new regulatory                     patent available from or at any patent                 fundamental research that is currently
                                                      obligations; and Changes that are not                   office is not subject to the EAR. The                  in the EAR, but would remove certain
                                                      intended to imposed any new regulatory                  addition reflects BIS’ long-standing                   limitations based on the type of
                                                      obligation, but that BIS cannot state                   interpretation. To the extent that it                  institution in which the research takes
                                                      with certainty would not do so.                         could be characterized as new, its only                place, relocate the definition of ‘‘basic
                                                                                                              effect would be to appear to release from              research’’ from the definitions section of
                                                      Changes That BIS Believes Would Not
                                                                                                              the EAR technology that some readers of                the EAR to the section dealing with
                                                      Impose Any New Regulatory Burden
                                                                                                              the EAR might have (erroneously)                       fundamental research and provide a
                                                         This proposed rule would make                        concluded was subject to the EAR.                      definition of applied research.
                                                      certain changes to clarify and streamline                  Add to License Exception TMP text to                   Add to the EAR a definition of the
                                                      the definitions of comparable terms,                    emphasize that foreign subsidiaries of                 term ‘‘peculiarly responsible.’’ That
                                                      phrases, and concepts between the EAR                   U.S. companies are neither U.S.                        currently undefined term appears in the
                                                      and the ITAR. Many of these changes                     employers nor ‘‘U.S. persons or their                  definitions of ‘‘specially designed’’ and
                                                      are technical in nature and attempt to                  employees’’ as those terms are used in                 of ‘‘required’’ in the EAR. This proposed
                                                      consolidate and re-phrase the                           the license exception. This additional                 rule would define that term.
                                                      definitions to enhance readability and to               text adds no restriction that is not                      Add to the EAR a definition of
                                                      parallel the structure of the ITAR’s                    already imposed by the definition of                   ‘‘proscribed person.’’ This definition
                                                      definition of the same term. However,                   ‘‘U.S. persons’’ that currently appears in             does not create any new regulated class.
                                                      there are a small number of new                         the text of License Exception TMP.                     It simply provides a clear, shorthand
                                                      provisions, but these changes would not                    Add text codifying in the EAR limits                reference to a person who is already
                                                      impose any new regulatory burdens.                      on transactions authorized by a license                prohibited from receiving items or
                                                      Specifically, this proposed rule would                  that currently are imposed by                          participating in a transaction that is
                                                      make the following changes:                             conditions on the license itself.                      subject to the EAR without
                                                         Remove § 734.2(b) which currently                       Add text prohibiting the release or                 authorization by virtue of U.S. law, such
                                                      defines export, reexport, release,                      other transfer of information (e.g.,                   as persons on the Entity List, Specially
                                                      transfer (in country) and export of                     decryption keys, passwords or access                   Designated Nationals, or debarred
                                                      encryption source code or object code                   codes) with knowledge that such release                parties.
                                                      software, because those terms would be                  or other transfer will result in an                       Remove from the definition of the
                                                      defined in separate sections. Section                   unauthorized export, reexport or                       term ‘‘required’’ references to CCL
                                                      734.2(b) also states the policy of                      transfer of other technology or software.              Categories 4, 5, 6 and 9 to accurately
                                                      applying license requirements that                      This addition provides specific grounds                reflect BIS’ long-standing interpretation
                                                      apply to a country to its dependencies                  for bringing charges with respect to one               that its definition applies wherever the
                                                      and possessions; this policy is currently               particular type of misconduct. However,                EAR imposes a license requirement for
                                                      stated elsewhere in the EAR.                            existing EAR provisions, including the                 technology ‘‘required’’ for a particular
                                                         Create new separate sections defining                prohibition on causing, aiding or                      process or activity.
                                                      export, reexport, release and export of                 abetting a violation of the EAR or                        In the definition of ‘‘transfer (in-
                                                      encryption source code or object code                   license, authorization or order could be               country),’’ replace the phrase
                                                      software. Those terms would be                          used to bring charges for that same type               ‘‘shipment, transmission, or release of
                                                      clarified and presented in a more                       of misconduct.                                         items subject to the EAR from one
                                                      organized manner, but substantively                                                                            person to another person that occurs
                                                      unchanged from the existing regulatory                  Changes That Are Not Intended To                       outside the United States within a single
                                                      text.                                                   Impose Any Regulatory Obligation, but                  foreign country’’ with ‘‘a change in end
                                                         Create a new section identifying                     That BIS Cannot State With Certainty                   use or end user of an item within the
                                                      activities that are not exports, reexports,             Would Not Do So                                        same foreign country.’’ This new text
                                                      or transfers. This section restates the                    This proposed rule would add                        would parallel the term ‘‘retransfer’’ in
                                                      transactions that are excluded from the                 definitions for two new terms ‘‘applied                the ITAR and would eliminate any
                                                      definition of export in current                         research,’’ and ‘‘peculiarly responsible’’             potential ambiguity that a change in end
                                                      regulatory text and adds two additional                 and revise the definitions of two                      use or end user within a foreign country
                                                      activities that would be expressly                      existing terms ‘‘required’’ and ‘‘transfer             is or is not a ‘‘transfer (in-country).’’
                                                      declared not to be exports, rexports or                 (in-country).’’ It also would adopt BIS’                  Each of the foregoing changes would
                                                      transfers: space launches and sending,                  interpretative guidance regarding                      serve the overall policy goals of
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                                                      taking or storing certain technology or                 deemed reexports as regulatory text.                   reducing uncertainty and harmonizing
                                                      software abroad using specified                         These changes are not intended to                      the requirements of the ITAR and the
                                                      cryptographic techniques. The former,                   impose any regulatory obligations on                   EAR. In most instances, reduced
                                                      although not expressly in the current                   regulated entities, but BIS cannot state               uncertainty will be beneficial to persons
                                                      regulatory text, is required by statute                 with certainty that there will be no                   who have to comply with the
                                                      (see 51 U.S.C. 50919(f)) and consistent                 impact. This proposed rule would make                  regulations, particularly persons who
                                                      with current BIS practice of not treating               the following changes:                                 engage in transactions subject to both
                                                      a space launch as an export, reexport or                   Add to the existing definition of                   sets of regulations. They would be able
                                                      transfer. The latter is, in fact, new.                  ‘‘fundamental research’’ a new                         to make decisions more quickly and


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                                                      31514                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      have less need to contact BIS for advice.               alternatives. Those alternatives are: (1)              rule, those entities would face a more
                                                      Additionally, by making these terms                     The preferred alternative of altering                  complicated regulatory environment
                                                      more explicit, the possibility of their                 definitions and updating and clarifying                than larger entities. The small entities
                                                      being interpreted contrary to BIS’ intent               application of controls to electronically              would continue to be subject to the EAR
                                                      is reduced. Such contrary                               transmitted technology and software; (2)               as a whole but without the benefit of the
                                                      interpretations would have three                        Maintaining the status quo and not                     clarifications introduced by this
                                                      undesirable effects. First, they would                  revising the definitions or updating and               proposed rule. The only way to make a
                                                      undermine the national security and                     clarifying application of controls to                  size threshold beneficial to entities
                                                      foreign policy objectives that the EAR                  electronically transmitted technology                  falling below the threshold would be to
                                                      are intended to implement. Second,                      and software; and (3) Establishing a size              exempt them from all or at least many
                                                      persons who are interpreting the                        threshold below which entities would                   of the requirements of the EAR.
                                                      regulations in a less restrictive manner                not be subject to the changes proposed                 However, doing so would create a major
                                                      than BIS intends may seek fewer                         by this rulemaking.                                    loophole allowing commodities,
                                                      licenses from BIS than their competitors                   By altering definitions and updating                software, and technology that are
                                                      who are interpreting the regulations                    and clarifying application of controls to              controlled for export for national
                                                      consistent with BIS’ intent or who are                  electronically transmitted technology                  security or foreign policy reasons to go,
                                                      obtaining advice from BIS, thereby                      and software as this proposed rule                     without restriction, to any party abroad,
                                                      gaining a commercial advantage to the                   would do, BIS would be reducing                        undermining the interests that the
                                                      detriment of the relevant national                      uncertainty for all parties engaged in                 regulations are intended to protect.
                                                      security or foreign policy interests.                   transactions that are subject to the EAR.              Therefore, BIS has not adopted this
                                                      Third, unnecessary regulatory                           Potential ambiguities would be reduced;                alternative.
                                                      complexity and unnecessary differences                  decisions could be made more quickly;
                                                      between the terminology of the ITAR                     the need to contact BIS for advice be                  List of Subjects
                                                      and that of the EAR could discourage                    reduced; and the possibility of                        15 CFR Parts 734 and 772
                                                      small entities from even attempting to                  inconsistent interpretations providing
                                                                                                              one party commercial advantages over                     Exports.
                                                      export. The beneficial effects of making
                                                      these terms more explicit justify any                   others would be reduced. Persons                       15 CFR Parts 740 and 750
                                                      economic impact that might be incurred                  (including small entities) engaged in                    Administrative practice and
                                                      by small entities that would have to                    transactions that are subject to the ITAR
                                                                                                                                                                     procedure, Exports, Reporting and
                                                      change their conduct because their                      and transactions that are subject to the
                                                                                                                                                                     recordkeeping requirements.
                                                      contrary interpretations could no longer                EAR would face fewer actual or
                                                      be defended given the clearer and more                  apparent inconsistencies that must be                  15 CFR Part 764
                                                      explicit terms in the regulations.                      addressed in their regulatory                            Administrative practice and
                                                         This proposed rule also would add to                 compliance programs. Although small                    procedure, Exports, Law enforcement,
                                                      the EAR a description of activities that                entities, along with all other parties,                Penalties.
                                                      are not deemed reexports. This                          would need to become familiar with the
                                                                                                                                                                       For the reasons stated in the
                                                      description currently appears as                        revised terminology, in the long run,
                                                                                                                                                                     preamble, parts 734, 740, 750, 764, and
                                                      interpretative guidance on BIS’ Web site                compliance costs are likely to be
                                                                                                                                                                     772 of the Export Administration
                                                      and closely tracks the regulatory text of               reduced when compared to the present
                                                                                                                                                                     Regulations (15 CFR subchapter C) are
                                                      the ITAR. Deemed reexports are releases                 situation where the ITAR and the EAR
                                                                                                                                                                     proposed to be amended as follows:
                                                      of technology or software source code                   use different terminology to regulate the
                                                      within a single foreign country by a                    same types of activity in the same                     PART 734—SCOPE OF THE EXPORT
                                                      party located outside the United States                 manner. Therefore, BIS adopted this                    ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS
                                                      to a national of a country other than the               alternative.
                                                      country in which the releasing party is                    If BIS chose to maintain the status                 ■ 1. The authority citation for part 734
                                                      located. The guidance describes three                   quo, small entities and other parties                  continues to read as follows:
                                                      situations in which that party may                      would not have to incur the cost and                     Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50
                                                      release the technology or source code                   effort of becoming familiar with the                   U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 12938, 59 FR 59099,
                                                      without obtaining a license from BIS.                   revised regulations and any party who                  3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 950; E.O. 13020, 61
                                                         By adopting this guidance as                         is currently interpreting the regulations              FR 54079, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 219; E.O.
                                                      regulatory text that closely tracks the                 that would clearly be precluded by the                 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p.
                                                      text governing the same activities in the               more explicit interpretations would                    228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
                                                      ITAR, BIS reduces both complexity and                   incur the cost of complying with the                   Comp., p. 783; E.O. 13637 of March 8, 2013,
                                                      unnecessary differences between the                     regulations consistent with their                      78 FR 16129 (March 13, 2013); Notice of
                                                                                                              underlying intent and in the way that                  August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11,
                                                      two sets of regulations with the salutary
                                                                                                                                                                     2014) ; Notice of November 7, 2014, 79 FR
                                                      effects of faster decision making,                      BIS believes most regulated parties do.                67035 (November 12, 2014).
                                                      reduced need to contact BIS for advice                  However, the benefits of these proposed
                                                      and reduced possibility that small                      changes would be lost. Those benefits,                 § 734.2—[Amended]
                                                      entities would be discouraged from                      greater clarity, consistency between the               ■ 2. Section 734.2 is amended by
                                                      exporting as noted above.                               ITAR and the EAR, and reduced
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                                                                                                                                                                     revising the heading to read as follows
                                                                                                              possibility of inconsistent application of             and by removing and reserving
                                                      Description of Any Significant                          the regulations by similarly situated
                                                      Alternatives to the Proposed Rule That                                                                         paragraph (b).
                                                                                                              regulated parties, would be foregone.
                                                      Accomplish the Stated Objectives of                     Therefore, BIS has not adopted this                    § 734.2   Subject to the EAR.
                                                      Applicable Statutes and That Minimize                   alternative.                                           ■ 3. Section 734.3 is amended by
                                                      Any Significant Economic Impact of the                     If BIS chose to create a size threshold             revising paragraph (b) introductory text,
                                                      Proposed Rule on Small Entities                         exempting small entities as currently                  paragraph (b)(3), the Note to paragraphs
                                                        As required by 5 U.S.C. 603(c), BIS’                  defined by the SBA size standards from                 (b)(2) and (b)(3), and the Note to
                                                      analysis considered significant                         the changes imposed by this proposed                   paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows.


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                                31515

                                                      § 734.3   Items subject to the EAR.                        (4) Public dissemination (i.e.,                       (2) Prepublication review is
                                                      *       *    *     *     *                              unlimited distribution) in any form (e.g.,             conducted by a sponsor of research
                                                         (b) The following are not subject to                 not necessarily in published form),                    solely to insure that the publication
                                                      the EAR:                                                including posting on the Internet on                   would not inadvertently divulge
                                                      *       *    *     *     *                              sites available to the public; or                      proprietary information that the sponsor
                                                         (3) Information and ‘‘software’’ that:                  (5) Submission of a written                         has furnished to the researchers; or
                                                         (i) Are ‘‘published,’’ as described in               composition, manuscript or                               (3) With respect to research
                                                      § 734.7;                                                presentation to domestic or foreign co-                conducted by scientists or engineers
                                                         (ii) Arise during, or result from,                   authors, editors, or reviewers of                      working for a Federal agency or a
                                                      ‘‘fundamental research,’’ as described in               journals, magazines, newspapers or                     Federally Funded Research and
                                                      § 734.8;                                                trade publications, or to organizers of                Development Center (FFRDC), within
                                                         (iii) Concern general scientific,                    open conferences or other open                         any appropriate system devised by the
                                                      mathematical, or engineering principles                 gatherings, with the intention that the                agency or the FFRDC to control the
                                                      commonly taught in schools, and                         compositions, manuscripts, or                          release of information by such scientists
                                                      released by instruction in a catalog                    publications will be made publicly                     and engineers.
                                                      course or associated teaching laboratory                available if accepted for publication or
                                                                                                                                                                        Note 1 to paragraph (b): Although
                                                      of an academic institution; or                          presentation.
                                                                                                                                                                     ‘‘technology’’ arising during or resulting from
                                                         (iv) Appear in patents or open                          (b) Published encryption software
                                                                                                                                                                     fundamental research is not considered
                                                      (published) patent applications                         classified under ECCN 5D002 remains                    ‘‘intended to be published’’ if researchers
                                                      available from or at any patent office,                 subject to the EAR unless it is publicly               accept restrictions on its publication, such
                                                      unless covered by an invention secrecy                  available encryption object code                       ‘‘technology’’ will nonetheless qualify as
                                                      order, or are otherwise patent                          software classified under ECCN 5D002                   ‘‘technology’’ arising during or resulting from
                                                      information as described in § 734.10.                   and the corresponding source code                      fundamental research once all such
                                                                                                              meets the criteria specified in                        restrictions have expired or have been
                                                         Note to paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3): A                                                                     removed.
                                                      printed book or other printed material setting          § 740.13(e) of the EAR.
                                                                                                              ■ 5. Section 734.8 is revised to read as
                                                      forth encryption source code is not itself                                                                       Note 2 to paragraph (b): Except as
                                                      subject to the EAR (see § 734.3(b)(2)).                 follows:
                                                                                                                                                                     provided in § 734.11, ‘‘technology’’ that is
                                                      However, notwithstanding § 734.3(b)(2),                                                                        subject to other publication restrictions, such
                                                                                                              § 734.8 ‘‘Technology’’ that arises during,
                                                      encryption source code in electronic form or            or results from, fundamental research.                 as U.S. government-imposed access and
                                                      media (e.g., computer diskette or CD ROM)                                                                      dissemination controls, is not ‘‘intended to
                                                      remains subject to the EAR (see § 734.17)).               (a) ‘‘Technology’’ that arises during,
                                                                                                                                                                     be published.’’
                                                      Publicly available encryption object code               or results from, fundamental research
                                                      software classified under ECCN 5D002 is not             and is ‘intended to be published’ is thus                 (c) Fundamental research definition.
                                                      subject to the EAR when the corresponding               not ‘‘subject to the EAR.’’                            ‘‘Fundamental research’’ means basic or
                                                      source code meets the criteria specified in                Note 1 to paragraph (a): The inputs used            applied research in science and
                                                      § 740.13(e) of the EAR.                                 to conduct fundamental research, such as               engineering, the results of which
                                                                                                              information, equipment, or software, are not           ordinarily are published and shared
                                                         Note to paragraph (b)(3): Except as set
                                                                                                              ‘‘technology that arises during or results from        broadly within the scientific
                                                      forth in part 760 of this title, information that       fundamental research’’ except to the extent
                                                      is not within the scope of the definition of                                                                   community. This is distinguished from
                                                                                                              that such inputs are ‘‘technology’’ that arose         proprietary research and from industrial
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ (see § 772.1 of the EAR) is not          during or resulted from earlier fundamental
                                                      subject to the EAR.                                     research.
                                                                                                                                                                     development, design, production, and
                                                                                                                                                                     product utilization, the results of which
                                                      *     *    *     *      *                                 Note 2 to paragraph (a): There are                   ordinarily are restricted for proprietary
                                                      ■ 4. Section 734.7 is revised to read as                instances in the conduct of research, whether          or national security reasons.
                                                      follows:                                                fundamental, basic, or applied, where a                   (1) ‘‘Basic research’’ means
                                                                                                              researcher, institution or company may                 experimental or theoretical work
                                                      § 734.7   Published.
                                                                                                              decide to restrict or protect the release or
                                                         (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b)                                                                    undertaken principally to acquire new
                                                                                                              publication of ‘‘technology’’ contained in
                                                      of this section, unclassified                           research results. Once a decision is made to           knowledge of the fundamental
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’ is                       maintain such ‘‘technology’’ as restricted or          principles of phenomena or observable
                                                      ‘‘published,’’ and is thus not                          proprietary, the ‘‘technology,’’ if within the         facts, not primarily directed towards a
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’ subject to               scope of § 734.3(a), becomes ‘‘subject to the          specific practical aim or objective.
                                                                                                              EAR.’’                                                    (2) ‘‘Applied research’’ means the
                                                      the EAR, when it has been made
                                                      available to the public without                            (b) Prepublication review.                          effort that:
                                                      restrictions upon its further                           ‘‘Technology’’ that arises during, or                     (i) Normally follows basic research,
                                                      dissemination such as through any of                    results, from fundamental research is                  but may not be severable from the
                                                      the following:                                          ‘‘intended to be published’’ to the extent             related basic research;
                                                         (1) Subscriptions available without                  that the researchers are free to publish                  (ii) Attempts to determine and exploit
                                                      restriction to any individual who                       the technology contained in the research               the potential of scientific discoveries or
                                                      desires to obtain or purchase the                       without restriction or delay.                          improvements in technology, materials,
                                                      published information;                                  ‘‘Technology’’ that arises during or                   processes, methods, devices, or
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                                                         (2) Libraries or other public                        results from fundamental research                      techniques; and
                                                      collections that are open and available                 subject to prepublication review is still                 (iii) Attempts to advance the state of
                                                      to the public, and from which the public                ‘‘intended to be published’’ when:                     the art.
                                                      can obtain tangible or intangible                          (1) Prepublication review is
                                                      documents;                                              conducted solely to ensure that                        § 734.9   [Removed and Reserved]
                                                         (3) Unlimited distribution at a                      publication would not compromise                       ■ 6. Section 734.9 is removed and
                                                      conference, meeting, seminar, trade                     patent rights, so long as the review                   reserved.
                                                      show, or exhibition, generally accessible               causes no more than a temporary delay                  ■ 7. Section 734.10 is revised to read as
                                                      to the interested public;                               in publication of the research results;                follows:


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                                                      31516                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      § 734.10   Patents.                                        (1) An actual shipment or                           assembly or servicing of any spacecraft)
                                                         ‘‘Technology’’ is not ‘‘subject to the               transmission out of the United States,                 to a person in or a national of any other
                                                      EAR’’ if it is contained in:                            including the sending or taking of an                  country; or
                                                         (a) A patent or an open (published)                  item out of the United States, in any                     (ii) Any other spacecraft subject to the
                                                      patent application available from or at                 manner;                                                EAR to a person in or a national of a
                                                      any patent office;                                         (2) Releasing or otherwise transferring             Country Group D:5 country; or
                                                         (b) A published patent or patent                     ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ (but not                (4) Releasing or otherwise transferring
                                                      application prepared wholly from                        ‘‘object code’’) to a foreign national in              outside of the United States decryption
                                                      foreign-origin technology where the                     the United States (a ‘‘deemed export’’);               keys, network access codes, passwords,
                                                      application is being sent to the foreign                   (3) Transferring by a person in the                 ‘‘software,’’ or other information with
                                                      inventor to be executed and returned to                 United States of registration, control, or             ‘‘knowledge’’ that such provision will
                                                      the United States for subsequent filing                 ownership of:                                          cause or permit the transfer of other
                                                      in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;                   (i) A spacecraft subject to the EAR                 ‘‘technology’’ in clear text or ‘‘software’’
                                                         (c) A patent application, or an                      that is not eligible for export under                  to a foreign national.
                                                      amendment, modification, supplement                     License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft                   (b) Any release outside of the United
                                                      or division of an application, and                      that provide space-based logistics,                    States of ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’
                                                      authorized for filing in a foreign country              assembly or servicing of any spacecraft)               subject to the EAR to a foreign national
                                                      in accordance with the regulations of                   to a person in or a national of any other              of another country is a deemed reexport
                                                      the Patent and Trademark Office, 37                     country; or                                            to the foreign national’s most recent
                                                      CFR part 5; or                                             (ii) Any other spacecraft subject to the            country of citizenship or permanent
                                                         (d) A patent application when sent to                EAR to a person in or a national of a                  residency, except as described in
                                                      a foreign country before or within six                  Country Group D:5 country; or                          § 734.20.
                                                      months after the filing of a United States                 (4) [Reserved]                                         (c) The reexport of an item subject to
                                                      patent application for the purpose of                      (5) [Reserved]                                      the EAR that will transit through a
                                                      obtaining the signature of an inventor                     (6) Releasing or otherwise transferring             country or countries or will be
                                                      who was in the United States when the                   decryption keys, network access codes,                 transshipped in a country or countries
                                                      invention was made or who is a co-                      passwords, ‘‘software’’ or other                       to a new country, or are intended for
                                                      inventor with a person residing in the                  information with ‘‘knowledge’’ that                    reexport to the new country, is deemed
                                                      United States.                                          such provision will cause or permit the                to be a reexport to the new country.
                                                      ■ 8. Section 734.11 is revised to read as               transfer of other ‘‘technology’’ in clear              ■ 11. Section 734.15 is added to read as
                                                      follows:                                                text or ‘‘software’’ to a foreign national.            follows:
                                                                                                                 (b) Any release in the United States of
                                                      § 734.11 Government-sponsored research                                                                         § 734.15   Release.
                                                                                                              ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ to a
                                                      covered by contract controls.                           foreign national is a deemed export to                    (a) Except as set forth in § 734.18,
                                                         (a) If research is funded by the U.S.                the foreign national’s most recent                     ‘‘technology’’ and ‘‘software’’ are
                                                      Government, and specific national                       country of citizenship or permanent                    ‘‘released’’ through:
                                                      security controls are agreed on to                      residency.                                                (1) Visual or other inspection by a
                                                      protect information resulting from the                     (c) The export of an item that will                 foreign national of items that reveals
                                                      research, the provisions of § 734.3(b)(3)               transit through a country or countries or              ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ subject
                                                      will not apply to any export or reexport                will be transshipped in a country or                   to the EAR to a foreign national;
                                                      of such information in violation of such                                                                          (2) Oral or written exchanges with a
                                                                                                              countries to a new country, or are
                                                      controls. However, any export or                                                                               foreign national of ‘‘technology’’ in the
                                                                                                              intended for reexport to the new
                                                      reexport of information resulting from                                                                         United States or abroad; or
                                                                                                              country, is deemed to be an export to                     (3) The application by U.S. persons of
                                                      the research that is consistent with the                the new country.
                                                      specific national security controls may                                                                        ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’ to situations
                                                                                                              ■ 10. Section 734.14 is added to read as
                                                      nonetheless be made under this                                                                                 abroad using personal knowledge or
                                                                                                              follows:
                                                      provision.                                                                                                     technical experience acquired in the
                                                         (b) Examples of ‘‘specific national                  § 734.14    Reexport.                                  United States, to the extent that the
                                                      security controls’’ include requirements                   (a) Except as set forth in §§ 734.18 and            application reveals to a foreign national
                                                      for prepublication review by the                        734.20, ‘‘reexport’’ means:                            ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ subject
                                                      Government, with right to withhold                         (1) An actual shipment or                           to the EAR.
                                                                                                              transmission of an item from one foreign                  (b) [Reserved]
                                                      permission for publication; restrictions                                                                       ■ 12. Section 734.16 is added to read as
                                                      on prepublication dissemination of                      country to another foreign country,
                                                                                                              including the sending or taking of an                  follows:
                                                      information to non-U.S. citizens or other
                                                      categories of persons; or restrictions on               item to or from such countries in any                  § 734.16   Transfer (in-country).
                                                      participation of non-U.S. citizens or                   manner;                                                   Except as set forth in § 734.18, a
                                                      other categories of persons in the                         (2) Releasing or otherwise transferring             transfer (in-country) is a change in end
                                                      research. A general reference to one or                 ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ to a                 use or end user of an item within the
                                                      more export control laws or regulations                 foreign national of a country other than               same foreign country. ‘‘Transfer (in-
                                                                                                              the foreign country where the release or
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                                                      or a general reminder that the                                                                                 country)’’ is synonymous with ‘‘in-
                                                      Government retains the right to classify                transfer takes place (a ‘‘deemed                       country transfer.’’
                                                      is not a ‘‘specific national security                   reexport’’);                                           ■ 13. Section 734.17 is added to read as
                                                      control.’’                                                 (3) Transferring by a person outside                follows:
                                                      ■ 9. Section 734.13 is added to read as                 the United States of registration, control,
                                                      follows:                                                or ownership of:                                       § 734.17 Export of encryption source code
                                                                                                                 (i) A spacecraft subject to the EAR                 and object code software.
                                                      § 734.13   Export.                                      that is not eligible for reexport under                  (a) For purposes of the EAR, the
                                                         (a) Except as set forth in § 734.17,                 License Exception STA (i.e., spacecraft                export of encryption source code and
                                                      ‘‘export’’ means:                                       that provide space-based logistics,                    object code software means:


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                                 31517

                                                         (1) An actual shipment, transfer, or                 receiving such a transfer cannot export                1 to part 740 of the EAR) or in the
                                                      transmission out of the United States                   the software without a license or other                Russian Federation.
                                                      (see also paragraph (b) of this section);               authorization; and                                        (b) Definitions. For purposes of this
                                                      or                                                         (3) Every party requesting or receiving             section, ‘end-to-end encryption’ means
                                                         (2) A transfer of such software in the               a transfer of such software must                       the provision of uninterrupted
                                                      United States to an embassy or affiliate                acknowledge affirmatively that the                     cryptographic protection of data
                                                      of a foreign country.                                   software is not intended for use by a                  between an originator and an intended
                                                         (b) The export of encryption source                  government end user, as defined in part                recipient, including between an
                                                      code and object code software                           772 of the EAR, and he or she                          individual and himself or herself. It
                                                      controlled for ‘‘EI’’ reasons under ECCN                understands the cryptographic software                 involves encrypting data by the
                                                      5D002 on the Commerce Control List                      is subject to export controls under the                originating party and keeping that data
                                                      (see Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the                Export Administration Regulations and                  encrypted except by the intended
                                                      EAR) includes:                                          anyone receiving the transfer cannot                   recipient, where the means to access the
                                                         (1) Downloading, or causing the                      export the software without a license or               data in unencrypted form is not given to
                                                      downloading of, such software to                        other authorization. BIS will consider                 any third party, including to any
                                                      locations (including electronic bulletin                acknowledgments in electronic form                     Internet service provider, application
                                                      boards, Internet file transfer protocol,                provided they are adequate to assure                   service provider or cloud service
                                                      and World Wide Web sites) outside the                   legal undertakings similar to written                  provider.
                                                      U.S., or                                                acknowledgments.                                          (c) The ability to access ‘‘technology’’
                                                         (2) Making such software available for
                                                      transfer outside the United States, over                ■ 14. Section 734.18 is added to read as               or ‘‘software’’ in encrypted form that
                                                      wire, cable, radio, electromagnetic,                    follows:                                               satisfies the criteria set forth in
                                                      photo optical, photoelectric or other                                                                          paragraph (a)(4) of this section does not
                                                                                                              § 734.18 Activities that are not exports,              constitute the release or export of such
                                                      comparable communications facilities                    reexports, or transfers.
                                                      accessible to persons outside the United                                                                       ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software.’’
                                                                                                                 (a) The following activities are not
                                                      States, including transfers from                                                                                  Note to § 734.18: Releasing ‘‘technology’’ or
                                                                                                              exports, reexports, or transfers:                      ‘‘software’’ to any person with knowledge
                                                      electronic bulletin boards, Internet file                  (1) Launching a spacecraft, launch
                                                      transfer protocol and World Wide Web                                                                           that a violation will occur is prohibited by
                                                                                                              vehicle, payload, or other item into                   § 736.2(b)(10) of the EAR.
                                                      sites, unless the person making the
                                                                                                              space.
                                                      software available takes precautions
                                                                                                                 (2) While in the United States,                     § 734.19   [Reserved]
                                                      adequate to prevent unauthorized
                                                                                                              releasing technology or software to                    ■ 15. Section 734.19 is reserved.
                                                      transfer of such code. See § 740.13(e) of
                                                                                                              United States citizens, persons lawfully                 16. Section 734.20 is added to read as
                                                      the EAR for notification requirements                                                                          ■
                                                                                                              admitted for permanent residence in the                follows:
                                                      for exports or reexports of encryption
                                                                                                              United States, or persons who are
                                                      source code software considered to be
                                                                                                              protected individuals under the                        § 734.20 Activities that are not ‘‘deemed
                                                      publicly available or published
                                                                                                              Immigration and Naturalization Act (8                  reexports.’’
                                                      consistent with the provisions of
                                                                                                              U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).                                      (a) Release of ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source
                                                      § 734.3(b)(3). Publicly available
                                                      encryption software in object code that                    (3) Shipping, moving, or transferring               code’’ by an entity outside the United
                                                      corresponds to encryption source code                   items between or among the United                      States to a foreign national of a country
                                                      made eligible for License Exception                     States, the District of Columbia, the                  other than the foreign country where the
                                                      TSU under § 740.13(e) of this                           Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the                    release takes place does not constitute a
                                                      subchapter is not subject to the EAR.                   Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                   deemed reexport of such ‘‘technology’’
                                                         (c) Subject to the General Prohibitions              Islands or any territory, dependency, or               or ‘‘source code’’ if:
                                                      described in part 736 of the EAR, such                  possession of the United States as listed                 (1) The entity is authorized to receive
                                                      precautions for Internet transfers of                   in Schedule C, Classification Codes and                the ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ at
                                                      products eligible for export under                      Descriptions for U.S. Export Statistics,               issue, whether by a license, license
                                                      § 740.17(b)(2) of the EAR (encryption                   issued by the Bureau of the Census.                    exception, or situations where no
                                                      software products, certain encryption                      (4) Sending, taking, or storing                     license is required under the EAR for
                                                      source code and general purpose                         technology or software that is:                        such ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code;’’
                                                      encryption toolkits) shall include such                    (i) Unclassified;                                   and
                                                      measures as:                                               (ii) Secured using end-to-end                          (2) The entity is certain that the
                                                         (1) The access control system, either                encryption;                                            foreign national’s most recent country of
                                                      through automated means or human                           (iii) Secured using cryptographic                   citizenship or permanent residency is
                                                      intervention, checks the address of                     modules (hardware or software)                         that of a country to which export from
                                                      every system outside of the U.S. or                     compliant with Federal Information                     the United States of the ‘‘technology’’ or
                                                      Canada requesting or receiving a                        Processing Standards Publication 140–2                 ‘‘source code’’ at issue would be
                                                      transfer and verifies such systems do                   (FIPS 140–2) or its successors,                        authorized by the EAR either under a
                                                      not have a domain name or Internet                      supplemented by software                               license exception, or in situations where
                                                      address of a foreign government end-                    implementation, cryptographic key                      no license under the EAR would be
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                                                      user (e.g., ‘‘.gov,’’ ‘‘.gouv,’’ ‘‘.mil’’ or            management and other procedures and                    required.
                                                      similar addresses);                                     controls that are in accordance with                      (b) Release to A:5 nationals. Release
                                                         (2) The access control system                        guidance provided in current U.S.                      of ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ by an
                                                      provides every requesting or receiving                  National Institute for Standards and                   entity outside the United States to a
                                                      party with notice that the transfer                     Technology publications, or other                      foreign national of a country other than
                                                      includes or would include                               similarly effective cryptographic means;               the foreign country where the release
                                                      cryptographic software subject to export                and                                                    takes place does not constitute a
                                                      controls under the Export                                  (iv) Not stored in a country listed in              deemed reexport of such ‘‘technology’’
                                                      Administration Regulations, and anyone                  Country Group D:5 (see Supplement No.                  or ‘‘source code’’ if:


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                                                      31518                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                         (1) The entity is authorized to receive              diversion, unless BIS determines                       information received as part of his or
                                                      the ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ at                otherwise;                                             her work for the entity.
                                                      issue, whether by a license, license                       (C) Maintains a technology security or                 Note to paragraph (d)(2): If the contract
                                                      exception, or through situations where                  clearance plan that includes procedures                employee has been seconded to the entity by
                                                      no license is required under the EAR;                   for screening employees for such                       a staffing agency, then the staffing agency
                                                         (2) The foreign national is a bona fide              substantive contacts;                                  must not have any role in the work the
                                                      regular and permanent employee who is                      (D) Maintains records of such                       individual performs other than to provide the
                                                      not a proscribed person under U.S. law                  screenings for the longer of five years or             individual for that work. The staffing agency
                                                      and is directly employed by the entity;                 the duration of the individual’s                       also must not have access to any controlled
                                                         (3) Such employee is a national                                                                             ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ other than
                                                                                                              employment with the entity; and
                                                      exclusively of a country in Country                                                                            that authorized by the applicable regulations
                                                                                                                 (E) Will make such plans and records                or a license.
                                                      Group A:5; and                                          available to BIS or its agents for civil
                                                         (4) The release of ‘‘technology’’ or                 and criminal law enforcement purposes
                                                      ‘‘source code’’ takes place entirely                    upon request;                                          PART 740—LICENSE EXCEPTIONS
                                                      within the physical territory of any such                  (iii) The entity is a UK entity                     ■ 17. The authority citation for part 740
                                                      country.                                                implementing § 126.18 of the ITAR (22                  continues to read as follows:
                                                         (c) Release to other than A:5                        CFR 126.18) pursuant to the US–UK
                                                      nationals. Release of ‘‘technology’’ or                                                                          Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50
                                                                                                              Exchange of Notes regarding § 126.18 of                U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.;
                                                      ‘‘source code’’ by an entity outside the                the ITAR for which the UK has provided                 E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp.,
                                                      United States to a foreign national of a                appropriate implementation guidance;                   p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001
                                                      country other than the foreign country                     (iv) The entity is a Canadian entity                Comp., p. 783; Notice of August 7, 2014, 79
                                                      where the release takes place does not                  implementing § 126.18 of the ITAR                      FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).
                                                      constitute a deemed reexport of such                    pursuant to the US-Canadian Exchange                   ■ 18. Section 740.9(a)(3) is revised to
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ if:                   of Letters regarding § 126.18 of the ITAR              read as follows:
                                                         (1) The entity is authorized to receive              for which Canada has provided
                                                      the ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ at                appropriate implementation guidance;                   § 740.9 Temporary imports, exports,
                                                      issue, whether by a license, license                                                                           reexports, and transfers (in-country) (TMP).
                                                                                                                 (v) The entity is an Australian entity
                                                      exception, or situations where no                       implementing the exemption at                          *       *    *     *    *
                                                      license is required under the EAR;                      paragraph 3.7b of the ITAR Agreements                     (a) * * *
                                                         (2) The foreign national is a bona fide                                                                        (3) ‘‘Technology,’’ regardless of media
                                                                                                              Guidelines; or
                                                      regular and permanent employee who is                                                                          or format, may be exported by or to a
                                                                                                                 (vi) The entity is a Dutch entity
                                                      not a proscribed person under U.S. law                                                                         U.S. person or a foreign national
                                                                                                              implementing the exemption at
                                                      and is directly employed by the entity;                                                                        employee of a U.S. person, traveling or
                                                                                                              paragraph 3.7c of the ITAR Agreements
                                                         (3) The release takes place entirely                                                                        on temporary assignment abroad,
                                                                                                              Guidelines.
                                                      within the physical territory of the                                                                           subject to the following restrictions:
                                                      country where the entity is located,                       (d) Definitions. (1) ‘‘Substantive                     (i) Foreign nationals may only export
                                                      conducts official business, or operates;                contacts’’ includes regular travel to                  or receive such ‘‘technology’’ as they are
                                                         (4) The entity has effective procedures              countries in Country Group D:5; recent                 authorized to receive through a license,
                                                      to prevent diversion to destinations,                   or continuing contact with agents,                     license exception other than TMP or
                                                      entities, end users, and end uses                       brokers, and nationals of such countries;              because no license is required.
                                                      contrary to the EAR; and                                continued demonstrated allegiance to                      (ii) ‘‘Technology’’ exported under this
                                                         (5) Any one of the following six (i.e.,              such countries; maintenance of business                authorization may only be possessed or
                                                      paragraphs (c)(5)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or        relationships with persons from such                   used by a U.S. person or authorized
                                                      (vi) of this section) situations is                     countries; maintenance of a residence in               foreign national and sufficient security
                                                      applicable:                                             such countries; receiving salary or other              precautions must be taken to prevent
                                                         (i) The foreign national has a security              continuing monetary compensation                       the unauthorized release of the
                                                      clearance approved by the host nation                   from such countries; or acts otherwise                 ‘‘technology.’’ Such security precautions
                                                      government of the entity outside the                    indicating a risk of diversion.                        include encryption of the ‘‘technology,’’
                                                      United States;                                             (2) ‘‘Permanent and regular                         the use of secure network connections,
                                                         (ii) The entity outside the United                   employee’’ is an individual who:                       such as Virtual Private Networks, the
                                                      States:                                                    (a) Is permanently (i.e., for not less              use of passwords or other access
                                                         (A) Has in place a process to screen                 than a year) and directly employed by                  restrictions on the electronic device or
                                                      the foreign national employee and to                    an entity, or                                          media on which the ‘‘technology’’ is
                                                      have the employee execute a non-                           (b) Is a contract employee who:                     stored, and the use of firewalls and
                                                      disclosure agreement that provides                         (i) Is in a long-term contractual                   other network security measures to
                                                      assurances that the employee will not                   relationship with the company where                    prevent unauthorized access.
                                                      disclose, transfer, or reexport controlled              the individual works at the entity’s                      (iii) The U.S. person is an employee
                                                      technology contrary to the EAR;                         facilities or at locations assigned by the             of the U.S. Government or is directly
                                                         (B) Screens the employee for                         entity (such as a remote site or on                    employed by a U.S. person and not, e.g.,
                                                      substantive contacts with countries                     travel);                                               by a foreign subsidiary.
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                                                      listed in Country Group D:5 (see                           (ii) Works under the entity’s direction                (iv) Technology’’ authorized under
                                                      Supplement No. 1 to part 740 of the                     and control such that the company must                 this exception may not be used for
                                                      EAR). Although nationality does not, in                 determine the individual’s work                        foreign production purposes or for
                                                      and of itself, prohibit access to                       schedule and duties;                                   technical assistance unless authorized
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘source code’’ subject                  (iii) Works full time and exclusively               through a license or license exception
                                                      to the EAR, an employee who has                         for the entity; and                                    other than TMP.
                                                      substantive contacts with persons from                     (iv) Executes a nondisclosure                          (v) The U.S. person employer of
                                                      countries listed in Country Group D:5                   certification for the company that he or               foreign nationals must document the
                                                      shall be presumed to raise a risk of                    she will not disclose confidential                     use of this exception by foreign national


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                              31519

                                                      employees, including the reason that the                § 764.2    Violations.                                    Export. See § 734.13 of the EAR.
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ is needed by the foreign                 *      *     *     *    *                              *       *     *     *      *
                                                      nationals for their temporary business                     (l) No person may ‘‘release’’ or                       Fundamental research. See § 734.8 of
                                                      activities abroad on behalf of the U.S.                 otherwise transfer information, such as                the EAR.
                                                      person.                                                 decryption keys, network access codes,                 *       *     *     *      *
                                                      *     *     *     *    *                                or passwords, that would allow access                     Peculiarly responsible. An item is
                                                                                                              to other ‘‘technology’’ in clear text or               ‘‘peculiarly responsible for achieving or
                                                      PART 750—APPLICATION                                    ‘‘software’’ with ‘‘knowledge’’ that the               exceeding the controlled performance
                                                      PROCESSING, ISSUANCE, AND                               release will result, directly or indirectly,           levels, characteristics or functions’’ if it
                                                      DENIAL                                                  in an unauthorized export, reexport, or                is used in or for use in the
                                                                                                              transfer of the ‘‘technology’’ in clear text           ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ ‘‘use,’’
                                                      ■ 19. The authority citation for 15 CFR                 or ‘‘software.’’ Violation of this
                                                      part 750 continues to read as follows:                                                                         operation, installation, maintenance,
                                                                                                              provision will constitute a violation to               repair, overhaul, or refurbishing of an
                                                        Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50            the same extent as a violation in                      item subject to the EAR unless:
                                                      U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; Sec 1503, Pub. L. 108–             connection with the export of the                         (1) The Department of Commerce has
                                                      11, 117 Stat. 559; E.O. 13026, 61 FR 58767,             controlled ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software.’’
                                                      3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 228; E.O. 13222, 66
                                                                                                                                                                     determined otherwise in a commodity
                                                      FR 44025, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; E.O.                                                                      classification determination;
                                                                                                              PART 772—DEFINITIONS OF TERMS                             (2) [Reserved];
                                                      13637 of March 8, 2013, 78 FR 16129 (March
                                                      13, 2013); Presidential Determination 2003–             ■ 23. The authority citation for part 772                 (3) It is identical to information used
                                                      23 of May 7, 2003, 68 FR 26459, May 16,                 continues to read as follows:                          in or with a commodity or software that:
                                                      2003; Notice of August 7, 2014, 79 FR 46959                                                                       (i) Is or was in production (i.e., not in
                                                      (August 11, 2014).                                         Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50
                                                                                                                                                                     development); and
                                                                                                              U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025,
                                                      ■ 20. Section 750.7 is amended by                       3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of August
                                                                                                                                                                        (ii) Is EAR99 or described in an ECCN
                                                      revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:              7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).                controlled only for Anti-Terrorism (AT)
                                                                                                                                                                     reasons;
                                                      § 750.7   Issuance of licenses.                         ■  24. Section 772.1 is amended by:
                                                                                                                                                                        (4) It was or is being developed with
                                                                                                              ■  a. Adding, in alphabetical order, the
                                                         (a) Scope. Unless limited by a                                                                              ‘‘knowledge’’ that it would be for use in
                                                                                                              definition for ‘‘Applied research’’;
                                                      condition set out in a license, the                     ■ b. Revising the definitions of ‘‘Basic
                                                                                                                                                                     or with commodities or software:
                                                      export, reexport, or transfer (in-country)                                                                        (i) Described in an ECCN; and
                                                                                                              scientific research’’ and ‘‘Export’’;
                                                      authorized by a license is for the item(s),                                                                       (ii) Also commodities or software
                                                                                                              ■ c. Adding, in alphabetical order,
                                                      end-use(s), and parties described in the                                                                       either not enumerated on the CCL or the
                                                                                                              definitions for ‘‘Fundamental research,’’
                                                      license application and any letters of                                                                         USML (e.g., EAR99 commodities or
                                                                                                              ‘‘Peculiarly responsible,’’ ‘‘Proscribed
                                                      explanation. The applicant must inform                                                                         software) or commodities or software
                                                                                                              person,’’ and ‘‘Publicly available
                                                      the other parties identified on the                                                                            described in an ECCN controlled only
                                                                                                              encryption software’’;
                                                      license, such as the ultimate consignees                ■ d. Removing the definitions of
                                                                                                                                                                     for Anti-Terrorism (AT) reasons;
                                                      and end users, of the license’s scope and                                                                         (5) It was or is being developed for
                                                                                                              ‘‘Publicly available information’’ and
                                                      of the specific conditions applicable to                                                                       use in or with general purpose
                                                                                                              ‘‘Publicly available technology and
                                                      them. BIS grants licenses in reliance on                                                                       commodities or software, i.e., with no
                                                                                                              software’’;
                                                      representations the applicant made in or                ■ e. Adding, in alphabetical order, the
                                                                                                                                                                     ‘‘knowledge’’ that it would be for use in
                                                      submitted in connection with the                        definition for ‘‘Published’’;                          or with a particular commodity or type
                                                      license application, letters of                         ■ f. Revising the definitions of
                                                                                                                                                                     of commodity; or
                                                      explanation, and other documents                        ‘‘Reexport’’;                                             (6) It was or is being developed with
                                                      submitted. A BIS license authorizing the                ■ g. Adding, in alphabetical order, the
                                                                                                                                                                     ‘‘knowledge’’ that it would be for use in
                                                      release of technology to an entity also                 definition for ‘‘Release’’;                            or with commodities or software
                                                      authorizes the release of the same                      ■ h. Revising the definition of                        described:
                                                      technology to the entity’s foreign                      ‘‘Required’’;                                             (i) In an ECCN controlled for AT-only
                                                      nationals who are permanent and                         ■ i. Removing the definition of                        reasons and also EAR99 commodities or
                                                      regular employees (and who are not                      ‘‘Technical data’’; and                                software; or
                                                      proscribed persons under U.S. law) of                   ■ j. Revising the definitions of
                                                                                                                                                                        (ii) Exclusively for use in or with
                                                      the entity’s facility or facilities                     ‘‘Technology,’’ and ‘‘Transfer.’’                      EAR99 commodities or software.
                                                      authorized on the license, except to the                   The revisions and additions read as                 *       *     *     *      *
                                                      extent a license condition limits or                    follows:                                                  Proscribed person. A person who is
                                                      prohibits the release of the technology                                                                        prohibited from receiving the items at
                                                                                                              § 772.1 Definitions of terms as used in the            issue or participating in a transaction
                                                      to nationals of specific countries or                   Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
                                                      country groups.                                                                                                that is subject to the EAR without
                                                                                                              *      *    *     *     *                              authorization by virtue of U.S. law, such
                                                      *      *    *      *     *                                Applied research. See § 734.8(c) of the              as persons on the Entity List, Specially
                                                      PART 764—ENFORCEMENT AND                                EAR.                                                   Designated Nationals, or debarred
                                                      PROTECTIVE MEASURES                                     *      *    *     *     *                              parties.
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                                                                                                                Basic scientific research. (GTN)—                       Publicly available encryption
                                                      ■ 21. The authority citation for part 764               Experimental or theoretical work                       software. See § 740.13(e) of the EAR.
                                                      continues to read as follows:                           undertaken principally to acquire new                     Published. See § 734.7 of the EAR.
                                                         Authority: 50 U.S.C. app. 2401 et seq.; 50           knowledge of the fundamental                           *       *     *     *      *
                                                      U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; E.O. 13222, 66 FR 44025,           principles of phenomena or observable                     Reexport. See § 734.14 of the EAR.
                                                      3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 783; Notice of August             facts, not primarily directed towards a                   Release. See § 734.15 of the EAR.
                                                      7, 2014, 79 FR 46959 (August 11, 2014).                 specific practical aim or objective. See               *       *     *     *      *
                                                      ■ 22. Section 764.2 is amended by                       also § 734.8(c) of the EAR.                               Required. (General Technology
                                                      adding paragraph (l) to read as follows:                *      *    *     *     *                              Note)—As applied to ‘‘technology’’ or


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                                                      31520                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 106 / Wednesday, June 3, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                                      ‘‘software’’, refers to only that portion of               ‘‘Technology’’ means:                               DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                      ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’ which is                    (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (b)            HUMAN SERVICES
                                                      peculiarly responsible for achieving or                 of this definition:
                                                      exceeding the controlled performance                                                                           Food and Drug Administration
                                                      levels, characteristics or functions. Such                 (1) Information necessary for the
                                                      ‘‘required’’ ‘‘technology’’ or ‘‘software’’             ‘‘development,’’ ‘‘production,’’ ‘‘use,’’              21 CFR Part 558
                                                      may be shared by different products. For                operation, installation, maintenance,
                                                      example, assume product ‘‘X’’ is                        repair, overhaul, or refurbishing (or                  [Docket No. FDA–2010–N–0155]
                                                      controlled if it operates at or above 400               other terms specified in ECCNs on the
                                                      MHz and is not controlled if it operates                CCL that control ‘‘technology’’) of an                 Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation
                                                      below 400 MHz. If production                            item. ‘‘Technology’’ may be in any                     Questions and Answers; Draft
                                                      technologies ‘‘A’’, ‘‘B’’, and ‘‘C’’ allow              tangible or intangible form, such as                   Guidance for Industry; Availability
                                                      production at no more than 399 MHz,                     written or oral communications,
                                                                                                                                                                     AGENCY:   Food and Drug Administration,
                                                      then technologies ‘‘A’’, ‘‘B’’, and ‘‘C’’ are           blueprints, drawings, photographs,                     HHS.
                                                      not ‘‘required’’ to produce the                         plans, diagrams, models, formulae,
                                                      controlled product ‘‘X’’. If technologies                                                                      ACTION: Draft revised guidance;
                                                                                                              tables, engineering designs and
                                                      ‘‘A’’, ‘‘B’’, ‘‘C’’, ‘‘D’’, and ‘‘E’’ are used                                                                 availability.
                                                                                                              specifications, computer-aided design
                                                      together, a manufacturer can produce                    files, manuals or documentation,                       SUMMARY:    The Food and Drug
                                                      product ‘‘X’’ that operates at or above                 electronic media or information gleaned                Administration (FDA) is announcing the
                                                      400 MHz. In this example, technologies                  through visual inspection;                             availability of a draft revised guidance
                                                      ‘‘D’’ and ‘‘E’’ are ‘‘required’’ to make the                                                                   for industry (GIF) #120 entitled
                                                      controlled product and are themselves                     Note to paragraph (a)(1) of this definition:
                                                                                                              The modification of an existing item creates           ‘‘Veterinary Feed Directive Regulation
                                                      controlled under the General                                                                                   Questions and Answers.’’ The purpose
                                                                                                              a new item and technology for the
                                                      Technology Note. (See the General                                                                              of this document is to describe the
                                                                                                              modification is technical data for the
                                                      Technology Note.)                                                                                              current Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD)
                                                                                                              development of the new item.
                                                         Note 1 to the definition of required: The              (2) [Reserved];                                      requirements for veterinarians, feed
                                                      references to ‘‘characteristics’’ and                     (3) [Reserved];                                      manufacturers and other distributors,
                                                      ‘‘functions’’ are not limited to entries on the                                                                animal producers, and other parties
                                                                                                                (4) [Reserved]; or
                                                      CCL that use specific technical parameters to
                                                      describe the scope of what is controlled. The             (5) Information, such as decryption keys,            involved in the distribution or use of
                                                      ‘‘characteristics’’ and ‘‘functions’’ of an item        network access codes, or passwords, that               medicated feed containing a veterinary
                                                      listed are, absent a specific regulatory                would allow access to other ‘‘technology’’ in          feed directive drug (VFD feed). This
                                                      definition, a standard dictionary’s definition          clear text or ‘‘software.’’                            draft revised guidance reflects changes
                                                      of the item. For example, ECCN 9A610.a                    (b) ‘‘Technology’’ does not include:                 to the VFD requirements under the VFD
                                                      controls ‘‘military aircraft specially designed           (1) Non-proprietary general system                   final rule.
                                                      for a military use that are not enumerated in           descriptions;                                          DATES: Although you can comment on
                                                      USML paragraph VIII(a).’’ No performance                  (2) Information on basic function or
                                                      level is identified in the entry, but the control                                                              any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR
                                                                                                              purpose of an item; or                                 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the Agency
                                                      characteristic of the aircraft is that it is              (3) Telemetry data as defined in note 2 to
                                                      specially designed ‘‘for military use.’’ Thus,                                                                 considers your comment on this draft
                                                                                                              Category 9, Product Group E (see Supplement            guidance before it begins work on the
                                                      any technology, regardless of significance,
                                                      peculiar to making an aircraft ‘‘for military           No. 1 to Part 774 of the EAR).                         final version of the guidance, submit
                                                      use’’ as opposed to, for example, an aircraft                                                                  either electronic or written comments
                                                                                                              *     *     *     *    *
                                                      controlled under ECCN 9A991.a, would be                                                                        on the draft guidance by August 3, 2015.
                                                      technical data ‘‘required’’ for an aircraft                Transfer. A shipment, transmission,
                                                                                                                                                                     ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for
                                                      specially designed for military use thus                or release of items subject to the EAR
                                                      controlled under ECCN 9E610.                                                                                   single copies of the guidance to the
                                                                                                              either within the United States or
                                                                                                                                                                     Policy and Regulations Staff (HFV–6),
                                                                                                              outside the United States. For in-
                                                        Note 2 to the definition of required: The                                                                    Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food
                                                      ITAR and the EAR often divide within each               country transfer/transfer (in-country),                and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish
                                                      set of regulations or between each set of               see § 734.16 of the EAR.                               Pl., Rockville, MD 20855. Send one self-
                                                      regulations:                                               Note to definition of transfer: This                addressed adhesive label to assist that
                                                        1. Controls on parts, components,                     definition of ‘‘transfer’’ does not apply to           office in processing your requests. See
                                                      accessories, attachments, and software; and
                                                        2. Controls on the end items, systems,
                                                                                                              § 750.10 of the EAR or Supplement No. 8 to             the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
                                                      equipment, or other items into which those              part 760 of the EAR. The term ‘‘transfer’’ may         for electronic access to the draft
                                                      parts, components, accessories, attachments,            also be included on licenses issued by BIS.            guidance document.
                                                      and software are to be installed or                     In that regard, the changes that can be made              Submit electronic comments on the
                                                      incorporated.                                           to a BIS license are the non-material changes          draft guidance to http://
                                                        Moreover, with the exception of technical             described in § 750.7(c) of the EAR. Any other          www.regulations.gov. Submit written
                                                      data specifically enumerated on the USML,               change to a BIS license without authorization          comments to the Division of Dockets
                                                      the jurisdictional status of unclassified               is a violation of the EAR. See §§ 750.7(c) and         Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug
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                                                      technical data or ‘‘technology’’ is the same as         764.2(e) of the EAR.                                   Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm.
                                                      the jurisdictional status of the defense article
                                                                                                                                                                     1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                                                      or ‘‘item subject to the EAR’’ to which it is           *      *      *       *      *
                                                      directly related. Thus, if technology is                                                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                      directly related to the production of a                   Dated: May 18, 2015.                                 Dragan Momcilovic, Center for
                                                      9A610.x aircraft component that is to be                Kevin J. Wolf,                                         Veterinary Medicine (HFV–226), Food
                                                      integrated or installed in a USML VIII(a)               Assistant Secretary for Export                         and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish
                                                      aircraft, then the technology is controlled             Administration.                                        Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, 240–453–
                                                      under ECCN 9E610, not USML VIII(i).
                                                                                                              [FR Doc. 2015–12843 Filed 6–2–15; 8:45 am]             6856, dragan.momcilovic@fda.hhs.gov.
                                                      *      *     *       *      *                           BILLING CODE P                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:09:06
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:09:06
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received by August 3, 2015.
ContactHillary Hess, Director, Regulatory Policy Division, Office of Exporter Services, Bureau of Industry and Security at 202-482-2440 or [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 31505 
RIN Number0694-AG32
CFR Citation15 CFR 734
15 CFR 740
15 CFR 750
15 CFR 764
15 CFR 772
CFR AssociatedExports; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Law Enforcement and Penalties

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