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From: bill@gauss.eedsp.gatech.edu (bill)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: What are Secure Lines?
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Date: 2 Jan 91 06:01:55 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 4, Message 5 of 12


Joe Broniszewski <astph!joe@cs.psu.edu> queries:

> I read a very interesting book over the holidays titled "The Cookoo's
> Egg" by Cliff Stol.  The book detailed a true story about computer
> espionage.  In the book, Cliff mentioned what he called a *secure
> line*.  When ever he called a government agency that meant business
> (ie. FBI, NSA, CIA) they would call him back on one of these secure
> lines.  My questions:

> 1.  Technically speaking what is the difference between a secure line
> and a non-secure line?

There is no such beast.  When the "spooks" want to talk turkey, they
use special telephones, not special telephone lines.  There is a
modern version of the "scrambler" phone around and it uses regular
POTS, although a point-to-point setup is possible.

> 2.  Are calls routed differently?

They may be routed on FTS, which is essential just a bulk WATS-type
system that all the Federal agencies have access to.  FTS can be used
to call POTS or other FTS phones.  If it is a military agency, they
may use a network called AUTOVON.  They could also be routed in the
usual way that we civilians have our calls routed.  Basically all
they'd need is an RJ-11 connection, if that.  Secure cellular phones
are also used by the feds - remember Bush talking on a cellular from
his golf cart up in Maine?  That photo seemed to make quite a few
papers.

> 3.  Who are the LDC's for such lines?

> 4.  What role does the BOC play in such a set up?

Answer to 3: AT&T is the major contractor for FTS, US Sprint is the
minority contractor (60/40% share split, respectively).

Answer to 4: they may or may not provide the POTS line and dial tone,
depending on the individual setup.  Some military installations have
their own switching equipment, as I understand it.  I may not be 100%
on this answer.

FTS is a non-secure, general use, long-distance network which the
federal government uses for the bulk of its long distance telephone
and data traffic.  It is not some secretive, spooky set-up - just a
way for the feds to try to control their telephone costs and yet
maintain some versatility.

Cliff was inaccurate in his assessment of why the spooks wanted to
call him back, they may have just been in the middle of something else
at the time.


Cliff, do you read TELECOM digest? :-)


Bill Berbenich      Georgia Tech, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp: ...!{backbones}!gatech!eedsp!bill    Internet: bill@eedsp.gatech.edu