For California types: Barbara Boxer and Matt Fong responding to questions in today's SJMC news: HI-TECH ISSUES 1. Did the administration's July 7 decision to let software companies export encryption software to financial institutions in certain counties go far enough toward relaxing the rules on encryption exports? Why/why not? BOXER: I am a cosponsor of Senator Burns' Pro-CODE legislation, which prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from putting any restrictions on the export of encrypted items -- regardless of bit or key length. The administration's proposal did not go far enough at all. FONG: The administration's new policy simply does not go far enough. The administration is rightfully worried about national security, but the Genie is out of the bottle. While Clinton has stuck to his restrictive export policy on encryption software, foreign encryption products have become more sophisticated and more price competitive. US companies should be allowed to export encryption software if similar products are already available by foreign competitors. We'd see more contrast with Feinstein's answer. Too bad <she's> not running in this race. -- Jim Gillogly Mersday, 6 Winterfilth S.R. 1998, 15:05 12.19.5.9.19, 3 Cauac 12 Chen, First Lord of Night