Novel Cryptologic Techniques
Tracking # |
100720 |
Submitted | Feb. 5, 2017 |
Due | March 6, 2017 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Michael Best
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Records relating to or labeled "Novel Cryptologic Techniques" including but not limited to memos, summaries and communications from the Novel Cryptologic Techniques Advisory Ad Hoc Group. The existence of this group has been previously disclosed through official documents, e.g. NSA-RDP96X00790R000100030038-4
I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities for AND Magazine, MuckRock and Glomar Disclosure and have an open arrangement with each. My articles have been widely read, with some reaching over 100,000 readers. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through the non-profit Internet Archive, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance. Additionally, case law states that “proof of the ability to disseminate the released information to a broad cross-section of the public is not required.” Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Dep’t of Justice, 365 F.3d 1108, 1126 (D.C. Cir. 2004); see Carney v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 19 F.3d 807, 814-15 (2d Cir. 1994). Further, courts have held that "qualified because it also had “firm” plans to “publish a number of . . . ‘document sets’” concerning United States foreign and national security policy." Under this criteria, as well, I qualify as a member of the news media. Additionally, courts have held that the news media status "focuses on the nature of the requester, not its request. The provision requires that the request be “made by” a representative of the news media. Id. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(II). A newspaper reporter, for example, is a representative of the news media regardless of how much interest there is in the story for which he or she is requesting information." As such, the details of the request itself are moot for the purposes of determining the appropriate fee category. As such, my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available and I therefore request that fees be waived. Per DOJ FOIA guidance, "a requester should be granted a fee waiver if the requested information (1) sheds light on the activities and operations of the government; (2) is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of those operations and activities; and (3) is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." As this FOIA meets all of those requirements (see above), a fee waiver is warranted.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Michael Best
From: National Security Agency
An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From:
Muckrock Requester's:
The FOIA requests referenced below (NSA Case Numbers) are in our initial processing backlog queue waiting to be pulled to conduct the necessary searches; further correspondence from NSA will not be initiated until the case is pulled for this search processing step.
NSA Case Numbers: 83366, 83935, 83420, 83422, 83551, 85525, 100206, 100285, 100310, 100359, 100537, 100719, 100720, 100736, 100850, 100870, and 100872.
Regards,
NSA FOIA Office
301-688-6527
From:
Muckrock Requester's:
The FOIA requests referenced below (NSA Case Numbers) are in our initial processing backlog queue waiting to be pulled to conduct the necessary searches; further correspondence from NSA will not be initiated until the case is pulled for this search processing step.
NSA Case Numbers: 83366, 83935, 83420, 83422, 83551, 85525, 100206, 100285, 100310, 100359, 100537, 100719, 100720, 100736, 100850, 100870, and 100872.
Regards,
NSA FOIA Office
301-688-6527
From:
Muckrock Requester's:
The FOIA requests referenced below (NSA Case Numbers) are in our initial processing backlog queue waiting to be pulled to conduct the necessary searches; further correspondence from NSA will not be initiated until the case is pulled for this search processing step.
NSA Case Numbers: 83366, 83935, 83420, 83422, 83551, 85525, 100206, 100285, 100310, 100359, 100537, 100719, 100720, 100736, 100850, 100870, and 100872.
Regards,
NSA FOIA Office
301-688-6527
From:
Muckrock Requester's:
The FOIA requests referenced below (NSA Case Numbers) are in our initial processing backlog queue waiting to be pulled to conduct the necessary searches; further correspondence from NSA will not be initiated until the case is pulled for this search processing step.
NSA Case Numbers: 83366, 83935, 83420, 83422, 83551, 85525, 100206, 100285, 100310, 100359, 100537, 100719, 100720, 100736, 100850, 100870, and 100872.
Regards,
NSA FOIA Office
301-688-6527
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 5, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #100720.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following request, copied below. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: National Security Agency
Dear Michael Best,
This further responds to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request of 05 February 2017, for "records relating to or labeled "Novel Cryptologic Techniques" including but not limited to memos, summaries and communications from the Novel Cryptologic Techniques Advisory Ad Hoc Group." Your request has recently been assigned for processing from our initial backlog. Before we continue processing your request, we want to establish your continued interest.
Please advise this office within 30 days of the date of this email of your continued interest. You may advise us by facsimile at 443-479-3612, in writing to National Security Agency, ATTN: FOIA Office (P132), 9800 Savage Road STE 6932, Ft. George G. Meade, MD 20755-6932, or via email at FOIARSC@nsa.gov. In any instance, please reference the Case Number 100720. If no response is received by the end of the 30 days, we will assume that you are no longer interested in pursuing the request, and we will administratively close your case with no further processing.
Thank you,
FOIA Customer Representative
From: Emma North-Best
I am still interested. Please update my name in the system to recognize the legal change to Emma Best.
From: National Security Agency
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: National Security Agency
The request has been forwarded from one agency to another agency or department for further review or follow up.
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