From: "Bradley W. Dolan" <71431.2564@CompuServe.COM>
Date: Sat, 21 May 94 06:47:51 PDT
To: <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: Digital signature standard
Message-ID: <940521134339_71431.2564_FHA48-1@CompuServe.COM>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



AP reported on 5/20/94:

>The federal government will begin using computer-generated
>signatures to verify the identities of people submitting bids, 
>contracts and other information electronically.  [...]
>   It is up to people outside the government to decide whether 
>they want to use the standard, which produces the electronic signature. 
>Government agencies that currently use some other method of electronic 
>verification will have to switch to the new standard on Dec. 1, said 
>Miles Smid, manager of security and technology for the institutes.  
>[...]
>
>[The standard employs]  a 320-bit number that makes up the 
>electronic signature. The government computer then compares
>the signature against the person's public key, which would be stored in 
>a government database.  
   

Brad   bdolan@well.sf.ca.us