Department of Commerce July 29, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces approval of Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 198-1, The Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC), a revision of FIPS 198. The FIPS specifies a mechanism for message authentication using cryptographic hash functions in federal information systems. The technical information about the security provided by the HMAC algorithm, and the length limit and security implications of truncated HMAC outputs have been removed from the revised standard. This information may need frequent updating, and its removal from the specification will enable NIST to employ a more effective process for keeping the information current. NIST will provide specific guidelines about the security provided by the HMAC and the use of truncation techniques for it in Special Publication (SP) 800-17, which can be updated in a timely manner as the technical conditions change.

A 90-day public comment period was announced in the May 6, 2008 Federal Register, Volume 73, No. 88, to end on August 4, 2008. To accommodate receipt of additional comments NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has extended the period for public comments on the draft management plan and draft environmental assessment for the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to October 3, 2008.

Due to technical difficulties, NIST is extending the deadline for proposal submission for its Construction Grant Program competition to 3 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, August 1, 2008. NIST will accept only paper submissions during the extended time period.