Index

NEWS CONFERENCE WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

9:32 A.M. EDT

WEDNESDAY,

AUGUST 23, 2000



Q: Ms. Reno -- (off mike) -- change of subject -- (off mike). There
has been a lot of discussion about this Carnivore project. I was
wondering if you could tell me how the process is proceeding for
selecting a university for that, and when the Justice Department will
name the university or college?


ATTY. GEN. RENO: We want to make the selection as fair and equitable
as possible for all universities that want to be considered. In order
to do this, we will be posting tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. on the
department's website a statement of work and specific expectations for
the review. This will ensure that all the universities that want to be
considered will be able to apply based on the same standards, and
everyone, including privacy and industry experts, will understand
exactly what we are expecting from the review process.


These standards will be posted on the website at www.usdoj.gov for 10
business days, and then there will be a two-day selection period for
the Carnivore review team to get a recommendation to me for a
decision. I plan to have a final decision on a university by September
the 15th.


We are committed to having an independent technical review complete by
December 1. This process ensures a level playing field amongst all the
universities that have expressed an interest, and ensures a greater
openness and understanding of the task we are requesting the
university to undertake.


Q: We had thought that you would be announcing the university by now.
What set it back?


ATTY. GEN. RENO: I think we realized that we wanted to make sure that
everybody had an equal opportunity and that there was a process in
place that people understood.


Q:  Were you getting inundated by applications?



ATTY. GEN. RENO:  I'll ask Carol (sp) to give you a --



Q: But were there complaints about -- (inaudible)? Was that what
triggered this?


ATTY. GEN. RENO: I don't know whether there were or not, but we wanted
to ensure it.