Coming Defense policy to set use limits on WiFi

• By Joab Jackson
• Apr 16, 2004

Although the Defense Department continues to say it will soon issue a much-delayed policy to guide the use of WiFi equipment, the final policy remains holed up at the Pentagon.

But the gist of the policy is making the rounds.

In a nutshell, it will mandate that no information'classified or unclassified'travel unencrypted across a wireless network, said Ronald Jost, director of wireless technology for Defense.

But DOD will encourage use of wireless networks, as they reduce the amount of time it takes to set up and tear down LANs, he said as the recent National High-Performance Computing Conference in Newport, R.I.

The policy, DOD 8100.bb, is finished and awaiting sign-off, Jost said.

Besides setting guidelines for wireless networks, DOD is developing a policy for the use of cellular phones.