BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC is urging the US State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to protect US defense equipment by ensuring export control protection of design information for printed circuit boards.

In comments made public today, IPC recommended that the DDTC make clear that International Traffic in Arms Regulations apply to any PCB designs for defense items on the US Munitions List.

The comments were provided in response to proposed changes to US export control regulations. IPC commented on the proposed revision of the USML’s Category VIII (aircraft) as detailed by the Department of State’s Federal Register notice. Category VIII is the first of the 19 categories in the USML for which the DDTC is expected to propose revisions.

“While these regulations might seem arcane and esoteric, the proper and unambiguous protection of printed board designs is critical to preserving the safety and integrity of equipment relied upon by the US war fighter,” IPC said in a press release.  

IPC offered several examples of the critical importance of printed circuit design in its comments: “Printed circuit boards and their designs hold valuable and specific information about the workings of the underlying defense articles themselves. As examples, printed board designs can convey the following types of information: how sensitive an aircraft or its countermeasure dispensing systems are to electronic disruption; the frequency range and range of operation for flight communications equipment, and design information for integrated avionics and vehicle management systems that may allow for reverse engineering of the technology.”

IPC and its members intend to respond to each of the 19 relevant category revisions expected to be proposed by DDTC within the year.

To read IPC’s comments, visit www.ipc.org/comments-USML-cat-VIII.

Read Editor in Chief Mike Buetow's blog on the decision.

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