"Further relaxation of encryption export controls took place in September 1999, when the Clinton Administration announced that encryption items of any key lengt

"Further relaxation of encryption export controls took place in September 1999, when the Clinton Administration announced that encryption items of any key length may now be exported under a license exception, after a technical review, to individuals, firms, and other non-government end-users in any country except for seven state supporters of terrorism.25 After a technical review, retail encryption commodities and software of any key length will also be exportable under a license exception to any recipient in any country except for the same seven destinations." http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl30273.pdf http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl30273.pdf I think we're pretty much in agreement, considering that the time period between Sep. '99 and Jan '00 is about the length of time for new policy to fully propagate. Regardless, the latter portion of '99 and early '00 was when NSA and State/Export restrictions had been lifted.