Government studies have identified potential vulnerabilities in the pu
blic switched network that could be exploited by hostile users. As the
telecommunications industry moves toward greater openness and more se
rvices are added, the potential for abuse is likely to increase. This
article summarizes US government efforts to maintain the integrity of
telecommunications services in this new open environment. The authors
outline major government concerns and describe how federal agencies ar
e responding. Key elements of the response include cooperation between
government and industry, additional research and development, and an
emphasis on building secure systems using open system software.