The Public Affairs Office of the Defense Information Systems Agency confirmed to United Press International that the idea was under consideration.

The department "constantly assesses the security of its networks and seeks information assurance solutions that strike the balance between encouraging communications and innovation by allowing users to freely share information and protecting the security and integrity of department systems and information," the office said in an e-mailed statement.

"The suggestion of permitting only official DoD business on its networks is only one idea in the very early stages of consideration," said the statement.

The proposal was first disclosed by Defense Information Systems Agency chief Lt. Gen. Charles Croom at a conference last month and reported last week by Federal Computer Week magazine.

The statement concluded by observing it would be "premature to discuss whether or not" the department would eventually adopt such a policy.

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Shaun Waterman, UPI Homeland and National Security Editor