The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) are the set of rules administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The EAR governs the export and re-export of most commercial items, software, and technology, including "dual-use" items that have both commercial and potential military or proliferation applications. These regulations are central to U.S. export control policy for non-military items and are the direct responsibility of the Commerce Department, as specified in the question.

A. ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) is managed by the U.S. Department of State, not Commerce, and specifically controls the export of defense articles and services.

B. DRM (Digital Rights Management) refers to technologies used to control access to and use of copyrighted digital media; it is not a government export control regulation.

D. EAL (Evaluation Assurance Level) is a numerical rating from the Common Criteria standard (ISO/IEC 15408) that describes the rigor of a security product's evaluation, unrelated to export laws.

1. U.S. Department of Commerce

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). (n.d.). The Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Retrieved from bis.doc.gov. The introduction explicitly states

"The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) are issued by the United States Department of Commerce

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)..."

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Office of the Vice President for Research. (n.d.). Export Control Regulations: EAR. Retrieved from vpr.mit.edu. The page clarifies

"The Export Administration Regulations (EAR)

15 C.F.R. §§ 730-774

are promulgated and implemented by the Department of Commerce. The EAR regulates the export of 'dual-use' items..."

3. Stanford University

DoResearch. (n.d.). Export Controls at Stanford. Retrieved from doresearch.stanford.edu. The site distinguishes the regulations: "The Department of Commerce administers the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)... The Department of State administers the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)."