Last year, State Representative Kevin Van Winkle introduced HB18-1061 (No Encryption Of Dispatch Radio Communications | Colorado General Assembly). This bill was killed before it got very far, but I have been in contact with Van Winkles office and he is in the midst of consulting with the stakeholders (LEO's, city councils, etc) about revising the language in the bill in an effort to find some middle ground where it stands a chance at passage. I know things are getting a little heated with Denver set to go dark in a little more than a week, so I would encourage anyone who believes that no agency should go blanket encryption to write Representative Van Winkle (kevin.vanwinkle.house@state.co.us) and express your support for his efforts. The bill he wrote last year made allowances for encryption on sensitive communications - SWAT, Tac channels, etc, which I think most of us would be supportive of, but it required primary dispatch channels to be in the clear.
This thread is not meant to be, and should not be taken as, an "encryption sucks" thread. Please keep emotions out of the discussion - but let's have a discussion and see what we can do about keeping the hobby alive.
This thread is not meant to be, and should not be taken as, an "encryption sucks" thread. Please keep emotions out of the discussion - but let's have a discussion and see what we can do about keeping the hobby alive.