I don't see an 800 MHz system in the works for Washington anytime soon. Sounds like the guy is spreading disinformation to me. I re-read the article abt the $40M upgrade to the system. They indicated that they were to upgrade in segments; half portables, then balance and vehicle radios. Hardly the way they would handle a complete change of bands. If they intend on operating analog for awhile they would still have to change all the radios to 800 from VHF.
Also, would $40M really change the entire state? With 800 they would need to have many more sites, and even if they simply used the WSDOT sites, they would still require eqpt. And will the exitsting Micro system handle digital? I'm not a tech, so I don't know or would it require an upgrade as well (read more bucks guys)?
Finally there is the financial crisis in Olympia. Have you been paying attention to what Mdm Gov and her minions have been doing? Cutting budgets every chance they get. DSHS is getting really stingy with the poor and it would be seriously bad PR to be putting all sorts of bells and whistles not really required on a state-of-the-art Comms system. My guess is that no matter what upgrades they end up doing, it will be essentials first, using what they have, and delaying most of the project until the State is financially better off.
My best guestimate (and I have no sources so perhaps you're all correct) is that WSP has been so stingy in the past with money for Comms that they are still for the most part using a CHP-like simplex system statewide with only a modicom of repeaters. We only got one in Vancouver like within the past five years. No, I believe they may go digital (where most of that $40M will go I presume) but will go narrowband VHFon the existing infrastructure with improvements. Certainly new radios, consoles, etc. and perhaps even put those UHF licenses to work on a computer system. (Or, at least allow those units within range of a system like Clark, King, or Snohomish Cos, piggyback on their system for computers in the vehicles.)
As for encryption, they have never been very rabbid about listening in. Perhaps some channels such as the SWAT teams or other higher security, but system wide...I seriously doubt that EVEN IF they do go 800.
I could be proved completely wrong, but it would run afoul of all historical WSP radio thoughts. And I have been tracking their system since the 70s. My gut says this would be closer to reality.
But hey; who knows?!