Alaska Anchorage and what else ?

[kikito]

Watching the "State of the City" address from Mayor Berkowitz live stream. Of course, the question of encryption came up and he just about gave the usual non-answer, canned statement without mention of any records, statistics and the recurrence of major incidents and/or events that jeopardized anybody's safety to support his and public safety leaders views and reasoning on the decision. In fact, he preceded his answer with a joke that whoever asked that question must be someone from the media that sneaked it in.

So there you have it, HE and others thinks is all about a few select people in the media that are the only ones concerned and protesting...

 

[kikito]

We've had a San Bernardino, an Orlando, a Dallas event and others (maybe not in Alaska, yet...), but, when is it OK to prepare? After some other unsuspecting city is caught off-guard and ill-prepared for the next round of lunatics with big weaponry terrorizing our cities? Local law enforcement beefing up their appearance and scaring the Hillary crowd? Who cares. The civilian world is better equipped because your current leader and likely the next don't even believe there is global terrorism. Some of the local leaders do, however, get it!

I read your post and I agree with some of it but I'm not sure what your "angle" is.

I tell you this, I agree with Law Enforcement and Public Safety in general being properly trained and equipped to meet the evolving challenges that they're presented with. I even agree with having a SWAT team and more powerful weapons and protection for those special occasions and incidents.

BUT THAT is where I draw the line and I have the problem with. When is used excessively and unnecessarily almost on a daily basis. For a while, there even used to be one of many Troopers unmarked cars doing traffic stops with an officer fully dressed in military fatigues and even the field boots. What would go through your head when you see such officer approaching you? Then they have an MRAP or equivalent armored vehicle that's being used ALL the time, even for calls of a single person with a knife barricaded alone in their house or their car. Really? What did they EVER do in the past without all that?

I could go on about all the reasons why is concerning and even going down a dangerous path to have an increasingly militaristic looking and intimidating civilian police force. There's a reason why is even in the Constitution that our military CANNOT be deployed in our own soil and against our citizens. So are they "circumventing" that by creating a civilian military force as ridiculous as even the term sounds?

BUT not today and not when I have a feeling some will come to the government's rescue and over-simplify the whole issue to something like "well, they do what they think they have to do to keep us and themselves safe", right? All that comes to mind is the infamous, highly butchered quote of "Those that give up their freedom for temporary safety...."

 

[GaRebel]

You cannot have a police state if the public is kept informed on what is going on!

 

[alpha1138]

End of encryption

I've been following the rise of the new computers of the future. Quantum computers, I've read where they will be the end of our current encryption methods. So it looks like it's a waste of public funds and they will have to purchase new radios which I'm sure the vendors will have waiting. Technology does not stand still. $$$ I'm sure the real "bad guys" already can listen in. It's just the general public who can't. The news media in our county can "rent" a radio from RSO. One "reporter" told me he purchased his own personal handheld and pays a monthly fee to the county. So get your news credentials (1st amendment and a news blog) and rent a radio.

 

[JoeyC]

I've been following the rise of the new computers of the future. Quantum computers, I've read where they will be the end of our current encryption methods. So it looks like it's a waste of public funds and they will have to purchase new radios which I'm sure the vendors will have waiting. Technology does not stand still. $$$ I'm sure the real "bad guys" already can listen in. It's just the general public who can't. The news media in our county can "rent" a radio from RSO. One "reporter" told me he purchased his own personal handheld and pays a monthly fee to the county. So get your news credentials (1st amendment and a news blog) and rent a radio.

Whether the current encryption methods are near end of life remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, Before any "new computer of the future" takes hold of the current radio systems, the current radios will live out their normal lifespan so no wasted public funds. :roll: And yes, I am sure the vendors will have a new lineup of radios ready when technology changes - in that distant future. Nothing is happening overnight as you imply. How many services are still analog conventional VHF, how many years after trunking and digital technology was first put on the table?

 

[lindsay34654]

encryption

Everyone is jumping to something that may or may not happen. People have been saying this for decades about what was going to happen. The want to keep the public in the dark do this, the next time that the police say that they need the public's help in finding information. just do not respond. I know of many incidents where a dispatcher or police car does not hear a transmission and a citizen informs the other person. They do not mind that information being given. I have a few times notified a car in a cruiser sitting in the parking lot where I do my walking that the dispatcher was calling him while he was on his phone, (seems to be a local hang out where I walk) Stop thinking that the worst is going to happen until it does. If you want to think the worst then send me your uniden 536 an I will send you $300 for it.

 

[safetypro79]

Unfortunate, but a sign of the times

As a former AFD employee and long time Anchorage resident of 25 years

I certainly understand the frustration of Anchorage scanner listeners. A year or so before I left Alaska AFD had just switched to 800 trunking in about 97 and only encryption at the time was APD drug units on UHF and also using Nextel.

Here in Boise (P25 system) we have PS/SO all encrypted except about 3 routine traffic channels whereas in our adjacent Canyon County LE are fully encrypted for the last Two years or so. FD in not encrypted so far either in Ada county or adjacent countries ( most LE/FD's still on VHF-UHF )

I truly believe as long as the news media steams scanner audio as part of there stories on internet and TV we will see an ever increasing switch to fully encrypted comms with LE, FD and EMS

As most know EMS.uses enctypted comms on channels relaying patient info (HIPPA) compliance regarding comms.

It is sad but just a matter of time before we see this hobby so many have enjoyed for over 50 years just go away. Even when LE management supports the public listening in to some of their comms just too much pressure to switch makes them rethink their position.

 

[gonefishn1]

Yes it is sad. Its also a shame that as a tax payer we have no say in the matter! Sure seems like we should get a vote on this stuff.

 

[safetypro79]

We here in US are able to monitor more than other countries

In most of the EU and Asia where TETRA is the sometimes standard it's all digital encrypted plus most countries have strict regulations against monitoring LE/FD comms . But computer programs have broken this coding format and comms can be monitored from what I know.

Third world countries ( some still using VHF UHF analog) is another matter as long as you speak the language.

But it all about first responder safety so any public/media outcry I would guess will preemptively be disregarded. Yes taxpayers pay for the fancy radio gear either locally purchased or with federal grant money so most would want to have a say in monitoring.

 

[dward42586]

Encryption

I live near Tulsa, OK. Tulsa is on APCO Phase I. They encrypted everything on the LE side except for dispatch channels. Fire not encrypted, EMS is encrypted.

They are going to APCO25 phase II soon. Everyone is waiting to see if they encrypt everything. Doesn't make any sense.

 

[kikito]

NOW HEAR THIS: EMERGENCY AGENCIES TURN OFF RADIO ENCRYPTION:

News from The Associated Press

 

[kikito]

As most know EMS.uses enctypted comms on channels relaying patient info (HIPPA) compliance regarding comms.

As far as I know, from the beginning the HIPPA regulations were about the handling, usage, storage, etc. of the patient records by health care providers and industry. Especially on this era of all electronic records, it was conceived to have proper guidelines in securing that information, assuring the patient's privacy.

Later on, someone came along and interpreted and/or "bent" those guidelines to include EMS radio communications, likely to justify radio encryption under that pretext while they're at it.

Unless the regulations are now revised to plainly say it includes radio communications, I still can't officially find it anywhere. Perhaps someone knows where we can find that info?

I didn't find mention of it here in one of the official websites:

HIPAA for Professionals | HHS.gov

Or on this simplified document of the regulations from the same website:

http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hipaa-simplification-201303.pdf

 

[gonefishn1]

NOW HEAR THIS: EMERGENCY AGENCIES TURN OFF RADIO ENCRYPTION:

News from The Associated Press

Officials also say they are addressing concerns from critics who argue encryption decreases police transparency at a time when it is needed !!!

This is huge! I'm glad to hear more people think the police departments need to be transparent.

 

[kikito]

"The Obama Administration has asked the CIA to draw up plans for possible retaliatory cyberattacks against Russia".

I don't get it, lately the US government increasingly wants to hide or obfuscate everything they can from their citizens in the name of national security and safety BUT like ignoramuses they publicly announce every single action they're taking against hostile nations with possible serious international repercussions. Unbelievable.

But that's OK as long as Joe Blow in America doesn't know where car accidents are or where the cops are making a traffic stop through their radios, we are all much safer. /sarcasm and BS.

 

[ChrisABQ]

Over regulation of everything that we used to know as freedom is Socialism, that is the future the liberals see for us. Russia hacking the DNC is just another ruse to deflect the real story, the corruption of the government and the future of this country.

Weed through the BS and search out the facts, whether you believe it or not, the future is not looking bright for any of us.

 

[gonefishn1]

Agreed! Government overreach is a terrible thing.