Austin going encrypted April 22

[Whospoonbill]

If the big media there gets radios for their news desk, don’t expect them to care about the general public being locked out. They would salivate at the thought of getting to charge you or get your clicks to know what is going on in your city.

If it’s just Austin who cares I already made my point several times we’ve seen this coming with APD they wanted this they want to hide cause the the Police agency they are they don’t like public stuff.

 

[Whospoonbill]

look at this there not using the non encrypted channels there using the encrypted channels that been there for months image hosted at ImgBB that’s probably why Travis county and ems isn’t encrypted cause they got to setup all new channels for them

 

[bbernstein]

Just hear DPS Austin Dispatch a few seconds ago, now hearing TCSO Baker.

Do you know which sites/frequencies they're using?

 

[ninjabonez]

APD, TCSO, and DPS are all seperate.

DPS is still open, so is TCSO.
ive been listning to DPS and Capital DPS all day.

Travis Co - Baker needed backup earlier on 130/45 around 730pm and requested DPS Air Support.

somebody was runnin 125mph again down the toll road.

 

[clementrw]

So here's another article:

Radio silence: Public no longer with access to Austin police scanners

On Monday, It was announced by the City of Austin that citizens will no longer be able to have access to Austin police scanners.The city announced the scanners

cbsaustin.com

This article clarifies that the encryption rollover was for APD. AFD states that they have no plans for encryption. A/TCEMS was vague in their response, but supportive of APD.

 

[garys]

That makes more sense, thanks.

So here's another article:

Radio silence: Public no longer with access to Austin police scanners

On Monday, It was announced by the City of Austin that citizens will no longer be able to have access to Austin police scanners.The city announced the scanners

cbsaustin.com

This article clarifies that the encryption rollover was for APD. AFD states that they have no plans for encryption. A/TCEMS was vague in their response, but supportive of APD.

 

[BaLa]

So here's another article:

Radio silence: Public no longer with access to Austin police scanners

On Monday, It was announced by the City of Austin that citizens will no longer be able to have access to Austin police scanners.The city announced the scanners

cbsaustin.com

This article clarifies that the encryption rollover was for APD. AFD states that they have no plans for encryption. A/TCEMS was vague in their response, but supportive of APD.

Who writes this junk..

On Monday, It was announced by the City of Austin that citizens will no longer be able to have access to Austin police scanners.

The city announced the scanners are now encrypted for officers' and other law enforcement agencies’ use only, citing reasons of protection and privacy.

I get what they're saying but it makes no sense lol.

 

[cjkeller]

Looks like it's finally happening:

Austin public safety agencies to switch to new radio encryption system

Public safety agencies in Austin are expected to switch to a new radio audio encryption system beginning April 22, according to the City of Austin.

www.kxan.com

I wonder what this means for TCSO and all the ESDs?

Well, that answers why I couldn't hear anything in for APD!

 

[rattlerbb01]

Most of the talkgroups in the database are still showing clear Phase 1. Can someone run a log and see how many of these possible remain in clear, maybe Metro or Event type talkgroups? I would like to update the database properly to reflect the current times.

 

[W5ATX]

Most of the talkgroups in the database are still showing clear Phase 1. Can someone run a log and see how many of these possible remain in clear, maybe Metro or Event type talkgroups? I would like to update the database properly to reflect the current times.

All of APD went encrypted just over a year ago except for the main sector dispatch channels, and those all went silent this monday starting around 10am. the only thing that's "open" for APD is TGID 1027 which is the emergency channel. typical traffic on that channel is when someone accidentally bumps their button and 219 or "Control Center" keys up and says "officer on the emergency channel?". I ran a log a few days ago but didn't save it. I've also been audio recording the old 971-990 TGID's and there's not a peep of traffic on there now so I stopped. It's all ENC in the new 960's TGIDs.

 

[cjkeller]

I'll definitely miss hearing APD's traffic. It gave me a huge appreciation for what they face day in/day out.

So what are y'all listening to now? I guess I should check to make sure I haven't locked out Hays County... I haven't heard them in a bit either now that I think about it!

 

[garys]

The last time I was over that way, I heard Hayes just fine. That was a couple of weeks ago and my truck is in the body shop until hopefully Monday.

 

[jasday]

Keep in mind also that there is a specific HIPAA exemption for emergency communications. Which is why ambulance to hospital communications are not encrypted just about everywhere. Also, the rise of various apps such as Twiage, Pulsara, the ESA Alerting app bypass traditional hospital communications systems.

There's not a HIPPA exemption for emergency communications. The information that is being broadcast has to be generalized so that it can't point to once specific person that makes them identifiable. It wasn't an exemption, it was a change in the rules of what could and could not be said. Source: been in EMS for 21 years now. Very well versed in what's being used. I pushed out pulsara in my department as I've been slowly taking responsibilities at a growing department.

 

[garys]

Wrong, including your spelling of HIPAA.

Someone in EMS for 21 years is what I refer to as a "new guy."

There's not a HIPPA exemption for emergency communications. The information that is being broadcast has to be generalized so that it can't point to once specific person that makes them identifiable. It wasn't an exemption, it was a change in the rules of what could and could not be said. Source: been in EMS for 21 years now. Very well versed in what's being used. I pushed out pulsara in my department as I've been slowly taking responsibilities at a growing department.

 

[jasday]

Wrong, including your spelling of HIPAA.

Someone in EMS for 21 years is what I refer to as a "new guy."

Ok big guy, you got me on that one. You're one of those crusty dudes everyone hates in the stations.

 

[garys]

I'd reply, but the moderators wouldn't like it.

Ok big guy, you got me on that one. You're one of those crusty dudes everyone hates in the stations.

 

[jasday]

I'd reply, but the moderators wouldn't like it.

Feel free to pm me, I'll even give you my number.

 

[garys]

Oh, I'm pretty sure I have your number.

Feel free to pm me, I'll even give you my number.

 

[Citywide173]

There's not a HIPPA exemption for emergency communications. The information that is being broadcast has to be generalized so that it can't point to once specific person that makes them identifiable. It wasn't an exemption, it was a change in the rules of what could and could not be said. Source: been in EMS for 21 years now. Very well versed in what's being used. I pushed out pulsara in my department as I've been slowly taking responsibilities at a growing department.

When I started in my current job, Gary was already one of the "old guys." I have 31 years as an EMT and almost 28 of those with my current agency. I have lectured on HIPAA at Northeastern University and can confirm that there is indeed an exemption. You should read what is allowed: Federal Register :: Request Access

EDIT
A better description is located here: Emergency Medical Dispatches and HIPAA: Are You HIPAA Compliant? - Urgent Comms

The quote from that article that is relevant is:

"HIPAA does not apply to communications required to treat patients or to information shared for operations purposes. 45 C.F.R. § 164.501 Since information shared by a dispatch agency is shared to treat patients and to operate effectively as a dispatch service, HIPAA most often does not apply to the communication. These are considered incidental disclosures, which HIPAA’s provisions specifically permit. However, if it is not necessary to transmit a patient’s name or certain information for the purpose of treatment or service, it is best to omit that information from the unencrypted transmission. In large part, though, these communications pose no concern under HIPAA."

 

[Giddyuptd]

Thanks Unitrunker2. You're not seeing this for FD or EMS talkgroups, right? I guess nothing keeps them from just cutting over on the same talkgroup if the radios have the keys, but one would think that the radio shop/vendor would cut over the same for both.

If it's anything like El Paso County you can bet that they are going to have EMS and fire as well my understanding is there is several Texas agencies planning to do what El Paso did