Broadcastify Receives Cease and Desist from Terre Haute, IN City Attorney

[KC4RAF]

I've posted it before in this thread, and I'll post it again;

Broadcastify isn't what is destroying our hobby. When the manufacturer of public safety radios came up with the idea of encrypting, it was just a matter of time before most LEOs got on the bandwagon. It's going to happen whether you like it or not; but encryption is going to happen to most if not all LEO agencies.
Also, that lawyer for Terre Haute, In PD was treading on very thin ice; what was the only frequency that wasn't encrypted; I think the dispatch freq. All else is encrypted; so where was the threat to LEO safety?
It's because they can and they will...

 

[WILSON43]

I can only assume that in the grand scheme of things regarding consumer electronics, police scanners, many of which are now in excess of $500 is a small, niche market. We are left with two companies producing and selling these items. I have no idea what the profit margins are after R & D, manufacturing, marketing, dealer margins, etc.

Combine the encryption issue with the lost sales to folks hearing comms through their iPhone and what is the financial incentive to R & D new scanners?

 

[Rred]

When PD's went from "call boxes" to car radios, they all eventually figured out how to add a ten-code for "Call the desk on a landline" when they wanted to keep something off the air. That's ancient history. Scanners never picked up those phone calls, so encryption shouldn't come as any great surprise. It was just a bit expensive and ineffective until departments went digital.

The 10-codes for "call in on a landline" are still there though.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I don't think people want sound bytes fed to them by the media or the government. We want the raw unedited, unmolested Information so we can make up our OWN minds. That notion probably scares the crap out of those in power.


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I gotta agree. We have just endured two years of propaganda and lies from all directions. And yes that is scary for some.

 

[eaf1956]

Combine the encryption issue with the lost sales to folks hearing comms through their iPhone and what is the financial incentive to R & D new scanners?

I listen to feeds, didn't keep me from buying 4 scanners! So what loss of sales are you referring to?

 

[WILSON43]

I listen to feeds, didn't keep me from buying 4 scanners! So what loss of sales are you referring to?

Apparently you comprise a very large sector of a very small niche market.

I think my point was very clear.

 

[jim202]

Don't you guys think you have beat this horse to death again?

 

[Hans13]

Don't you guys think you have beat this horse to death again?

Neigh?

 

[12dbsinad]

Don't you guys think you have beat this horse to death again?

Not yet, it's only 12 pages long.

 

[kd7kdc]

I'm still hoping PETA doesn't find my horse farm but then again maybe better them than the government.


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[KI7JOM]

Here's a relatively on-topic question. If, per FCC regulations Title 47 part 90, these entities transmitting encrypted are required to share their encryption keys with the FCC, and the FCC is a Freedom Of Information Act compliant government entity, does that mean that even with encryption their codes may still be available by special request to the public?

Mods: we may want to move this to a new thread, but I thought this is somewhat on topic.

 

[INDY72]

The key is changed randomly on regular basis so by the time your redacted foia gets in hand it will be 6 months to an year old and pointless

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[kd7kdc]

The idea of handing out the key defeats the purpose of encrypting in the first place. It's nuttier than my last post #230

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[dmills1]

Basta !!!

 

[jafarm66]

Broadcastify vs Terre Haute

I am not a broadcastify listener and personally think services like theirs cause cities to go encrypted and block out the public. However I agree with Broadcastify defending their First Amendment Rights.

 

[W9WSS]

Several years ago, a major dispatch center adopted a totally encrypted radio network for all their entities. I spoke with an engineer who was instrumental in getting the system up and running. Although he was indifferent to the "total encryption" of all talk groups and systems, his was directed by the upper echelon of the organization that encryption will be enabled 100% of the time. So that's the way it became. I was also informed that it will NEVER go to being "in the clear" now, in the near future, or ever. Very disheartening to scanner hobbyists, the press, or local politicians who would like to be informed what their agency is doing, and those on the periferie who want to tune in once in a while.

The solution? The chief law enforcement officer or communications supervisor "issues" those non-law enforcement radios from the fleet that are capable of monitoring their comms. I suspect that it does happen, but you won't hear much about it openly from anyone.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Here's a relatively on-topic question. If, per FCC regulations Title 47 part 90, these entities transmitting encrypted are required to share their encryption keys with the FCC, and the FCC is a Freedom Of Information Act compliant government entity, does that mean that even with encryption their codes may still be available by special request to the public?

Mods: we may want to move this to a new thread, but I thought this is somewhat on topic.

There is absolutely no requirement for any Part 90 licensee to share encryption keys with FCC.

Even for NTIA operations, the encryption keys do not leave a SCIF vault unless irretrievably loaded into a radio or key variable loader.

 

[drsl2000]

I have been saying this for years. Common sense says streaming is the # one issue with PD wanting to secure comms. What the heck is everyone waiting for?

Are we allowed to talk about this now? In years past this discussion topic was taboo and your post was deleted and membership threatened to be removed...

I agree 100%, streaming is driving encryption...

 

[JD21960]

@drsl2000- yes but in encrypted speak ... veeee. .....veeeee.....veeeeeeeeeeeee....vee.

 

[BailSolutionsInc]

If you fold at the first sign of an issue you set precedence for all the feeds so I say stand TALL.