It has been officially announced by government legislation and law makers that NYPD radio communication will soon be encrypted technology for two-way radio transmissions. NYPD has decided to initially test out the newly advanced encryption signals, first experimentally by individual boroughs, starting with Brooklyn sometime in August 2023. Other NYC boroughs will then gradually follow throughout into 2024 as the entire system adapts to the costly upgraded equipment. Encrypted radio communication has already been implemented across the USA in many other locations, as the ongoing trend is nothing new and long overdue
in such a major city as Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs.
As expected, there has been heavy debate among many local and elected officials regarding the "legality" of such encrypted radio signals. Essentially it concerns local residents who personally own a scanner radio which can be easily used to monitor many types of official government communications. These folks will argue they have a legal right as citizens to know and be aware of crime or any illegal activities in their community. Good point! Government public officials and legislators on the other hand, will argue that it's very common for many hard core criminals to use those same scanner radios just for the sake of knowing the police vehicle locations and hearing the dispatcher communicate any reported incidents in the area. Obviously both sides of the radio encryption debate have valid points which hence leads to a heated controversy.
Most likely, it's only a matter of time as technology continues to become more highly advanced, the encryption issue will certainly follow as well and create division . Also, by the same technical advances, manufactures for electronic devices will find a way to follow suit that will adapt to the matter and satisfy the customers. Of course for hobby radio enthusiasts, this will eventually defeat your current high tech 2 way radio scanner as the cost of a new one will go through the roof again.
