NYS Legislators pass law to open NYPD radio encryption to public

[Skyler Fire]

So is PD ever going to be open to the public?

They are shooting for press only

 

[80sQueensbuff]

I remember in the 70's and 80's going with my dad to Stuart Electronics on Parsons and Union Tpk. to buy crystals. That place always seemed to be packed with people buying scanners and crystals.

That's where I always went for mine as well. I think I also got a scanner there.

 

[Disp51]

For those who weren't around "back in the day", these are what crystals were.

 

[3511]

I remember that too.
I lived in Bridgeport, Ct then and I remember tuning in the Bridgeport Fire Department and Bridgeport Police Department.
The fire department was on 153.77 mhz., and the police department was on 154.725 mhz.
If I got it tuned in just right, I could hear them both.

"OldGoat" As you mentioned, I used the tape once it was tuned in exactly right.

Note: - "OldGoat", I guess we are both Old Goats because I did that same thing too.
Actually, we are not alone, "I know we have a lot of Old Goats among us here". (ha)

I was told by members of the Bridgeport Fire Department some years ago that their frequency (153.77) was the same as FDNY Queens Dispatch. Upon occasion, and depending upon the weather and wind directions, Bridgeport firefighters might be jolted from their beds to respond to an incident on Queens Boulevard.

 

[seniorofficer]

I remember in the 70's and 80's going with my dad to Stuart Electronics on Parsons and Union Tpk. to buy crystals. That place always seemed to be packed with people buying scanners and crystals.

I remember Sol Elbaum, a salty old FDNY dispatcher used to work in there. Answered a LOT of good questions on communications.

 

[Atlas]

I remember Sol Elbaum, a salty old FDNY dispatcher used to work in there. Answered a LOT of good questions on communications.

Sol Elbaum never worked there.

 

[seniorofficer]

Sol Elbaum never worked there

Ken, then who was that old skinny dispatcher, balding, white hair, glasses that worked behind Stuart's counter in the early 70?s?

 

[memorymaster]

I remember that too.
I lived in Bridgeport, Ct then and I remember tuning in the Bridgeport Fire Department and Bridgeport Police Department.
The fire department was on 153.77 mhz., and the police department was on 154.725 mhz.
If I got it tuned in just right, I could hear them both.

"OldGoat" As you mentioned, I used the tape once it was tuned in exactly right.

Note: - "OldGoat", I guess we are both Old Goats because I did that same thing too.
Actually, we are not alone, "I know we have a lot of Old Goats among us here". (ha)

I had a little black box, the size of a transistor radio that had a small antenna and on off switch. It was backed to a small transistor radio and secured with a rubber band. I forget if it were crystal or you specified what frequency you wanted upon purchase. Do any of you gents remember these or know what I'm talking about?

 

[68jk09]

How about the "Tunaverter" ? ........jacked inline with your vehicles radio & let you tune FDNY broadcasting thru the vehicle speaker.

 

[80sQueensbuff]

When I first started listening to FDNY it was on a multi-band radio. That was not easy, especially with all the activity in the mid-70s! At some point I bought a scanner from Lafayette Electronics(!), but always got my crystals at Stuart.

 

[soda-acid]

I had a little black box, the size of a transistor radio that had a small antenna and on off switch. It was backed to a small transistor radio and secured with a rubber band. I forget if it were crystal or you specified what frequency you wanted upon purchase. Do any of you gents remember these or know what I'm talking about?

I had one too. It had two crystals if I remember correctly.

 

[memorymaster]

I had one too. It had two crystals if I remember correctly.

I believe you are correct now that I think about it. Thanks Soda

 

[jlab]

Unfortunately the Governor vetoed the bill on 12/22/2025. There is, however, another similiar law just passed by the NYC City Council but Adams may veto it before the new Mayor has a chance to review it. Another question : I am still able to listen to the 3 NYPD Citywide channels in the clear. Anyone know if they will also be encrypted or kept in the clear ? Summary of NYC City Council Bill: "This bill would require the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to establish and implement a radio encryption policy that ensures certain levels of media and public access to encrypted police radio communications. Under the bill, the Department would develop a policy that ensures that certain police radio communications, not including communications containing sensitive information, would be made available in real time to credentialed journalists. Additionally, the Department will be required to broadcast reports of critical incidents, over an unencrypted, citywide channel accessible in real-time to the general public."

Full text of City Cuncil Bill:
Int. No. 1460-A
By Council Member Brewer, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Marte, Hanks, Salaam, Cabán, Gutiérrez, Farías and Louis
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to access to encrypted police radio
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 14 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 14-199.2 to read as follows:
§ 14-199.2 Access to police dispatch radio communications. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Encryption. The term “encryption” means a method of encoding information for the purpose of preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing such information.
Professional journalist. The term “professional journalist” has the same meaning as set forth in section 79-h of the civil rights law.
Radio communication. The term “radio communication” means verbal communications that are (i) transmitted over a department radio frequency, including communications between a police dispatch center and department personnel and among department personnel, and (ii) accessible to all department personnel monitoring such frequency. Such term shall not include point-to-point communications between two devices.
Sensitive information. The term “sensitive information” means any portion of a radio communication that, if disclosed, would: (i) identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information; or (ii) reveal any non-routine criminal investigative techniques or procedures.
b. The department shall adopt a written radio encryption policy governing department radio communications. Such policy shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Reports of critical incidents shall be broadcast over an unencrypted, citywide channel accessible in real-time to the general public.
(2) Encrypted radio communications transmitted over all precinct-level, borough-level, transit, and housing bureau channels, and any other department channel that does not routinely transmit sensitive information, shall be available to professional journalists who have (i) received press credentials in accordance with section 3-119.4; and (ii) paid reasonable costs, not to exceed costs incurred by the department to provide such access.
(3) Sensitive information shall not be made available to the public or to professional journalists.
c. The department shall publish a proposal of the policy required by subdivision b of this section on the department’s website no more than 180 days after the effective date of the local law that added this section. Upon publication of the proposed policy, the public shall have 45 days to submit comments on such policy to the commissioner.
d. The commissioner shall consider public comments and include in the publication of the final policy an explanation of any changes that were made in response to comments. Such final policy shall be provided to the speaker of the council and the mayor and shall be posted on the department’s website no more than 45 days after the conclusion of the public comment period established pursuant to subdivision c of this section.
e. The department shall implement the final policy required by subdivision d no more than 12 months after the effective date of the local law that added this section.

The idea of having one channel to "Reports of critical incidents shall be broadcast over an unencrypted, citywide channel accessible in real-time to the general public." is unique in the encryption discussion but similair to the notifications sent by OEM to NotifyNY users except the OEM messages are sent by email and not very detailed. If there is a major demonstration going o n NotifyNYC would indicate traffic issues and suggest avoiding the area. Since the channel would be open to the general public it might be on AM or FM since the language of the bill doesn't specify the the type of modulation to be used for the messages. Also what defines a "major issue" ? A terrorist attack or an armed robbery or an All Hands fire or a 5 alarm fire ?