Pennsylvania Action Guide
Fight Police Radio Encryption in the Keystone State
Pennsylvania's major cities have chosen partial encryption over total blackout. Philadelphia keeps dispatch open. Pittsburgh is at a crossroads with its P25 transition. State Police went dark in 2019. Here's how to defend what remains and expand transparency statewide.
Pennsylvania's Encryption Landscape
Understanding where we are and what's at stake
Philadelphia: Partial Model
District dispatch remains open; tactical channels encrypted since 2020. Infrastructure exists for full encryption, but routine communications stay accessible for now.
Philadelphia case studyPittsburgh: Critical Window
Allegheny County's $18M P25 system is under construction. Main dispatch remains open, but full encryption is one policy decision away. Time to act is now.
Pittsburgh case studyPA State Police: Fully Dark
Since 2019, Pennsylvania State Police operates on fully encrypted PA-STARNet. Rural areas and highways are information blackouts.
Statewide analysisCentral PA: Still Open
Many rural and mid-sized departments remain open. Lancaster, State College, and smaller agencies maintain traditional transparency. Defend what exists.
Philadelphia's Partial Model: A Defensible Example
How the birthplace of liberty preserved some transparency
What Philadelphia Got Right
Open Dispatch Channels
District dispatch and citywide J-band remain accessible to the public. Routine police activity can still be monitored by journalists and citizens.
Targeted Tactical Encryption
SWAT, sensitive operations, and specialized units are encrypted. This addresses legitimate security concerns without total blackout.
Civilian Oversight
The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) maintains accountability mechanisms. Scanner access complements formal oversight.
Preserving Press Access
The Inquirer, local TV stations, and digital outlets can still monitor breaking news. Independent journalism survives.
The Threat Remains
Philadelphia's radios were modified in 2020 to enable full encryption. The infrastructure exists to go completely dark. Only policy decisions and public pressure keep channels open. Vigilance is required.
Pittsburgh's P25 Transition: The Advocacy Window
Act now before the infrastructure locks in silence
Why Pittsburgh Matters Now
Allegheny County is building a countywide P25 Phase II system with $18+ million in funding. When complete, full encryption becomes trivial. The decisions being made today determine whether 1.2 million people retain any scanner access.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Contact Allegheny County Council - Request that P25 system policy preserve open dispatch channels
- Attend public meetings - County Council and Department of Emergency Services meetings discuss radio system planning
- File Right-to-Know requests - Obtain documentation on encryption policy discussions
- Engage Pittsburgh City Council - City has authority over Pittsburgh Bureau of Police communications policy
- Connect with local media - Post-Gazette, Tribune-Review, and WESA have covered this issue
The March 2026 Incident
An unauthorized individual hijacked Allegheny County's analog radio to broadcast hate speech. Encryption advocates may cite this as justification for full blackout. But the vulnerability was in the analog system, not public access. Digital P25 systems are inherently more secure regardless of encryption. Don't let this crisis be exploited to eliminate transparency.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Guidance
Public records requests specific to the Commonwealth
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) gives you the right to request government records. Use these templates to uncover encryption plans, costs, and decision-making processes.
Scanner Harm Documentation Request
Purpose: Prove there's no evidence scanner access has ever caused harm
To the Open Records Officer:
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. 67.101 et seq.), I request:
- All documented incidents where public access to police radio (via scanner, online stream, or other means) resulted in injury to any officer, compromise of any operation, or any other documented negative outcome
- Any studies, assessments, or analyses regarding risks from public scanner access
- All internal communications citing scanner access as justification for encryption
Time period: January 1, 2019 to present
If no responsive records exist, please confirm in writing.
Encryption Cost Request
Purpose: Document the full cost of encryption systems
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania RTKL, I request:
- All budget proposals, appropriations, and expenditures related to police radio encryption
- Vendor contracts, quotes, and proposals for encrypted radio systems
- Grant applications and awards used to fund encryption or P25 systems
- Ongoing maintenance and subscription costs for encryption key management
P25 Transition Policy Request
Purpose: Expose encryption decisions in radio system upgrades
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania RTKL, I request:
- All planning documents, meeting minutes, and communications regarding P25 system implementation
- Communications with radio vendors (Motorola, Harris, etc.) regarding encryption capabilities
- Any policy discussions or decisions regarding encryption of dispatch channels
- Analysis of alternatives to full encryption (hybrid systems, media access programs)
Pennsylvania RTKL Tips
- Response time: Agencies have 5 business days to respond. They may request a 30-day extension for complex requests.
- Appeal process: If denied, you can appeal to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days. Appeals are free.
- Office of Open Records: Pennsylvania has a dedicated OOR that issues binding decisions. Contact: (717) 346-9903 or openrecords.pa.gov
- Fee waivers: Request fee waivers if the information serves the public interest. Journalists and nonprofits often qualify.
- Electronic records: Agencies cannot charge for records already in electronic format.
PA State Police: Encrypted Since 2019
Challenging statewide silence through legislation
What Happened
Pennsylvania State Police migrated to the fully encrypted PA-STARNet system in 2019. Troopers covering rural areas, highways, and state facilities operate in complete silence. For the 70% of Pennsylvania covered by State Police, no independent monitoring exists.
The Alternatives
- Media Access Program: Colorado's HB21-1250 requires media access. Pennsylvania could adopt similar legislation.
- Public Channel for Emergencies: San Antonio maintains a media terminal program. PA State Police could implement similar infrastructure.
- Legislative Mandate: The General Assembly has authority to require transparency provisions in state police communications.
State Legislative Action
Pennsylvania's General Assembly could introduce legislation requiring press access or public emergency channels. Contact your state representative and senator to support transparency legislation. Cite Colorado's HB21-1250 and New York's Local Law 46 as models.
Key Contacts
State legislators, city councils, and county commissioners
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Your state legislators can introduce transparency legislation:
Find Your Legislators
Enter your address to find your state representative and senator
legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator
House Judiciary Committee
Oversees law enforcement policy
house.paonline.com/Committees/Session/36
Senate Judiciary Committee
Reviews public safety legislation
judiciary.pasenategop.com
Philadelphia
Philadelphia City Council
Oversight authority over police policies
phlcouncil.com
(215) 686-3442
Citizens Police Oversight Commission
Civilian oversight body - raise encryption as accountability issue
phila.gov/departments/citizens-police-oversight-commission
Pittsburgh / Allegheny County
Allegheny County Council
Oversees Department of Emergency Services and P25 decisions
alleghenycounty.us/county-council
(412) 350-6490
Pittsburgh City Council
Authority over Bureau of Police communications policy
pittsburghpa.gov/council
(412) 255-2138
Other Key Counties
Montgomery County Commissioners
Philadelphia suburb with mixed encryption status
montcopa.org/commissioners
Delaware County Council
Accelerating encryption - advocacy needed
delcopa.gov/council
Bucks County Commissioners
Largely open - defend existing transparency
buckscounty.gov/commissioners
Media Contacts and Press Allies
Journalism organizations that can amplify your campaign
Statewide Organizations
Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association
Represents 200+ newspapers and digital news organizations across Pennsylvania. Key ally for press freedom issues.
panewsmedia.org
Pennsylvania Associated Press
AP member organization with statewide reach and interest in press access issues.
Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition
Advocates for transparency and open government across the Commonwealth.
Major News Organizations
The Philadelphia Inquirer
One of America's oldest newspapers (founded 1829). Strong interest in police accountability and transparency.
inquirer.com
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania's largest newspaper. Has covered encryption debate and police accountability extensively.
post-gazette.com
WESA (Pittsburgh NPR)
Public radio covering the encryption issue. Documented the March 2026 incident and broader transparency questions.
wesa.fm
WHYY (Philadelphia NPR)
Delaware Valley public media with coverage of police policy and transparency issues.
whyy.org
Civil Liberties Organizations
ACLU of Pennsylvania
Strong on police accountability and transparency. Active in Philadelphia and statewide.
aclupa.org
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
National organization with legal expertise on press access issues. Free legal defense hotline: (800) 336-4243
rcfp.org
Resources and Next Steps
Everything you need to take action in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Analysis
Full breakdown of encryption status across the Commonwealth
Philadelphia Case Study
How the birthplace of liberty maintains partial access
Pittsburgh Case Study
Steel City at the crossroads of the P25 transition
FOIA/RTKL Templates
Ready-to-file public records requests
90-Day Campaign Timeline
Week-by-week action plan
Coalition Building Guide
Recruit allies for your campaign
Public Testimony Scripts
Ready-to-use council meeting statements
Model Legislation
Template bills for local and state adoption
Pennsylvania's Major Cities Chose Partial Encryption. Now Defend It.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh maintained more transparency than most American cities. But that access exists on borrowed time. Pittsburgh's P25 transition creates a critical window for advocacy. The decisions made in the next 2-5 years will determine whether 3 million+ residents retain any ability to monitor their police. Start your campaign today.