United States Forest Service
Statewide, North Carolina
How we verified this
As of August 2026 both US Forest Service talkgroups on VIPER — "USFSLEOPS1 | US Forestry Service OPS 1" and "USFSLEOPS2" — are plain "D" and in the clear; the encrypted "NCFS Dist 8 CC | District 8 Common" that this claim points to belongs to the North Carolina Forest Service, a separate state agency.
Encryption Details
What This Means
This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is United States Forest Service radio encrypted?
No. Despite earlier listings, United States Forest Service broadcasts in the clear. This agency was previously listed as encrypted, but verification against live sources on 2026-08-09 found its dispatch broadcasting in the clear. Any P25-capable scanner can receive it — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database, since encryption decisions can change.
Can I listen to United States Forest Service on a police scanner?
Yes. Verification against live sources found United States Forest Service's dispatch broadcasting in the clear — any P25-capable scanner can receive it. Check RadioReference for frequencies and current status.
Why do agencies like United States Forest Service encrypt their radio?
Officer safety and operational security are the reasons agencies give. What rarely comes with that explanation is Statewide County-specific evidence that open communications ever caused a problem, while the loss of public oversight and the friction with still-unencrypted neighboring agencies are both immediate and real.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about United States Forest Service encryption?
Ask for the paperwork first — the policy that authorised encryption for United States Forest Service, and the recordings themselves — because a specific request is harder to wave away than a general complaint. Then take what you learn to a council meeting, and bring others from Statewide County with you.